Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Perspectives, Drivers, and a Roadmap for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Textile and Clothing Industry

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Roadmap to Sustainable Textiles and Clothing

Part of the book series: Textile Science and Clothing Technology ((TSCT))

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of concepts, drivers, outcomes, and practices related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). It provides a roadmap that can guide managers in introducing CSR to their companies. In recent years, the textile and clothing industry has become more globally competitive, yet enormous gaps remain in the quest to promote and attain economic and social development that is more equitable and more environmentally grounded. Social, economic, political, and legal factors affect countries differently and result in different institutional dynamics and organizational behaviors. This has led to different CSR approaches among countries. Getting textile and clothing firms even better engaged in CSR requires ongoing efforts in conjunction with governments and society. CSR progress will be limited until the overall regulatory system is updated to provide stronger institutions and improved governance mechanisms. However, CSR establishes a new way of doing business that combines success and the creation of value through a respectful and proactive attitude towards stakeholders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abreu MCS (2009) How to define an environmental policy to improve corporate sustainability in developing countries. Bus Strategy Environ 18:542–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abreu MCS, Castro FC, Lazaro JC (2013) Avaliação da influência dos stakeholders na proatividade ambiental de empresas brasileiras. Revista de Contabilidade e Organizações 17:22–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Abreu MCS, Castro F, Soares FA, Silva Filho J (2012) A comparative understanding of corporate social responsibility of textile firms in Brazil and China. J Cleaner Prod 20:119–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Abreu MCS; Silva Filho JCL, Oliveira BC, Holanda Junior FL (2008) Perfis Estratégicos de Conduta Social e Ambiental: Estudos na Indústria Têxtil Nordestina. Gest. Prod., São Carlos, 15: 159–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Alon I, Lattemann C, Fetscherin M, Li S, Schneider A-M (2010) Usage of public corporate communications of social responsibility in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). Int J Emerg Markets 5(1):6–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragón-Correa J, Hurtado-Torresa N, Sharma S, García-Morales V (2008) Environmental strategy and performance in small firms: a resource-based perspective. J Environ Manage 86:88–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arora S, Cason TN (1995) An experiment in voluntary environmental regulation: participation in EPA’s 33/50 Program. J Environ Econ Manage 28:271–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arora S, Cason T (1996) Why do firms volunter to exceed environmental regulations? Understanding participation in EPA´s 33/50 program. Land Econ 74:413–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Athukorala PC (2009) The rise of China and East Asian export performance: is the crowding-out fear warranted? World Econ. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9701.2008.01151.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer W, Bang JT (2002) Privatization and equity in Brazil and Russia. KYKLOS 55(4):495–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Balmer JMT, Powell SM, Greyser SA (2011) Explicating ethical corporate marketing. Insights from the BP deepwater horizon catastrophe: the ethical brand that exploded and then imploded. J Bus Ethics 102:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron DP (1995) Integrated strategy: market and nonmarket components. Calif Manage Rev 37(2):47–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baughn C, Bodie N, Mclntosh J (2007) Corporate social and environmental responsibility in Asia countries and other geographical regions. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manage 14:189–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blowfield M, Murray A (2008) Corporate responsibility: a critical introduction. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bo H, Li T, Toolsema LA (2009) Corporate social responsibility investment and social objectives: an examination on social welfare investment of Chinese state owned enterprises. Scott J Polit Econ 56(3):267–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Braendle U, Gasser T, Noll J (2005) Corporate governance in China—is economic growth potential hindered by guanxi? Bus Soc Rev 110(4):389–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buhmann K (2005) Corporate social responsibility in china: current issues and their relevance for implementation of law. Copenhagen J Asian Stud 22:62–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Buysse K, Verbeke A (2003) Proactive environmental strategies: a stakeholder management perspective. Strateg Manage J 24(5):453–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell JL (2007) Why would corporations behave in socially responsible ways? an institutional theory of corporate social responsibility. Acad Manage Rev 32(3):946–967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll AB (1979) A three-dimensional model of corporate performance. Acad Manage Rev 4(4):497–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll AB (1999) Corporate social responsibility: evolution of a definitional construct. Bus Soc 38:268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll AB, Näsi J (1997) Understanding stakeholder thinking: themes from a finnish conference. Bus Ethics 6(1):46–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castelo Branco M, Rodrigues L (2008) Factors influencing social responsability disclosure by portuguese companies. J Bus Ethics 83:685–701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapple W, Moon M (2007) Introduction: CSR agendas for Asia. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manage 14:183–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann P, Taylor G (2001) Globalization and the environment: determinants of firm self-regulation in China. J Int Bus Stud 32:439–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann P, Taylor G (2002) Globalization and the environment: strategies for international voluntary environmental initiatives. Acad Manage Executive 16:121–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson MBE (1995) A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance. Acad Manage Rev 20(1):92–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Crandall RE (2006) How green are your supply chains? Ind Manage 48(3):6–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane A, Ruebottom T (2011) Stakeholder theory and social identity: rethinking stakeholder Identification. J Bus Ethics 102:77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daub C, Ergenzinger R (2005) Enabling sustainable management through a new multi-disciplinary concept of customer satisfaction. Eur J Mark 39(9):998–1012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas M (2001) Stakeholders and competitive advantage: the case of ISO 14001. Prod Oper Manag 10(3):343–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Delmas M (2002) The diffusion of environmental management standards in Europe and in the United States: an institutional perspective. Policy Sci 35:91–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas M, Toffel MW (2004) Stakeholders and environmental management practices: an institutional framework. Bus Strategy Environ 13:209–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez LV, Brenes E (1997) The internationalization of Latin America entreprises and market liberalization in the Americas: a vital linkage. J Bus Res 38:3–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang Y, Côte RP, Qin R (2007) Industrial sustainability in China: practice and prospects for eco-industrial development. J Environ Manage 83:315–328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fassin Y (2009) The stakeholder model refined. J Bus Ethics 84:113–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraz C, Da Motta RS (2002) Regulação, mercado ou pressão social? Os determinantes do investimento ambiental na indústria. Texto para discussão 863. Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada. Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman RE (1984) Strategic management: a stakeholder approach. Pitman, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Frooman J (1999) Stakeholder influence strategies. Acad Manage Rev 24(2):191–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost S, Ho M (2006) The end of the MFA and apparel exports: has good CSR allowed Cambodia to hold steady against China in a quota free environment? Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 13:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geng Y, Hengxin Z (2009) Industrial park management in the Chinese environment. J Clean Prod 17:1289–1294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green JN (2003) Review: top brass and state power in Twentieth-Century Brazilian politics, economics, and culture. Latin Am Res Rev 38(3):250–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Benito J, González-Benito O (2006) A review of determinants factors of environmental proactivity. Bus Strategy Environ 15:87–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Benito J, González-Benito O (2010) A study of determinant factors of stakeholder environmental pressure perceived by industrial companies. Bus Strategy Environ 19:164–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriques I, Sardosky P (1996) The determinant of an environmental responsive firms: an empirical approach. J Environ Econ Manage 30:381–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husted BW, Allen DB (2011) Corporate social strategy. Stakeholder engagement and competitive advantage. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Husted BW, Salazar JJ (2006) Taking Friedman seriously: maximizing profits and social performance. J Manage Stud 43:75–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman AJ (2001) Linking organizational ad field-level analyses: the diffusion of corporate environmental practice. Organ Environ 14(2):133–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ip PK (2009) The challenge of developing a business ethics in China. J Bus Ethics 88:211–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamali D, Mirshak R (2007) Corporate social responsibility (CSR): theory and practice in a developing country context. J Bus Ethics 72:243–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamali D, Neville B (2011) Convergence versus divergence of csr in developing countries: an embedded multi-layered institutional lens. J Bus Ethics 102:599–621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kainuma Y, Tawara N (2006) A multiple attribute utility theory approach to lean and green supply chain management. Int J Prod Econ 101:99–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karaalp H.S.; Yilmaz N. D. (2012) Comparative advantage of textiles and clothing: evidence for Bangladesh, China, Germany and Turkey. Fibres Text Eastern Europe 21, 1(97):14–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Klassen RD, McLaughlin CP (1996) The impact of environmental management on firm performance. Manage Sci 42(8):1199–1214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim D, Choi MII (2013) A comparison of young publc´s evaluation of corporate social responsibility practices of multinational corporations in the United States and South Korea. J Bus Ethics 113:105–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolk A, Hong P, Dolen W (2010) Corporate social responsibility in china: an analysis of domestic and foreign retailers’ sustainability dimensions. Bus Strategy Environ 19:289–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Kon A, Coan DC (2005) Transformações da Indústria Têxtil Brasileira: A Transição para a Modernização. Revista de Economia Mackenzie 3:11–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski A, Bardecki M, Searcy C (2012) Environmental impacts in the fashion industry: a life-cycle and stakeholder framework. JCC 45 Spring 21:16–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Lattemann C, Fetscherin M, Alon I, Li S, Schneider AM (2009) CSR communication intensity in chinese and indian multinational companies. Corp Governance Int Rev 17(4):426–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee M-DP (2008) A review of the theories of corporate social responsibility: its evolutionary path and the road ahead. Int J Manage Rev 10(1):53–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Yu Q, Fujitsuka T, Liu B, Bi J, Shishime T (2010) Functional mechanisms of mandatory corporate environmental disclosure: an empirical study in China. J Clean Prod 18:823–832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo C, Yeung A, Cheng T (2012) The impact of environmental management systems on financial performance in fashion and textiles industries. Int J Prod Econ 135:561–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobel O (2006) Sustainable capitalism or ethical transnationalism: offshore production and economic development. J Asian Econ 17:56–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maignan I, Ferrell OC (2003) Nature of corporate responsibilities: perspectives from American, French, and German consumers. J Bus Res 56(1):55–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matten D, Moon J (2008) “Implicit” and “explicit” CSR: a conceptual framework for a comparative understanding of corporate social responsibility. Acad Manag Rev 33(2):404–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer A (2001) What´s in it for customers? Suscessfully marketing green clothes. Bus Strategy Environ 10(5):317–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller D (2004) Preparing for the long haul: negotiating international framework agreements in the global textile, garment and footwear sector. Global Social Policy 4(2):215–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell RK, Agle BR, Wood DJ (1997) Towards a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: defining the principle of who and what really counts. Acad Manag Rev 22:853–886

    Google Scholar 

  • Moon J, Shen X (2010) CSR in China research: salience, focus and nature. J Bus Ethics 94:613–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen E, Andersen K (2013) The Sociolog.dx experience: a global expert study on sustainable fashion. Copenhagen Business School Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (cbsCSR)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peinado-Vara E (2006) Corporate social responsibility in Latin America. J Corp Citizsh Spring 21:61–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Piekarski C, Da Luz L, Zocche L, De Francisco A (2013) Life cycle assessment as entrepreneurial tool for business management and green innovations. J Technol Manage Innov 8(1):44–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger S, Beckmann M, Hansen EG (2013) Transdisciplinarity in corporate sustainability: mapping the field. Bus Strategy Environ 22:219–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherer AG, Palazzo G (2008) Globalization and corporate social responsibility. In: Crane A, McWilliams A, Matten D, Moon J, Siegel D (eds) The oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 413–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherer AG, Pallazo G (2011) The new political role of business in a globalized word: a review of new perspective on CSR and its implications for the firm, governance and democracy. J Manag Stud 48(4):899–931

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott WR (2008) Institutions and organizations: ideas and interests, 3rd edn. SAGE Publications, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Siltaoja ME, Onkila T (2013) Business in society or business and society: the construction of business-society relations in responsibility reports from a critical discursive perspective. Bus Ethics Eur Rev 22(4):357–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner J, Steiner G (2009) Business, government, and society: a managerial perspective. Text and case. McGraw-Hill Companies, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tigre PB, Botelho AJJ (2001) Brazil meets the global challenge: it policy in a postliberalization environment. Inf Soc 17:91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsoi J (2010) Stakeholders’ perceptions and future scenarios to improve corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong and Mainland China. J Bus Ethics 1:391–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Utting P (2003) Corporate responsibility and labour issues in China. Reflections on a Beijing conference. J Corp Citizsh Summer 10:21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandevivere PC, Bianchi R, Verstraete W (1998) Treatment and reuse of waste water from textile we-processing industry: review of emerging technologies. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 72(4):289–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vogel DJ (2005) Is there a market for virtue? The business case for corporate social responsibility. Calif Manag Rev 47(4):19–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welford R (2004) Corporate social responsibility in Europe and Asia: critical elements and best practices. J Corp Citizsh 13:31–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Welford R (2005) Corporate social responsibility in Europe, North America and Asia: 2004 survey results. J Corp Citizsh 17:33–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu G, Ding J, Chen P (2012) The effects of GSCM drivers and institutional pressures on GSCM practices in Taiwan’s textile and apparel industry. Int J Prod Econ 135:618–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng SX, Tam CM, Tam VWY, Deng ZM (2005) Towards implementation of ISO 14001 environmental management systems in selected industries in China. J Clean Prod 13:645–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu QH, Sarkis J, Geng Y (2005) Green supply chain management in China: pressures, practices and performance. Int J Oper Prod Manage 25:449–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business Department, Federal University of Ceará, Av. da Universidade, 2470, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60020-180, Brazil

    Mônica Cavalcanti Sá de Abreu

Authors
  1. Mônica Cavalcanti Sá de Abreu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mônica Cavalcanti Sá de Abreu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainability Consultant, Global Sustainability Services, SGS Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

de Abreu, M.C.S. (2015). Perspectives, Drivers, and a Roadmap for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Textile and Clothing Industry. In: Muthu, S. (eds) Roadmap to Sustainable Textiles and Clothing. Textile Science and Clothing Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-164-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-164-0_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-287-163-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-164-0

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation