A Gamified Platform for Engaging Consumers in Circular Economy Practices through Smart Wardrobe Management

The textile and clothing industry has historically exerted a significant negative impact on the environment. Excessive water consumption, chemical pollution, and soil degradation are just a few of the pressing environmental concerns linked to this sector. Addressing these issues has become a priority not only for regulatory bodies, at National and European level, but also for the industry itself. More recently, growing attention has turned to reducing the huge volume of waste generated by consumers' unbridled purchase of clothing. Two promising solutions to this challenge are the Circular Economy (CE) model and the implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). CE aims to reintegrate discarded garments back into the value chain, reducing the need for new raw materials and minimizing waste, straightforwarding reuse and recycling. Complementing this, the DPP provides comprehensive information about a garment’s life cycle, enhancing transparency, enabling traceability, and empowering consumers to make more informed choices. In this context, consumers play a pivotal role. They have the responsibility to adopt more sustainable habits, namely purchasing less, choosing eco-friendly options, and extending the lifespan of their clothing through reuse, donation, or recycling. This article proposes a gamified platform designed to inspire and support consumers in embracing more sustainable behaviour. The platform enables users to manage their wardrobes by tracking garment usage and documenting each item’s end-of-life journey. This data not only fosters consumer awareness and accountability but also contributes to the broader implementation of the DPP and CE practices.