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Creating Shared Values by Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals in Corporate Communication—The Case of Apparel Retail

Author

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  • Linnea Olofsson

    (Ethos International, Karlavägen 40, 114 49 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Cecilia Mark-Herbert

    (Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7060, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

Abstract

The textile and apparel industry, while endowed with enormous potential related to the development of countries, is continuously drawing attention to its negative sustainability impacts along their value chains. While apparel retail has been an early adopter to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into sustainability reports, critics point to the fact that linking sustainability activities to the SDGs is not enough, and cherry-picking low hanging fruit goals is insufficient. To address this potential discrepancy between action and communication, the aim of this study is to explain the perceived value of SDG integration in sustainability reporting in apparel retail. A comparative case study has been conducted of two Swedish apparel retail companies, Lindex and Filippa K, where six sustainability reports from 2015–2017 were reviewed. Empirical findings suggest that there is a correlation between SDG integration, communication maturity, and SDG contribution. The study points to the guiding role the SDGs may have to expand the scope of corporate impact and value in sustainability communication.

Suggested Citation

  • Linnea Olofsson & Cecilia Mark-Herbert, 2020. "Creating Shared Values by Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals in Corporate Communication—The Case of Apparel Retail," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8806-:d:433570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yu-Yin Chang & Heng-Chiang Huang, 2021. "Exploring Patterns of Evolution for Successful Global Brands: A Data-Mining Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Rohit Agrawal & Abhijit Majumdar & Kirty Majumdar & Rakesh D. Raut & Balkrishna E. Narkhede, 2022. "Attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs) through supply chain practices and business strategies: A systematic review with bibliometric and network analyses," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3669-3687, November.
    3. Patricia SanMiguel & Silvia Pérez-Bou & Teresa Sádaba & Pedro Mir-Bernal, 2021. "How to Communicate Sustainability: From the Corporate Web to E-Commerce. The Case of the Fashion Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-27, October.
    4. Elías Domingo‐Posada & Pilar L. González‐Torre & Marta M. Vidal‐Suárez, 2024. "Sustainable development goals and corporate strategy: A map of the field," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 2733-2748, July.
    5. María Garrido-Ruso & Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Albertina Paula Monteiro, 2022. "Businesses’ Role in the Fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-35, July.

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