Waste Management: Designing a User-Centered and Sustainable Mobile Application

The textile industry is one of the most polluting sectors worldwide. The purchase of clothing has been on the rise, but it’s not accompanied by the recycling process. In Portugal only 1% of textile waste is recycled. However, several initiatives seek to reduce this problem. The “Escola Oficina,” established in 2015 in Vila Nova de Gaia, is dedicated to producing sustainable products from the reuse of industrial waste such as leather, fabric, paper, and cardboard. This study proposes, therefore, a digital solution to improve the management of this waste through the development of a mobile App that connects the “Escola Oficina” with its suppliers. This project uses the Design Thinking methodology, focusing on understanding the users’ needs and employing the iterative development of the solution. The App's design choices are supported by theories and principles established in the literature review. Through this App, validated through usability tests, it has been demonstrated how digital technology can help optimize textile waste management and, consequently, improve the sustainability of this sector.