Linking technologies to sustainability outcomes: a systematic literature review on textile and apparel industry

Purpose – The textile and apparel (T&A) industry faces mounting pressure to accelerate its transition to sustainability. This study aims to systematically explore how technological domains drive, support and constrain sustainability outcomes within the T&A industry. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review was conducted, resulting in a final data set of 64 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2024. Each contribution was examined through the lens of the triple bottom line (TBL) framework to identify technologies’ impacts on profit, society and planet. Findings – The review identifies eight core technologies, grouped into three categories: advanced digital technologies, applied technologies and process-oriented technologies. Common sustainability impacts of technologies are resource efficiency, waste reduction and traceability, while negative effects include high implementation costs, interoperability barriers and limited social acceptance. The synthesis reveals that environmental benefits dominate the literature, while social and economic aspects remain less explored. Artificial intelligence emerges as the most controversial, whereas blockchain shows a more convergent profile across the TBL dimensions despite adoption challenges. Originality/value – This study provides a taxonomy linking textile-related technologies to the TBL framework, offering a consolidated view of how innovation shapes sustainability. It advances academic research on technology–sustainability linkages in the T&A and provides actionable insights for firms seeking to balance sustainability in their digital transformation.