Roplo: Designing a Subscription- and Credit-Based Circular Fashion Platform to Curb Urban Textile Waste

Abstract

This article presents the creation plan for Roplo, a responsible digital organisation designed to operate initially in the Community of Madrid with the aim of transforming fashion consumption through a circular economy model. Roplo addresses the growing problem of urban textile waste with a web and mobile platform where users donate, swap and receive second-hand clothing through a monthly subscription based on credits rather than direct monetary transactions. Each garment is curated, sanitised, digitally registered and assigned a credit value according to weight, quality, style, brand value and versatility. The model combines a hybrid revenue structure (Basic and Premium subscriptions, additional credits, partnerships with sustainable brands and public funding), reverse logistics with low-emission urban transport, traceability, an ethical surplus-management policy and alliances with third-sector organisations. The plan is aligned with SDGs 12, 13 and 17, and also with SDG 8. Expected outcomes for the first year include 1,200 recirculated garments, 2,500 kg of CO₂ avoided, a 95% reuse or recycling rate for waste, at least 15% of jobs held by people from vulnerable groups and 24 community events. Financially, the plan requires an initial investment of €120,000 and projects a first-year loss, break-even during the second year and a net profit of €210,000 in the third year, conditional on reaching 2,500 users and expanding to Barcelona. The article closes with lessons for managers on monetising circularity, building critical mass, designing transparent value units, treating logistics as a strategic capability and reconciling impact targets with unit economics.