Motivating Factors for Implementing Apparel Certification Schemes—A Sustainable Supply Chain Management Perspective

Nelly Oelze,Tim Gruchmann,Marcus Brandenburg

doi:10.3390/su12124823

Abstract

The motivations for clothing companies to implement dedicated certification schemes as sustainability practices has received limited attention in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) research so far. Therefore, it is important to understand how different rationales for the implementation of certification schemes have developed in the past because they considerably influence the overall success of sustainability management efforts. This paper picks up on this gap and presents the results of an in-depth comparative case study drawing on interviews conducted with five managers of three companies from the clothing sector in 2018 and abductive content analysis. By applying such a qualitative approach, this study explores motivations and benefits as well as elaborates on the implementation of certification schemes in apparel supply chains. It outlines that certification in the clothing sector is driven by strategic factors, marketing considerations, and information considering sustainability aspects. The study also shows that certification schemes may strengthen the marketing and competitive position of clothing companies as well as sustainability awareness in textile and apparel supply chains in general. Finally, a framework conceptualized from the findings of the interviews presents relevant SSCM practices in the clothing industry. Therefore, the present study contributes to theory building in SSCM by confirming and extending previous research on the implementation of certification schemes for sustainability, as well as to practice by examining reasons to apply certification schemes and potential performance outcomes.

Highlights

Due to the interdependence of international markets, textile and apparel supply chains have become more globalized as they become even more connected to developing countries [1]
The bluesign certification scheme enables entire supply chains to be certified with the same sustainability criteria by collaborating with all members participating in product creation along the supply chain
Further findings regarding the reasons for applying certification schemes have been found in case studies that have not been clearly discussed in the existing literature yet

Summary

Introduction

Due to the interdependence of international markets, textile and apparel supply chains have become more globalized as they become even more connected to (and within) developing countries [1]. These increases in outsourcing and international trade have connected a large number of people in emerging and developing countries to the world market While incidents such as the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh in 2013 have made social and environmental violations in apparel supply chains more obvious, various stakeholders and proactive management approaches have placed sustainability issues along supply chains on the business agenda [2,3]. Due to these changing conditions of economies and societies, clothing companies need to be adaptable and flexible in order to meet new and unpredictable sustainability requirements and other external challenges within this increasingly complex competitive environment [4]. Social and environmental issues along textile and apparel supply chains can lead to operational and reputational risks for clothing companies [5] and their globally fragmented and dynamic supply networks [6,7,8]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion