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Corporate sustainability reporting in the apparel industry

Author

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  • Anika Kozlowski
  • Cory Searcy
  • Michal Bardecki

Abstract

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to identify the reported indicators in corporate sustainability reports, other documents and the web sites of 14 apparel brands belonging to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). Design/methodology/approach - – A content analysis of the corporate sustainability reports, other documents and web sites of the 14 SAC apparel brands was conducted to identify indicators related to sustainability. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on all reported sustainability initiatives, actions, and indicators. A normative business model was developed for the categorization of the indicators and a cross-case analysis of the apparel brand’s sustainability reporting was conducted. Findings - – In total, 87 reported corporate sustainability indicators were identified. The study finds that there is a lack of consistency among them. The majority of the indicators dealt with performance in supply-chain sustainability while the least frequently reported indicators addressed business innovation and consumer engagement. Originality/value - – This paper provides one of the first in-depth reviews of the indicators reported by apparel brands within their web sites and other forms of corporate sustainability reporting.

Suggested Citation

  • Anika Kozlowski & Cory Searcy & Michal Bardecki, 2015. "Corporate sustainability reporting in the apparel industry," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 64(3), pages 377-397, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijppmp:v:64:y:2015:i:3:p:377-397
    DOI: 10.1108/IJPPM-10-2014-0152
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Raphaëlle Stewart & Peter Fantke & Anders Bjørn & Mikołaj Owsianiak & Christine Molin & Michael Zwicky Hauschild & Alexis Laurent, 2018. "Life cycle assessment in corporate sustainability reporting: Global, regional, sectoral, and company‐level trends," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1751-1764, December.
    2. Esther Oluwadamilola Olufemi Rotimi & Cheree Topple & John Hopkins, 2021. "Towards A Conceptual Framework of Sustainable Practices of Post-consumer Textile Waste at Garment End of Lifecycle: A Systematic Literature Review Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Abbate, Stefano & Centobelli, Piera & Cerchione, Roberto, 2023. "From Fast to Slow: An Exploratory Analysis of Circular Business Models in the Italian Apparel Industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. Donna Marshall & Lucy McCarthy & Marius Claudy & Paul McGrath, 2019. "Piggy in the Middle: How Direct Customer Power Affects First-Tier Suppliers’ Adoption of Socially Responsible Procurement Practices and Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(4), pages 1081-1102, February.
    5. Sofia Garcia-Torres & Marta Rey-Garcia & Laura Albareda-Vivo, 2017. "Effective Disclosure in the Fast-Fashion Industry: from Sustainability Reporting to Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-27, December.
    6. Jolanta Maj, 2018. "Embedding Diversity in Sustainability Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Mariachiara Colucci & Alessandra Vecchi, 2021. "Close the loop: Evidence on the implementation of the circular economy from the Italian fashion industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 856-873, February.
    8. Zoe Mellick & Alice Payne & Laurie Buys, 2021. "From Fibre to Fashion: Understanding the Value of Sustainability in Global Cotton Textile and Apparel Value Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Dirk C. Moosmayer & Yanyan Chen & Susannah M. Davis, 2019. "Deeds Not Words: A Cosmopolitan Perspective on the Influences of Corporate Sustainability and NGO Engagement on the Adoption of Sustainable Products in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 135-154, August.
    10. Moreno-Miranda, Carlos & Dries, Liesbeth, 2022. "Integrating coordination mechanisms in the sustainability assessment of agri-food chains: From a structured literature review to a comprehensive framework," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    11. Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Rafael Caliani Janeiro & Ana Beatriz Lopes Sousa Jabbour & Jose Alcides Gobbo Junior & Manoel Henrique Salgado & Daniel Jugend, 2020. "Social aspects of sustainable supply chains: unveiling potential relationships in the Brazilian context," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 290(1), pages 327-341, July.
    12. Todeschini, Bruna Villa & Cortimiglia, Marcelo Nogueira & Callegaro-de-Menezes, Daniela & Ghezzi, Antonio, 2017. "Innovative and sustainable business models in the fashion industry: Entrepreneurial drivers, opportunities, and challenges," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(6), pages 759-770.
    13. N. Denuwara & A. Kim & V. Atree & P. Newenhisen & C. Gibson & D. Schork & M. Hakovirta, 2022. "Corporate economic performance and sustainability indices: a study based on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-22, July.
    14. Letizia Tebaldi & Barbara Bigliardi & Eleonora Bottani, 2018. "Sustainable Supply Chain and Innovation: A Review of the Recent Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-29, October.
    15. Elisa Arrigo, 2020. "Global Sourcing in Fast Fashion Retailers: Sourcing Locations and Sustainability Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-22, January.
    16. Margherita Pero & Elisa Arrigo & Antoinette Fionda-Douglas, 2020. "Sustainability in Fashion Brands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-4, July.
    17. Hosang Jung, 2017. "Evaluation of Third Party Logistics Providers Considering Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    18. Nataša Verk & Urša Golob & Klement Podnar, 2021. "A Dynamic Review of the Emergence of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 491-515, January.
    19. Jeng-Bang Wang & Guan-Hua Wang & Chung-Ya Ou, 2023. "The Key Factors for Sustainability Reporting Adoption in the Semiconductor Industry Using the Hybrid FRST-PSO Technique and Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    20. Raphaëlle Stewart & Monia Niero, 2018. "Circular economy in corporate sustainability strategies: A review of corporate sustainability reports in the fast‐moving consumer goods sector," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 1005-1022, November.
    21. Thorey S Thorisdottir & Lara Johannsdottir, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility Influencing Sustainability within the Fashion Industry. A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-64, November.
    22. Chan, Hau-Ling & Wei, Xiaoyong & Guo, Shu & Leung, Wing-Hong, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in fashion supply chains: A multi-methodological study," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    23. Sheila Mendes Fernandes & Antonio Cezar Bornia, 2019. "Reporting on supply chain sustainability: Measurement using item response theory," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 106-116, January.
    24. Giorgia Miotto & Marc Polo López & Josep Rom Rodríguez, 2019. "Gender Equality and UN Sustainable Development Goals: Priorities and Correlations in the Top Business Schools’ Communication and Legitimation Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    25. Deniz Köksal & Jochen Strähle & Martin Müller, 2018. "Social Sustainability in Apparel Supply Chains—The Role of the Sourcing Intermediary in a Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-35, March.

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