Challenges and Best Practices in Clothing Industry for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

This document discusses the challenges faced by the clothing industry in terms of corporate responsibility and sustainability. It explores issues such as environmental pollution, lack of recycling, chemical use, and animal cruelty. The document also highlights the best practices adopted by the industry, including fair wages, employee safety, environmental initiatives, and animal welfare. Additionally, it provides potential suggestions for businesses in the industry to show accountability and consider global considerations.

BUSINESS ETHICS
RESPONSIBILITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
Key challenges relation to corporate responsibility & sustainability relating to clothing
industry........................................................................................................................................3
Best practices considered within chosen sector, making reference to ethical and moral
problems......................................................................................................................................5
Potential suggestions for businesses in industry to show they are being more accountable by
taking into account global considerations...................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Ethics, responsibility and sustainability are key element of business success and growth.
By following business ethics principles, and CSR policies a company can sustain for long with
specific sector in effective manner. In business, three aspects of sustainability include social,
economic & environmental. The role of organizations in addressing all these threes elements
depend on management activities implemented in the firms. Due to performing unethical
practices, a company cannot be able to sustain for longer time period as it effects profitability
and its productivity negatively as well as build negative brand image within market place.
The current study will explain challenges faced by sector in relation to corporate
responsibility and sustainability. It will justify the best practices within industry, making
reference to moral and ethical issues. Furthermore, it will clarify possible suggestions for
companies operating in specific sector to show they are being more responsible by taking into
international considerations.
TASK
Key challenges relation to corporate responsibility & sustainability relating to clothing industry
Clothing industry is one of the most profitable and globally integrated sectors in the
whole world. It summarizes forms of trade and sector along production as well as life chain of
garments and clothing, starting with textile industry, embellishment utilizing embroidery, via
fashion sector to fashion retailers up to trade with textile recycling and second hand clothes.
While operating businesses and their operations activities, this industry face a lot of challenges
related to business accountability and sustainability, which direct impact on its brand value and
market position all over the world in negative manner.
Environmental challenges-
It can be said that, second to oil production, clothing industry is the most polluting sector
in the world and apparel's material is a wider contribution to this major issues. Cotton is
recognize as natural fibre that make up to over 40% of clothing, but, it unfortunately has
devastating impact on environment and more consumers are becoming aware of it (Garcia-
Torres, Rey-Garcia and Albareda-Vivo, 2017). It is extremely watered intensive, especially
needing 6500 to 15,600 litres per pound of cotton. Furthermore, for manufacture of cotton, wide
amounts of toxic pesticides are utilized by clothing industry, that make it most chemically
dependant element in the universe. It is one of the biggest challenge, sector faces since for so

long that affect human as well as wild life. For example, when people wash their cotton clothes,
it contaminates water which goes through various small rivers where fishes and other animals,
die due to toxic as harmful chemical. It analysed that these chemical have detrimental health
impact on workers who perform and work in clothing sector, to produce clothes for men, women
and child. There are other types of materials this sector uses that are hazardous to natural
environment around people are nylon and polyester which are non-biodegradable.
Less recycling products-
Another challenge related to clothing industry that affect its sales, market image and
overall operational efficiency is, lack recycling products, like use of plastic packaging. Clothing
industry for packing their products are using plastic bags, that contribute in landfill with
materials which are cannot recyclable (Koszewska, 2018). Plastic is one of the most potential
element that contribute in land pollution, it is not easy to recycle. Recycling plastic will also put
negative impact on environment as it horrible for beauty of nature and fresh air. When people
drop their plastic waste, polythene and bags into recycling bin, it most likely makes their way
around the universe, where it can be posed a health risk to individual. In many countries, like
UK, USA and other, government make strict rules for clothing industry, they ban use of plastic
for any purpose which save environment, but affect overall business practices. A growing
number of people who are showing their environmental concern, pressurizing clothing industry
to ban plastic packaging and contribute in CSR activities. Due to this challenge, management
face a lot of issues as they are feeling high pressure to do what market wants in short term
period, which is not possible.
Affect of chemical used-
Clothing industry is considered as polluting industry, they face sustainability and
corporate responsibility challenges includes multiple, complicated and interrelated issues
(Goworek and et.al., 2018). They not play a important role in global public discourse on water
shortage, climate change, human rights and chemical society. Their consumption and production
raise varied questions and worries that create challenges about how local people live their social,
political and economic lives as well. It identifies that clothing industry use chemical to dye their
clothes and make it attractive, that attention of buyers towards purchasing, but it effects
environment negatively. Chemical dyes that are already used in manufacture of clothes lead to
skin issues. Problems such as rashes, eczema and skin irritation have been noted among most

consumers on account of dangerous toxins in garment worn by people. Chemical use not only
affect environment, but it also impacts health of human who wear it. Use of large amount of
pesticides, which is harmful to people, it can lead to symptoms such as tremors, seizures,
headaches, loss of consciousness, nausea and in some major cases, death. This challenge is as
major as other and impact operational efficiencies.
Animal cruelty-
Along with above challenges, clothing industry face another challenge that relate to
business responsibility as well as sustainability, and that is use of animal skin for producing
clothes or belts (Park, Lee and Koo, 2017). It can be said that, each ear this sector is cause of
millions of carnal who suffer importantly and who are harmed or killed unethically, just for sake
of fashion. Internationally, animal cruelty is major contribution of customers' purchasing habits.
Buyers desperately attempt to make a differences by eating less meat by incorporating,
completely avoid some goods that do animal testing, Clothing sector is no exclusion, cashmere,
wool, silk, shearling, leather, fur and other products are all examples of things where animals
poorly had to pay price for fashion trends.
In many nations, people and community raise their voice against this issue, they demand
for taking legal action against it, which is really very important for animal safety. Due to this
reason, clothing industry face a lot of legal issues from national or local government sides to
show their carbon foot print and follow CSR practices in context of business, which make them
able to sustain for long period. These challenges are putting high pressure on sector and force
them to do their best.
Best practices considered within chosen sector, making reference to ethical and moral problems
Clothing industry is primarily concerned with production, design and distribution of yarn,
garments and cloth. The raw material may be synthetic or natural using goods of non chemical
sector. In context of ethical and morale issues, apparel industry make their contribution at higher
level, they conduct the best practices to overcome varied situations around the world. There are
the best practice within clothing industry, considered reference to morale as well as ethical
issues.
Livable wages-
In order to enhance and improve living standards of people and their workers, clothing
industry provide fair wages to them, It is one of the best practice they conduct reference to

ethical issues. They practice widely regarding livable wages, some firms pay less wage while
other pay competitive rates to new applicants and existing workers. Manufacturers within this
sector who outsource jobs to foreign firms in UK and other nations might attempt to get around
paying livable salary to candidates. This activity is defined as minimum income necessary for
workers to meet their basic requirements and needs relating to psychological, social and other
(Roos and et.al., 2017). Clothing industry assure stakeholders that their employees in abroad
obtain livable and fair wages for work they do, which is quite beneficial for applicants as it
makes them capable to fulfil personal needs like food, home and clothes. It is socially acceptable
extent of incomes that caters adequate coverage for common necessitate such as shelter.
Employee safety-
Workers safety and security is included in list of ethical issues that are facing by many
companies or industries as it direct impact on brand image in specific market. Clothing industry
take important and quick actions in context of this issue (Jilcha and Kitaw, 2017). At domestic
and global level, they abide by appropriate safety measure to assure that staffs are treated in
moral as well as ethical manner. It executed by occupational safety and health management
guidelines and an examination of apparel sector with regard to ergonomics, machine operation,
noise, exposure to cotton dust, hazardous substances, heat stress and dye safety. For instance, for
basic safety direction regarding stitching clothes, OSHA has a page on their sites with in detail
info about appropriate sewing and posture techniques or methods. It is one of their best practices,
clothing industry do for employees and social welfare. Safety of one of the major concerns of
people, they want to work in safe and health environment at workplace that enhance performance
and motivational level.
Going green-
With all above activities, it can be said that clothing sector do their best for preventing
environment and protect beauty of nature in ethical manner. For example, synthetic fibers are not
easy to dye than natural materials (Desore and Narula, 2018). Manufacturers operating under
this industry add heavy metals & toxic elements to water to aid dyes cling to these inorganic
fabrics. It creates pollution in type of run-off to rivers, oceans and lakes. With concerns over this
water pollution, sector have begun to utilize more environmentally friendly items. Industry
moves and driving their operations towards as Eco-friendly clothing sectors. As they use
bamboo, organic cotton, hemp and soy to weave fabrics and then utilize plant based dyes to

provide fabric colour. Management with apparel industry are using recyclable synthetic material
like plastic bags, polyester and other things in their goods in an attempt to keep non-
biodegradable things out of landfills. It is the best thing they are doing to make environment free
from any type of pollution that affect human and water life in negative manner.
Animal well fare-
Every year, billion of animals dies and suffer for accessories and clothing. Skin is torn
from them to make leather, small animals are caged for life before being murdered for their fur
and birds are held down while handfuls of feathers are rake out of sensitive skins. It is one of the
major human concern, regard to it clothing industry take essential step as they decided to not kill
animals for fur, they manufacture artificial fur by using cotton gathered from natural elements.
People have utilized wool, leather and other things for years and a billion of poor animals are
brutally slaughtered each ear for apparel industry. In recent time, for producing clothes sector use
natural elements for making artificial leather belts, they do not animals skin and killed them for
products. They use earth friendly vegan materials mostly indistinguishable from and far extreme
to animal derived counter parts.
Practice for reducing misleading advertising-
Clothing industry to aware people about their products and materials they use for
production which is made from natural materials, plan for marketing via using all social media
and digital platforms that help to minimize risk of misleading promotions. It is one of the ethical
issues, that may be impact on sales and success of sector negatively and decrease its consumers
base quickly (Garcia-Torres, Rey-Garcia and Albareda-Vivo, 2017). It can be said that ethical
problems occurs within every sector, to overcome it industry must take appropriate actions and
develop strategies which is quite beneficial for them as well as stakeholders who are connected
with them since for so long. When sector engage in false marketing, their consumers will
perceive them as untrustworthy, it analysed that misleading advertising is also considered as
ethical issues that affect entire operational and functional functions of clothing industry. To
reduce risk of this issue, sector promote what actually they want to offer target market.
Potential suggestions for businesses in industry to show they are being more accountable by
taking into account global considerations
Within clothing industry, there are many companies or businesses are operating and
managing ventures activities in effective manner. H&M, Nike and Reebok are the most popular

organization in the world, running within apparel sector and offering their quality goods to
consumers according their needs. In order to show that they are being more responsible by taking
into account of worldwide consideration, companies can follow appropriate suggestions and
suitable recommendations which is quite beneficial for them.
 Government and consumers concern for sustainability environment as they put high
pressure on H&M and other companies to reduce their carbon foot print and consider all
CSR practices in effective manner. Firm must manufacture Eco-clothes that had better
quality and last a long period, because of this consumer need fewer clothes, less energy
and raw materials are utilized and there is less waste (Karamova, 2019). It is one of the
best way companies should use to develop positive brand image in international and
national market as it also help to gain attention of younger people who understand the
importance of sustainable environment in recent time.
 With above suggestions, it recommends to firms must use system of eco-labelling as it
help to grantee standards in further time (Bhardwaj and et.al., 2020). It should being
established to reflect that clothes or garments have been made from organic fabrics and
produced in an environmentally friendly manner. It is quite beneficial for H&M, Nike
and other firms in term of increasing their sales, sustaining business and retaining
consumers with them for long. They must use organic materials while producing items
for target market which in return make them more capable to make money even better.
 Business are suggested for process to be avoided many things like utilize of chlorinated
organic compounds as carries in dyeing of polyester and Bleaching with hypochlorite. It
is one of the global concern, that affect practices of businesses effectively. Instead of
using chemical for bleaching clothes, companies must use natural colour from plants and
other sources. As it help to save water from chemical contaminating and prevent people
from any skin disease that is really very important to do.
 Out of all approaches enacted by different clothing organizations, it considered like
active participation and transparency in implementing more ethical and sustainable
policies were required. Without transparency, there is not force to do excellent,
inspiration and trust between buyers and firms. Transparency require to be more basic
place in businesses so that people can comprehend where their garments are made, how
its produce and the resource and sources that helped to create their apparel.

 Production transparency must be provided by companies which can be achieved through
requiring them to produce early sustainability reports with detailed data regarding
employees, materials utilized, factor or workplace conditions and suppliers. Public
reports let buyers understand what they are purchasing and aids them become more
informed citizens.
 It recommend to companies for implementing sustainability supply chain model which is
beneficial and useful for them. Pollutions do not acknowledge political limitations and
sustainability must be worked into corporate models for clothing firms. It is better
example of eliminating waste throughout whole procedures of cloth production. When
big organizations like H&M have limits on amount of pollution that they can release, it
an force them to invest more efficient pathways of manufacture and stop some of more
unethical and unsustainable manufacturing activities. Nike and other companies must
implement this practice in their production process by utilizing non-toxic dyes, using less
water intensive approaches, and other harmful chemicals as well as using biodegradable
product packaging.
 As people are demanding more accountable and sustainable items all over the world, not
brand can afford to get left behind. To encourage consumers to purchase clothes from
outlets to obtain that vintage look, companies and other apparel manufactures must
create innovative ways in which to rescue fabrics for production of garments, They
should use recyclable polyester which is made form recycled plastic bottles. By
implementing all these suggestions companies definitely shows their responsibility by
considering global concern, that is waster reduction, lack of water pollution etc.
 The things are melted together, turned into new yarn and then spun into material, it can
be used as named upcycling which must concentrate on developing whole collections out
of materials & fabric which had been declared as unessential or waste through textile
survey due to minor faults. In recent time, there is no way of leaking accountability an
company has to operate ethically and responsibly as well as sustainably, because
Corporate social responsibility concerns for consumers cannot be ignored.
 Companies must invest in their future business growth by taking accounts of global
concerns, they should use advanced technologies and methods to reduce work pressure
on workers and make them feel more comfortable at workplace. Instead of increasing

prices of products, they should provide fair salary to workers which is beneficial in term
of promoting their concern for employees well fare. It can be said that by focusing and
then adopting all suggestions companies will go longer within clothing industry.
CONCLUSION
From above analysis it has been concluded that clothing industry is contributing in
environment sustainability and human well fare as they are taking many actions in effective
manner. They take actions for providing appropriate working environment to workers and fair
wages to them, which in return building strong and positive image of sector in whole world.
They also contribute by offering employment chances to local people who are unable to live a
normal life because of poverty. Furthermore, it has been summarized that clothing industry are
facing a lot of challenges like environmental, animal cruelty that impact on their market position
and reputation negatively, but after considering possible recommendations and following the
principles or rules of corporate social responsibility they are effectively sustaining at both
national and international level. They are generating more profit, and increasing consumers base
after selling quality products to people without using animals skins for production operation.

REFERENCES
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