Contributions of Design for Sustainability in the Development of Products with Textile Waste by Entrepreneurs of the Creative and Circular Economy

This article presents the results of a master's research study on the development of products using textile waste by small and micro-enterprises within the Brazilian creative and circular economy. The objective was to describe the production processes and the challenges involved in the repurposing of these materials. The sample included eleven entrepreneurs responsible for the creation of the products. The research employed semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis for data collection. The analysis generated nine categories, organized into three main axes: Circular and Creative Economy, Product Life Cycle, and Material Repurposing and product design. These axes interrelate and underpin sustainable practices. In conclusion, the study indicates that these companies tend to operate close to the sources of waste - either alongside industries (pre-consumer) or at disposal sites (post-consumer) and that design plays a central role in the construction of more environmentally responsible production processes.