Emerging technologies to optimize environmental sustainability in the textile industry: a systematic review

The textile industry is characterized by high resource use and a significant environmental impact, associated with high water and energy consumption, chemical pollution, and waste generation. In this context, emerging technologies seek to reduce the environmental footprint of production processes and strengthen organizational competitiveness. The objective of this study is to systematically analyze technological innovations applied in the textile industry aimed at mitigating environmental impacts, with an emphasis on transformed production processes, environmental performance metrics, adoption barriers, and emerging trends. The methodology is based on a systematic literature review conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, with a descriptive quantitative synthesis of a bibliometric nature based on the frequency analysis of coded variables. The results show that digital platforms, clean technologies, recycling systems, and advanced materials are the most recurrent innovations, contributing to greater resource efficiency, waste reduction, and improved energy performance. Significant barriers persist, such as high implementation costs, regulatory restrictions, and financial limitations in supply chains.