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From fibre to fashion : Understanding the value of sustainability in global cotton textile and apparel value chains
Mellick, Zoe Payne, Alice Buys, Laurie
Mellick, Zoe
Payne, Alice
Buys, Laurie
Author
Abstract
Current sustainability frameworks and tools to assess and track social and environmental impacts of textile and apparel (such as life cycle analysis) along the chain, although important, provide a narrow focus on metrics (such as a reduction in inputs) or on economic value. This paper proposes a tailored method which combines value chain thinking with qualitative value mapping techniques to identify what sustainable value means and to whom, who benefits both in and beyond the chain (such as wider society, the environment, local communities), as well as opportunities to create sustainable value in the future. Results from interviews with stakeholders of a single connected cotton value chain demonstrate that this approach can identify sustainable value propositions specific to different actors in the chain, temperature-test whether stakeholders are willing to pay a premium price for sustainability efforts, and identify novel sustainable value opportunities that disrupt the chain. In addition to extending knowledge around sustainability in the textile and apparel industry, our contribution also lies in the development of a tailored tool which can be adapted and used for other value chains.
Keywords
sustainable value, sustainability, sustainable fashion, textile and apparel industry, value chain, cotton
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
Sustainability
Book
Volume
13
Issue
22
Page Range
1-21
Article Number
Article 12681
ACU Department
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open