From principle to practice Embedding sustainability in clothing supply chain strategies

Building on the supply chain management (SCM) principles, the emerging discipline of sustainable supply chain management explicitly incorporates the ecological and social aspects of business, as well as economic sustainability. Building on sustainability theory and supply chain strategy, this chapter attempts to provide an integrated understanding of how supply chains can be managed in practice to effectively address the dimensions of sustainability. It analyses all stages within the clothing supply chain and assesses the different environmental and social impacts that can occur throughout the product life-cycle. The chapter considers the value of long-term, collaborative relationships in providing a coordinated supply chain strategy which addresses these serious, increasingly high profile issues, and in turn generates competitive advantage. Expanding on the three ring sector view, Inyang, Udo and Jansson, Springett and Sathiendrakumar all identify different 'strengths' of sustainability from weak to strong, and align these with the idea of an achievable standard.