IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p2065-d1601421.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Fallacies in Chain-of-Custody in Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study from the Apparel Manufacturing Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Anuradha Colombage

    (Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University, Bilinga, QLD 4225, Australia)

  • Darshana Sedera

    (Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University, Bilinga, QLD 4225, Australia)

Abstract

The apparel industry significantly contributes to climate change through its carbon emissions, excessive water usage, and waste accumulation, leading to environmental degradation and social issues such as modern slavery and poor working conditions. Amid increasing customer awareness and demands from international organizations for transparency, traceability has emerged as a critical concept, especially with advancements in technology. This study employs an interpretive case study approach, drawing early observations from a pilot project focused on traceability implementation within an apparel manufacturer and its chain-of-custody. This exploration is timely, as numerous similar initiatives are underway globally. Our research reveals that, even with the best technologies and intentions, achieving true transparency through traceability remains a challenge, often distancing stakeholders from meeting sustainability goals. Developing six (6) propositions along the way, we identify the fallacies of sustainable supply chain arising in relation to the notion of chain-of-custody. This study underscores the necessity of a collaborative approach among stakeholders to enhance traceability efforts and contribute meaningfully to sustainable practices in the apparel sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Anuradha Colombage & Darshana Sedera, 2025. "The Fallacies in Chain-of-Custody in Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study from the Apparel Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-27, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2065-:d:1601421
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2065/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2065/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wafaa A. H. Ahmed & Bart L. MacCarthy, 2021. "Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Traceability in the Textile and Apparel Supply Chain: A Case Study of the Fiber Producer, Lenzing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Luís Alves & Miguel Sá & Estrela Ferreira Cruz & Toni Alves & Marcelo Alves & João Oliveira & Manuel Santos & António Miguel Rosado da Cruz, 2023. "A Traceability Platform for Monitoring Environmental and Social Sustainability in the Textile and Clothing Value Chain: Towards a Digital Passport for Textiles and Clothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    3. John Antonakis & Samuel Bendahan & Philippe Jacquart & Rafael Lalive, 2010. "On making causal claims : A review and recommendations," Post-Print hal-02313119, HAL.
    4. Kalaiarasan, Ravi & Olhager, Jan & Agrawal, Tarun Kumar & Wiktorsson, Magnus, 2022. "The ABCDE of supply chain visibility: A systematic literature review and framework," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    5. Allen S. Lee, 1991. "Integrating Positivist and Interpretive Approaches to Organizational Research," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(4), pages 342-365, November.
    6. Sergio Bulgacov & Maria Paola Ometto & Márcia Ramos May, 2015. "Differences in sustainability practices and stakeholder involvement," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(1), pages 149-160, March.
    7. Karaosman, Hakan & Perry, Patsy & Brun, Alessandro & Morales-Alonso, Gustavo, 2020. "Behind the runway: Extending sustainability in luxury fashion supply chains," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 652-663.
    8. Woolridge, Anne C. & Ward, Garth D. & Phillips, Paul S. & Collins, Michael & Gandy, Simon, 2006. "Life cycle assessment for reuse/recycling of donated waste textiles compared to use of virgin material: An UK energy saving perspective," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 94-103.
    9. Al-Mudimigh, Abdullah S. & Zairi, Mohamed & Ahmed, Abdel Moneim M., 2004. "Extending the concept of supply chain:: The effective management of value chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 309-320, February.
    10. Sonja Schaefer & Jostein Hauge, 2023. "The muddled governance of state-imposed forced labour: multinational corporations, states, and cotton from China and Uzbekistan," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(5), pages 799-817, September.
    11. Macchion, Laura & Moretto, Antonella & Caniato, Federico & Caridi, Maria & Danese, Pamela & Vinelli, Andrea, 2015. "Production and supply network strategies within the fashion industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 173-188.
    12. Daniel DiMase & Zachary A. Collier & Jinae Carlson & Robin B. Gray & Igor Linkov, 2016. "Traceability and Risk Analysis Strategies for Addressing Counterfeit Electronics in Supply Chains for Complex Systems," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(10), pages 1834-1843, October.
    13. Singh, Akshit & Mishra, Nishikant & Ali, Syed Imran & Shukla, Nagesh & Shankar, Ravi, 2015. "Cloud computing technology: Reducing carbon footprint in beef supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 462-471.
    14. Elisa Arrigo, 2020. "Global Sourcing in Fast Fashion Retailers: Sourcing Locations and Sustainability Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-22, January.
    15. Vidal, Natalia & Kozak, Robert & Cohen, David, 2005. "Chain of custody certification: an assessment of the North American solid wood sector," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 345-355, March.
    16. Geoff Walsham, 2006. "Doing interpretive research," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 320-330, June.
    17. Jodi L. Short & Michael W. Toffel & Andrea R. Hugill, 2016. "Monitoring global supply chains," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(9), pages 1878-1897, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Arvin Sahaym & Joseph Vithayathil & Suprateek Sarker & Saonee Sarker & Niels Bjørn-Andersen, 2023. "Value Destruction in Information Technology Ecosystems: A Mixed-Method Investigation with Interpretive Case Study and Analytical Modeling," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(2), pages 508-531, June.
    2. Krishnan Nair & Waqas Haque & Steve Sauerwald, 2022. "It’s Not What You Say, But How You Sound: CEO Vocal Masculinity and the Board's Early‐Stage CEO Compensation Decisions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(5), pages 1227-1252, July.
    3. Shvartsman, Elena & Beckmann, Michael, 2015. "Stressed by your job: What is the role of personnel policy?," Working papers 2015/15, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    4. Chavez, Daniel E. & Palma, Marco A. & Nayga, Rodolfo M. & Mjelde, James W., 2020. "Product availability in discrete choice experiments with private goods," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    5. Pengji Wang & Adrian T. H. Kuah & Qinye Lu & Caroline Wong & K. Thirumaran & Emmanuel Adegbite & Wesley Kendall, 2021. "The impact of value perceptions on purchase intention of sustainable luxury brands in China and the UK," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(3), pages 325-346, May.
    6. Yi Wang & Yafei Yang & Zhaoxiang Qin & Yefei Yang & Jun Li, 2023. "A Literature Review on the Application of Digital Technology in Achieving Green Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    7. 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).
    8. Fahimeh Khatami & Francesca Romana Rinaldi & Carlo Salvato & Alberto Ferraris, 2024. "Country‐level analysis of the relationships between sustainability and the textile–clothing–leather–footwear industries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 8668-8678, December.
    9. Fracarolli Nunes, Mauro & Lee Park, Camila & Shin, Hyunju, 2021. "Corporate social and environmental irresponsibilities in supply chains, contamination, and damage of intangible resources: A behavioural approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    10. Jakub Michal & David Březina & Dalibor Šafařík & Václav Kupčák & Andrea Sujová & Jitka Fialová, 2019. "Analysis of Socioeconomic Impacts of the FSC and PEFC Certification Systems on Business Entities and Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-17, July.
    11. Mahadzirah Mohamad & Asyraf Afthanorhan* & Zainudin Awang & Morliyati Mohammad, 2019. "Comparison Between CB-SEM and PLS-SEM: Testing and Confirming the Maqasid Syariah Quality of Life Measurement Model," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 5(3), pages 608-614, 03-2019.
    12. Joanna Tyrowicz & Siri Terjesen & Jakub Mazurek, 2017. "All on board? New evidence on board gender diversity from a large panel of firms," GRAPE Working Papers 5, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    13. Giovanna Culot & Matteo Podrecca & Guido Nassimbeni & Guido Orzes & Marco Sartor, 2023. "Using supply chain databases in academic research: A methodological critique," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 59(1), pages 3-25, January.
    14. Jamie L. Gloor & Manuela Morf & Samantha Paustian-Underdahl & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2020. "Fix the Game, Not the Dame: Restoring Equity in Leadership Evaluations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(3), pages 497-511, January.
    15. Silvia Ranfagni & Wilson Ozuem, 2022. "Luxury and Sustainability: Technological Pathways and Potential Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Natalie Elms & Pamela Fae Kent, 2023. "Nomination committees in Australia, outcomes for influence of a powerful CEO and diversity," Journal of Accounting Literature, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 46(4), pages 481-509, July.
    17. Jari J. Hakanen & Petri Rouvinen & Ilkka Ylhäinen, 2021. "The Impact of Work Engagement on Future Occupational Rankings, Wages, Unemployment, and Disability Pensions—A Register-Based Study of a Representative Sample of Finnish Employees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    18. Klaus S. Friesenbichler & Andreas Reinstaller, 2023. "Small and internationalized firms competing with Chinese exporters," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(1), pages 167-192, March.
    19. Mona Haji & Laoucine Kerbache & Mahaboob Muhammad & Tareq Al-Ansari, 2020. "Roles of Technology in Improving Perishable Food Supply Chains," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-24, December.
    20. Maico Roris Severino & Moacir Godinho Filho, 2019. "POLCA system for supply chain management: simulation in the automotive industry," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 1271-1289, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2065-:d:1601421. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.