Stakeholder expectations for environmental performance within the apparel industry
| Author(s) | Waters, Yazbehl | |
| Date Accessioned | 2011-03-12T04:04:08Z | |
| Date Available | 2011-03-12T04:04:08Z | |
| Publication Date | 2010 | |
| Abstract | Every stage of the apparel production process has the potential to impact the environment. Using R. E. Freeman’s 1984 stakeholder theory as a framework this work seeks to a) identify current stakeholder groups’ expectations for environmental performance on key environmental issues within the apparel industry and b) evaluate stakeholder interactions with apparel companies in attempting to improve environmental performance. For this work, a stakeholder is defined as “any group or individual who is affected by or can affect the achievement of an organization’s objectives” (Freeman, 1984, p. 5).Using Clarkson’s 1995 primary and secondary divisions for stakeholder groups, it is determined that various different stakeholder groups are impacted by the decisions made within the apparel industry. As such case studies were developed for a primary group, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), as well as two secondary groups, Organic Exchange (OE) and Ceres. These case studies were developed using website analysis, semi-structured interviews, and archival record searches. Each group shared their expectations for environmental performance, which are currently not being met, as well as key environmental issues they are working on within the apparel industry. Three common environmental issues of concern for these three groups are water usage, chemical use and management, and carbon footprint reduction. If an apparel brand or retailer was unsure which issue to tackle first, this work suggests they focus on carbon footprint reduction because through this process the brand or retailer will have visibility into their chemical use and water consumption. | en_US |
| Advisor | Lopez-Gydosh, Dilia | |
| Degree | M.S. | |
| Department | University of Delaware, Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/5842 | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Clothing trade | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Environmental ethics | |
| Title | Stakeholder expectations for environmental performance within the apparel industry | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |