This study aims to explore the scopes and challenges, rank the challenges, and provide strategic solutions for adopting Industry Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) in Bangladesh's textile and apparel industry. A random survey was administered to a total of 142 factories in Bangladesh. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis were used in this study. The survey includes questions on important study variables, such as big data, smart factories, cyber-physical systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), interoperability, textile production, and industry performance. The Variable Destination Multiple Access (VDMA) Model has been adopted to design the questionnaire, focusing on qualitative and quantitative questions. The survey dataset was investigated through SmartPLS 4.0 by normality and confirmatory tests. Likert scale data have been analyzed through IBM SPSS software version 26.0 by the exploratory factor analysis method to rank the IR 4.0 adoption variables. Analysis of the survey data indicates the level of adoption of Industry 4.0 in terms of organizational strategy, investment, infrastructure, IT (Information Technology), Ready Made Garments (RMG) skilled workers, smart operations, and smart factories. The study shows that the variable “Review of the strategy using indicators” got the highest ranking in the external factor, 0.791. This clearly indicates that strategy formulation is the topmost priority among other IR 4.0 adoption variables. Consequently, “digital integration” got the lowest loading at 0.620, as IR 4.0 digital technology adoption is very low. The overall maturity level for IR 4.0 adoption in the Bangladesh textile and apparel industry is 1.91 on a 5-point scale, indicating a low adoption level. This study can help concerned policymakers and industrialists who want to implement Industry 4.0 in the textile and RMG sectors to stay competitive in the global market. Alongside this study, it also summarizes the IR 4.0 adoption level in 9 broad categories.

Purpose: The textile and apparel (T&A) industry is one of the most prominent waste-generating industries and is criticized for environmental and social sustainability. This research work aims to demonstrate the crucial enablers for implementing circular economy (CE) in Bangladesh’s T&A industry.Design/methodology/approach: This research work followed a purposive sampling method in three stages of data collection from a small expert focus group. This study employed two integrated Fuzzy methods: fuzzy total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and fuzzy decision-making and trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to evaluate the CE enablers.Findings: The TISM model discovered that stakeholder involvement is the most impactful enabler for implementing CE practices in the Bangladeshi T&A industry. Consequently, the DEMATEL method revealed the causal relationships among the enablers and identified the effective reverse logistic process as the most impactful enabler.Originality/value: For the first time, this study attempts to ascertain the inter-influential relationship and the causal relationship among the enablers precisely in Bangladesh. The influential relationships among the enablers were illustrated in a modelling-based hierarchical framework and causal relationships were demonstrated in the degree of effect diagram.

Purpose: The Textile and Apparel (T&A) industry is a prominent industrial sector continuously evolving with modern production technologies. This study attempts to demonstrate the drivers and barriers to the incorporation of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) technologies in the T&A industry of manufacturing countries.Design/methodology/approach: This study has employed the integration of three methods namely Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), Matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC), and Decision Making and Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL).Findings: From the Interpretive Structural Modeling model, the study found that “Government Schemes” are the most focusing driver to adopt IR 4.0 technologies, and on the contrary, “Organizational Constraints”, “Entrepreneurial Technical Inability” and “Non-Availability of Technical Standards & New Technology Accreditation” are the most influential barriers. The MICMAC analysis has plotted the drivers and barriers in four distinct clusters. The DEMATEL analysis illustrates the causal relationship by bisecting the drivers and barriers in the cause-and-effect sections denoting “Entrepreneurial Management Ability (EMA)” to be the most impactful driver and “Organizational Constraints” as the highest considerable barrier.Practical implications: The outcome of this research work may lead to effective measures undertaken by the industry stakeholders for proper installation and maintenance of IR 4.0 technologies by fostering the relevant drives and mitigating the barriers.Originality/value: From rigorous literature review it has been assured that previously no research work has been executed for investigating both the drives and barriers altogether for IR 4.0 technologies inclusion in the T&A industry, more precisely following the context of Bangladesh.

Purpose: This study attempts to assess how the textile and apparel (T&A) industry in Bangladesh is influenced by circular economy (CE) practices in terms of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a focus on the moderating influence of competitive intensity (CI) and the mediating effect of I4.0 technologies. It bridges the knowledge gap about how CI and I4.0 technologies may drive CE practices to promote sustainability in the T&A industry. Design/methodology/approach: In this study,partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine survey data gathered from Bangladeshi T&A industry professionals, including manufacturing and management experts. Six hypotheses pertaining to direct, mediated and moderated impact were assessed using SmartPLS version 4 software. Findings: The results show that attaining the targeted SDGs is significantly aided by CE practices that are pertinent to the T&A industry, such as reduction, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. Five relevant I4.0 technologies like autonomous robots, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Internet of things and system integration can play a major mediating role in this interaction. Nevertheless, neither the association between CE practices and the SDGs nor the relationship between I4.0 and the SDGs was substantially moderated by CI. Originality/value: To support the influence of CE practices on the T&A industry’s SDGs attainment, several outstanding research works have been executed. More precisely, very few research has been performed for Bangladeshi T&A industry. This study makes an effort to quantify the various effects of CE and I4.0 on SDGs that have been validated by CI for the first time.

Plastic, a key commodity in daily life, has become a major environmental concern due to its non-biodegradability, toxicity, impact on ecosystems, and contribution to climate change. Addressing plastic waste is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Circular economy (CE) practices, which provide opportunities for value recovery, also present challenges for industry practitioners. Therefore, this study focuses on identifying and evaluating the challenges to CE practices in managing municipal plastic waste (MPW). Relevant barriers were identified through a systematic literature review and confirmed with experts’ ratings. An integrated Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS)–analytical hierarchy process (AHP)–decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach was employed to assess the significance and causal relationships of the barriers. Major obstacles to implementing CE practices in MPW management include the heterogeneous composition of waste, inefficient waste management facilities, illegal import/export of plastics, the absence of a global standard for plastic waste recycling, and informal collection practices. The findings of this study provide valuable insights that can help policymakers and industry practitioners develop effective strategies to reduce environmental contamination and hazards to human and aquatic life. This research is among the few that use FFS to evaluate barriers to CE practices in MPW management.