Where Should the Old Clothes Go? — Promoting Circularity in Sub-Saharan Construction Through Textile Waste

Textile waste poses a major challenge in the 21st century, particularly for Sub-Saharan African countries, where local production and high imports lead to excessive waste, often ending up in landfills or incineration. However, opportunities for recycling and repurposing textile waste into construction materials are emerging. This study explores the trends, applications and implications of using textile waste in the construction industry by employing an interpretivist philosophical perspective through a scientometric and systematic literature review. Findings indicate a dearth of research on this topic within Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting a critical gap that must be addressed to promote circularity in regional construction practices. This study's findings provide actionable insights into the use of post-consumer local textile wastes in construction, suggesting opportunities for economic growth through local enterprises engaged in innovative applications like ecological blocks and interior features in buildings, which have been less explored in existing studies.