Doing More on the Corporate Sustainability Front: A Longitudinal Analysis of CSR Reporting of Global Fashion Companies

Abstract

The fashion industry has been under the spotlight in recent years due to its negative social and environmental impacts. However, there is limited literature on how companies in the fashion industry communicate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. This study aims to present a full picture of the paradigm of CSR reporting in the fashion industry by revealing the changes in CSR reporting practices and identifying the possible reasons behind the change. Content analysis was employed to investigate 12 global fashion companies’ 43 CSR reports from 2013 to 2016. Findings showed that more comprehensive CSR reporting was practiced in the fashion industry to meet stakeholders’ expectations. The reporting of 16 CSR issues experienced a rise. Labor and environmental issues were predominant in the reports while more attention was given to human rights, human development and training, and sustainable resource use. A growing use of a proactive approach in reporting environmental issues was also witnessed. This study is the first to offer insights into how global fashion corporations communicate their CSR practices via CSR reports and provides useful information about CSR strategies, practices and reporting in the fashion industry.