HOW COMPREHENSIVE IS SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE APPAREL RETAIL SEGMENT? A DUTCH CASE STUDY

Abstract

Through an analysis of corporate information the paper analyses which practices apparel retailers adopt along the whole supply chain to cover the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. A theoretical framework has been made to see which practices are most important in representing the three dimensions of sustainable development in the Sustainable Supply Chain Management of apparel retailers. Based on the theoretical framework an analysis has been conducted on eight large apparel retailers in the Netherlands. The results present a fragmented implementation of practices and a lack of integration of the three dimensions in SSCM by apparel retailers in the Netherlands. The economic dimension of sustainability is the least represented dimension in their SSCM. The apparel retailes seem to engage in SSCM more to respond to pressure from stakeholders than real commitment to sustainable development.