AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF ECO-EFFICIENT STRATEGIES USED IN THE TEXTILE SECTOR: A COMPARISON OF TURKEY AND IRAN

Abstract

This study examines eco-efficient strategies in the textile industry by comparing Turkey and Iran. The primary objective of the research is to identify the environmental, technological, institutional, and organizational factors that shape sustainable textile production practices in two developing economies with similar industrial structures but different levels of sustainability adoption. By focusing on the perspectives of textile professionals, the study provides a contextual and human-centered understanding of sustainability implementation beyond purely technical or quantitative assessments. The original value of this study lies in its comparative, perception-based approach, which captures practitioners’ lived experiences and highlights country-specific sustainability dynamics often overlooked in existing research. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 textile professionals. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on their professional experience and knowledge of sustainability practices in the textile sector. The interviews were conducted between August and October 2025, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework, with support from the MAXQDA qualitative analysis software. The findings indicate that traditional production methods continue to generate significant environmental harm in both countries, particularly through excessive water use, chemical pollution, and energy consumption. Technological innovation and digitalization were identified as key enablers of eco-efficiency, while high investment costs, limited governmental support, outdated infrastructure, and regulatory weaknesses remain major obstacles—more pronounced in Iran due to economic and institutional constraints. The study is theoretically grounded in the Triple Bottom Line Theory and the Innovation Diffusion Theory, highlighting the interdependence of environmental performance, economic viability, and social responsibility in sustainability transitions. By offering a comparative and context-sensitive analysis, this research contributes to the literature on sustainable textile production in emerging economies and provides practical implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and educational institutions seeking to promote technology-supported sustainability strategies.