Unraveling Change: How Small Sustainability Efforts Can Transform the Textile Industry

So far, there aren’t many studies that connect small, specific projects with large-scale global systems or examine how different levels and processes interact. This paper uses a leverage points framework to explore how systems can be transformed. It looks at four sustainability efforts in the textile industry and examines how they fit into a larger network of connected systems. It also considers how these connections influence the ability of these efforts to create real change.

Systems onion(s) for sustainable ventures. The sustainable ventures (left) offer new ways of producing and consuming textiles, and thus represent a new, alternative system. They then work to attract consumers from the existing, dominant and unsustainable system

How Can Small Sustainability Efforts Transform the Textile Industry?

What is (and isn’t) Endemic Innovation?

Endemic Innovation (EI) is a way of creating solutions that are deeply connected to a specific region’s unique resources, traditions, and knowledge. Unlike traditional innovation, which focuses on making things scalable for a global market, EI starts locally—using what already exists in a place to solve problems in a sustainable and effective way. For example, Portugal’s Amorim Cork company uses the country’s natural cork forests and traditional harvesting techniques to produce high-tech materials for industries like aerospace. Similarly, Iceland’s ON Power turns volcanic heat into clean energy, while New Zealand’s Comvita builds on Māori knowledge to produce medical-grade Manuka honey. True EI must meet five key criteria: it must rely on endemic (unique and non-replicable) resources or knowledge, be sustainable, be deeply connected to local communities, combine local and global technologies, and have the potential for global impact.

However, not every local project counts as EI. Simply being a grassroots initiative or having local value doesn’t make something an example of EI unless it meets the strict criteria. For instance, Israel’s Netafim developed drip irrigation to solve water scarcity in the Negev Desert, but its technology was designed to be adapted worldwide. Similarly, Chile’s Spora transforms fungi from its native forests into sustainable fashion, combining ancient knowledge with cutting-edge biotechnology. The core idea of EI is not just preserving tradition but evolving it—blending old knowledge with modern advancements to create sustainable, high-impact solutions. As climate change and global challenges increase, EI offers a new way forward, proving that the best solutions often come from the unique strengths of a place rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

SpringerCommunities, Published in Social Sciences, Sustainability, and Business & Management 

Feb 06, 2025, Daniel Martínez Pereira, Professor, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

Building the Stayable City - Urban Design for Social Cohesion

Gao, T., Lim, S., Wong, D. K. H., & Schroepfer, T. (2024). From walking to staying: The impact of spatial qualities on socio-spatial segregation in innovation districts. Sustainable Cities and Society, 113, 105688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105688

From walking to staying: The impact of spatial qualities on socio-spatial segregation in innovation districts

This study explores how innovation districts, like One-north in Singapore, can drive urban economic growth while addressing socio-spatial segregation. It emphasizes designing public spaces to encourage "staying activities" (e.g., sitting, playing, relaxing) over transient activities like walking or cycling, to foster social interaction among diverse socioeconomic groups.

Using a GeoAI workflow that combines data analysis, machine learning, and AI, the researchers evaluate 13 spatial quality indicators and their impact on staying activities. A deep neural network (DNN) model with an 83.74% accuracy rate shows that these indicators can predict where people from different income groups engage in staying activities.

Interestingly, features like visual diversity and greenery—typically associated with good public spaces—do not always increase staying activities. Their effectiveness depends on the specific functional context and land-use type within different parts of the district.

This research highlights the importance of tailoring public space designs to local contexts to encourage meaningful interactions and reduce segregation. The proposed GeoAI workflow offers a proactive tool to evaluate design strategies before construction, helping policymakers create more inclusive urban environments.

Open Source Article