Challenges and Best Practices in Clothing Industry for Sustainability and CSR

This report discusses the key challenges faced by the clothing industry in terms of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. It explores issues such as child labor, working conditions, animal cruelty, and environmental impact. The report also analyzes the best practices that can promote growth and sustainability in the industry, including ethical theories such as deontology, utilitarianism, rights, and virtues. Recommendations are provided for the clothing industry to consider in order to meet global ethical standards and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Business Ethics
Responsibility and
Sustainability

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1. Key challenges in clothing sectors relating to corporate responsibility and sustainability.....3
2 Analysis of best practices for growth and sustainability of clothing sector.............................5
Recommendations for considerations in clothing industry within global considerations...........7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Business operates in society so it is their responsibility to take several steps for benefit of
people or conservation of natural resources and environment so that no harm can be caused to
other person. People and government are becoming more and more concerned about increasing
pollution and wastages of resources that has impacted environment adversely. They want
sustainable management to be promoted by organisation so that resources can be available for
future generation. Clothing is one of the main industries that employees 70% of women and 26.5
million of people thus making their life better. This report discussed about key challenges that of
clothing industries in sustainability and corporate social responsibilities. It also includes different
ethical practices and moral principle that may be used by clothing industries to promote
sustainability and CSR activities. At report suggested various recommendations about the way
clothing sectors can become more responsible.
1. Key challenges in clothing sectors relating to corporate responsibility and sustainability
In recent trends people have become more demanding as they mostly prefer firms that
take crucial steps to protect environment or preserve resources so that future generation can also
have fun and enjoyment. So, company that are operating in clothing industry have to adapt to
external changes or incorporates CSR activities and sustainable management of resources to
retained their competitive market positioning (Del Baldo and Baldarelli, 2017). There are various
key challenges of sustainability and CSR activities for clothing industry that are explained
below:
Child labour: One of the most concerns of consumer is increasing child labour in fashion
industry across worldwide as large numbers of children are employed for yarn spinning,
production of cotton seeds and various phases of garments. Most of the companies in order to
save their cost have employed child so that they can earn more profitability and market share.
Enterprise that are providing initiative to child labour have resulted in negative impact on their
brand image thus long term growth and survival of business in competitive market (Jacobs and
et.al., 2018). Consumers have stopped purchased products and services from companies that are
promoting child labour for their benefits. Enterprise just in order to earn more profitability have
forced child to work in unhealthy working condition that can cause harm to themselves and
other people that are working in enterprise.

Working condition: It can be stated that majority of manufacturing clothing firms are located in
poorest part across worldwide because they have cheap labour. Companies that are operating in
clothing sectors are forcing poorest people to work for longer working hours and unfair wages so
that they can earn large amount of profitability. Most of the enterprises have not taken steps to
provide safe and secure environment to employees that have adversely impacted on their health
and well-being. Workers are forced to works for almost 7 days or 10-12 hours per day in peak
season at lowest wages which lead to poor health condition. Due to unsafe working environment
many workers have to suffer from diseases and injuries so all such activities are against ethical
practices (Eizaguirre, García-Feijoo and Laka, 2019). Poor wages have resulted in lack of
vitamin or mineral in their diets as they does not have sufficient money to have healthy and
better lifestyles. Therefore, business in order to create strong brand image and customers
satisfaction have to takes steps to provide better working condition, working hours and
appropriates wages as per their work.
Animal cruelty: Another challenge in clothing sector related to Corporate social responsibility is
that millions of animal are killed unethically thus for sake of fashion and satisfaction of
customers requirements beyond their expectancy. People highly avoid products that are made by
killing animal or testing on animals such as meat in order to protect their life. There are various
material that have to be drive from animal such as silk, fur, wool and leather so they just have to
pay price for fashion. Today, also there are various companies that are manufacturing products
by using material that cause threat to life of animal such as leather and wool or fur in order to
fulfil requirements of customer. So, all such unethical practices have lead to threat to availability
of animal in environment.
Impact on environment: it have been analysed that clothing is one of the major or largest
industry that cause lot of pollution or wastage of resources so that unique products can be
delivered to end customers. Materials that are used in manufacturing of clothing is a major
factors that have lead problem related to environment or ineffective use of resources. 40% of
clothes are made up of cotton which has adverse impact on environment and natural resources of
country. It can be stated that around 6400-15500 litres of water is required by cotton as it is
highly water intensive so large amount of water is wastages in manufacturing clothes so that
people can look and feel better. Most of the firms make use of large amount of toxic pesticides
and chemical for production of cotton that is used as clothing material (Gomez-Trujillo and

Gonzalez-Perez, 2020). There are several negative impacted on mental health of people that
work in field of growing crop. Therefore it can be illustrated that clothing industries is a second
sectors after oil production that have caused harm and damage to natural resources and
environment.
There are various other materials which are also used in clothing that is nylon and polyester
that are hazardous to environment as they are non biodegradable in nature. Lot of time, energy is
needed to produce both nylon and polyester so it also create threat to availability of energy in
environment thus for sake of satisfaction of customers requirements. In production of fibre lot of
oil, pesticides and water is wastage that resulted in ill impact on environmental condition.
Various chemical are used in process of clothing that is spinning, dying and weaving that created
threat to health and safety of individuals as well as environment. Therefore it can be illustrated
that through the process of creating, selling and using garment both society and environment are
affected adversely as lot of carbon dioxide is realised that resulted in diseases like bulimia and
anorexia.
There are various threat to sustainability of business as due to continuous decreasing in
profit margin of enterprise that are operating in clothing sectors. There are increase number of
rules and regulation related to preservation of natural resources and environment that hinder
smooth operation of business (Park, Lee, and Koo, 2017). There is continuous increase in cost,
competitive level and changes in preference of customers or policies of government that have
created problem in companies. Enterprise has less amount of capital so it create problem for
them to adapt to innovative technologies to meet customers expectancy and earn profit.
Therefore these are all key challenges of corporate social responsibilities and sustainability in
clothing sector.
2 Analysis of best practices for growth and sustainability of clothing sector
Companies by adapting to ethical practices or theories can enhanced their brand image,
market share and customers satisfaction thus promote growth and success of enterprise in
competitive market. There are various ethical theories that can be used in clothing sectors so that
no harm can be caused to other individual so that maximum values can be delivered.
Management of enterprise in clothing sectors need to consider ethical practice, moral principles
and values in order to increased its profitability and long term survival of firm (Patwa and
Seetharaman, 2019). Such as:

Deontology: It is type of ethical theory in which people should adhere to their respective
obligation and duties while taking any decision. It should takes decision on equal and rational
basis so that no harm can be caused to other individual in society. Senior executive, management
or directors of companies that are operating in clothing industries have to follow their duties and
responsibilities accurately. It means they should ensure that poor working condition is provided
to employees so that no harm, minor or major injuries can be caused to them. Technologies and
training needs to be provide to employees so that they can reduce amount of wastages and
manufacture products in best possible way that fulfil customer’s requirements. They should also
monitors and supervise that any employees within firm is not forced to more time at lower wages
as it lead to poor health and sleep (Murray, 2017). It should provide wages to employees as per
their hard work and determination so that they can be motivated to give their best for growth and
success of enterprise. Therefore it can be stated that senior executive of firms by responsibly
performing their respective task can reduce child labour, exploitation of worker to work overtime
in poor working environment. Management or senior executive ensure and plans that various
steps are taken to reduce wastage and optimum utilisation of resources so that no harm can be
caused to environment and human being. It needs to take decision related to standard policies
and procedure or minimum wastages of water, oil so that natural resources can be saved.
Utilitarian: It is another ethical theory that can be used in clothing sectors for promoting right
practices that state action needs to be taken that are beneficial for greater or large number of
people. Management in order to promote best practices within clothing sectors have to analysis
and identify impact of particular action on number of people. Such as company by making use of
organic raw material or products that are eco friendly can provides benefits to large number of
people that highly likes to have fashionable products. Organisation by incorporating social
responsibilities and sustainable management is able to meet expectancy of customers beyond
their expectancy (Malpani and Kulhari, 2017). It by ensuring working condition and equal wages
is able to provide benefits to employees as well as customers as employees are highly inspired
and motivated to render best services to customers. Minimum wastage of resources and reducing
animal cruelty can ensure better health and well-being of exciting as well as future generation.
Therefore companies by taking steps in corporate social responsibilities and sustainable
management can provide benefits to maximum number of individual that are living in society.

Right: There are several rights that are given by government to individuals so that company can
exploit them to work over time or at lower wages. These rights are used by most of the people in
society such better working condition, equal opportunities and wages for their effective
lifestyles. Clothing industries enterprise needs to ensure that no right of individual being
exploited for gain of company (Filip and et.al., 2016). Such as each individual have a right to get
appropriate wages for its work, safe and secure working environment so that no harm can be
caused to their health and safety or child have right to education not to work. Customers are also
have right to select particular company or not so firms in order to continue their operation have
to protect right of each individuals.
Virtues: This ethical theory state that people need to be judged on basis of its characteristics
rather than various actions that it has taken. As per research clothing is second industry in world
that cause most harm or damage to environment so it have become mentally of people that
companies make use of unethical practices that is poor working environment to employees or
animal cruelty. Therefore, companies in order to promote ethical practices have to takes steps to
create strong brand image and reputation by ensuring that grievance of employees are satisfied in
best possible manner (Moorhouse and Moorhouse, 2018). Customers are provided products that
are made from less harmful raw material or chemical, pesticides for better safety and security of
individual health and well being. It has to provide information that no harm has been caused to
environment, natural resources or animal while manufacturing of products so that customers are
motivated to select particular company products as compared to other competitors in market.
Recommendations for considerations in clothing industry within global considerations
There are various recommendations whcih clothing industry shall complie to for
development of various ethical working paarmeters within world sceanrio an also use various
ethical fucntioanl stnadards of production to contribute to climate with eco friendly practises,
whciha are as follows (Valodka, Snieška and Mihi-Ramirez, 2020).
 Repair, redesign and Up cycle fashion : The clothing industry is widely developing
within global scenario where consumers are also getting widely aware for various factors
of sustainability and how companies from which they purchase are bringing on up cycled
products where eco friendly resources are used by brands among various paradigms.
Redesigning is the new moto where clothing industry is aiming forward for bringing on
sustainable use of various resources and recycling excess clothing onto various

paradigms were climate factors are focused. Companies shall be focusing to use new
production techniques where raw materials are also effectively used on among various
paradigms entirely so that consumers also relish an ideal shopping experience. The
recycling of clothing where excessive production if any by companies should be used for
various other procedures ethically where factor of sustainable technical advancement will
be focused and enhanced functional efficiency will widely increase.
 Clean and green fashion: The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industry across
globe which has been hurting from planets and animals to being widely responsible to
various depletion of resources factors within production factors (Kacani, 2020). In
changing climate conditions clothing industry is shaping its production techniques to
climate friendly green fashion practices focusing to develop stronger functional
efficiency and prioritizing eco fashion onto wider goals for gaining goodwill and stronger
position. Renewable sources of production are counted as green, with focus to contribute
minimal negative impact onto environment and also improving health of world onto
various levels. Non toxic ingredients are widely focused within company production
goals which emphasises new end goals of clean production segments and for contributing
strongly to world climate issues with strong responsibility metrics. On demand and custom clothing: This factor within eco friendly business practise where
clothing industry is heading ahead focus is built towards wider production margins
where demands and supply paradigms among company business development is focused
with how much customisation is being bought on. Customisation enables companies to
produce efficiently and productively to an extent within working paradigms onto larger
extent which also limits resource wastage widely and enable ethical business
presentation. On demand and custom clothing has been lately gaining strong measures
among world clothing industry companies where focus is towards developing websites
and online portals where people can directly choose their products and order
accordingly. There shall be more companies coming on with this innovative production
synergy to curb down losses and also effective use of resources (Gavranović, 2020). Fair and ethical fashion: This factor focuses onto use of fair and ethical business fashion
services where companies needs to stop use of leather products production which will
develop cruelty free services within clothing industry and also potentially focus onto

yielding wider working parameters of actions. Ethical and sustainable business practices
shall focus onto use of fair business with veganism, eco friendliness and sustainability
metrics and socially right people where innovative fashion is ethically focused by
companies. Consumers considerations are also focused onto quality factors where animal
skin usage is vitally not used, materialistically using various goals for technically
bringing forward eco friendly products when it comes to clothes production. Brands must
come on with various new innovative use of production where eco friendly factor is
focused onto wider levels and functionally enhance wider productive development onto
larger levels. Ethical fashion is demand of todays world where climate change is
becoming one of the most important concern for world and clothing industry being one
of the major industry contributing highly to increased CO2 levels.
These are the specific recommendations which companies ust compile to for
developing eco friendly business practises and emerging as business development
determinant wit fast changing demands of world onto wider levels. It explains how
sustainability is one of the major call of hour and also factoring useful contribution to
society is essential act for clothing industry companies. There is an active demand among
consumers choices also for eco friendly clothing practices, such as customisation
practices shall be vividly explored onto wider levels among various paradigms and
yielding onto best reflective sources of production (Adıgüzel, Linkowski and Olson,
2020).
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from above report that in recent trend company in order to sustain and
grow in competitive market condition have to takes steps toward corporate social
responsibilities. It needs to ensured that minimum amount of wastage production is released out
so that no harm can be caused to people that living in society. At last it can be stated from above
analysis that companies by using ethical or best practices within firms can contributed in growth
and expansion of clothing industry by fulfilling needs of customers in effective manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
.
Adıgüzel, F., Linkowski, C. and Olson, E., 2020. Do Sustainability Labels Make Us More
Negligent? Rebound and Moral Licensing Effects in the Clothing Industry.
In Sustainability in the Textile and Apparel Industries (pp. 1-18). Springer, Cham.
Del Baldo, M. and Baldarelli, M. G., 2017. Renewing and improving the business model toward
sustainability in theory and practice. International Journal of Corporate Social
Responsibility, 2(1). p.3.
Eizaguirre, A., García-Feijoo, M. and Laka, J. P., 2019. Defining sustainability core
competencies in business and management studies based on multinational stakeholders’
perceptions. Sustainability, 11(8). p.2303.
Filip, I and et.al., 2016. Morality and ethical theories in the context of human behavior. Ethics &
Medicine, 32(2). p.83.
Gavranović, A., 2020. Textile Market–Clothing Industry Facing New Challenges. Textile &
Leather Review, 3(2), pp.103-106.
Gomez-Trujillo, A. M. and Gonzalez-Perez, M. A., 2020. What do we know about
organizational sustainability and international business?. Management of Environmental
Quality: An International Journal.
Jacobs, K and et.al., 2018. Green thinking but thoughtless buying? An empirical extension of the
value-attitude-behaviour hierarchy in sustainable clothing. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 203. pp.1155-1169.
Kacani, J., 2020. Integration of Emerging Economies in the Global Value Chains of the Clothing
Industry. In A Data-Centric Approach to Breaking the FDI Trap Through Integration in
Global Value Chains (pp. 85-133). Springer, Cham.
Malpani, S. and Kulhari, P., 2017. ROLES OF ETHICS IN PROFESSIONALISM. International
Journal of Research in Management & Social Science, 5(1). p.27.
Moorhouse, D. and Moorhouse, D., 2018. Designing a sustainable brand strategy for the fashion
industry. Clothing Cultures, 5(1). pp.7-18
Murray, D., 2017. General Moral Theories. In The Global and the Local: An Environmental
Ethics Casebook (pp. 5-16). Brill.
Park, H., Lee, M. Y. and Koo, W., 2017. The four faces of apparel consumers: Identifying
sustainable consumers for apparel. Journal of Global Fashion Marketing, 8(4). pp.298-
312.
Patwa, N. and Seetharaman, A., 2019. Redesigning Fashion Industry: A Transformational
Circular Approach. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 21(8).
Valodka, I., Snieška, V. and Mihi-Ramirez, A., 2020. Impact of the International Trade on the
EU Clothing Industry Carbon Emissions. Engineering Economics, 31(3), pp.314-322.