An Empirical Examination of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices and Sustainability Performance in Bangladesh’s Garment Industry.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajsde.v5i1.6936Keywords:
Bangladesh, Economic Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Garment Industry, Social Sustainability, Sustainability Performance. Sustainable Supply Chain ManagementAbstract
Garment industry of Bangladesh is an important part of the international supply chain of apparels as well as a significant portion of the economic growth of the nation. As a reaction to the growing pressure of international customers, prudent, and stakeholders, garment companies started to revert to the principles of sustainable supply chains. This paper analyzes the degree in which environment, social and economic sustainable supply chain behaviors are in existence in the garment industry of Bangladesh and the extent by which the behaviors are associated with total sustainability performance. The quantitative research design was used based on survey data obtained among 300 respondents in the managerial level of the export-based garment manufacturing firms. The data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, normality analysis, correlation analysis, and multicollinearity diagnostics. The results reveal a medium adoption of practices of sustainable supply chain in terms of environmental, social, and economic aspects. The results of sustainability performance, however, are relatively poor. The outcomes of correlation demonstrate almost negligible and largely negative links among sustainable supply chain practices and sustainability performance which indicates a fragmented and compliance-based approach to implementation as opposed to integrated sustainability approaches. Reliability analysis also reveals the weakness in the measurement scales of sustainability in internal consistency.
The findings are useful in the literature as they offer empirical evidence of a developing country setting and show a necessity of more comprehensive, organized, and situation-specific strategies regarding sustainability. Managers, policymakers, and international buyers that want to enhance sustainability achievements in the global garment supply chain are provided with practical implications.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, S. N., Nazir, M. W., Rauf, F., Marwat, A., & Naveed, K. (2025). Does ESG performance affect corporate commitment, competitiveness, and profitability? Evidence from a developing country. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 1124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01353-z
Alhassan, F., Abas, S., Cowther, S., & Antwi-Boasiako, S. (2025). Green Supply Chain Management in the Hospitality Industry. In M. Majeed, K. Agarwal, & A. Tijani, Green Supply Chain Management (1st edn, pp. 217–235). Apple Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003560845-13
Bubicz, M. E., Dias Barbosa-Póvoa, A. P. F., & Carvalho, A. (2021). Social sustainability management in the apparel supply chains. Journal of Cleaner Production, 280, 124214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124214
Chakraborty, S., & Biswas, M. C. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on the textile, apparel and fashion manufacturing industry supply chain: Case study on a ready-made garment manufacturing industry. Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, 3(2), 181. https://doi.org/10.69554/GJKF4967
Driel, F. V. (2020). The Gender Question in Globalization: Changing Perspectives and Practices (T. Davids & F. Van Driel, Eds; 1st edn). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315239422
Fayyaz, A., Liu, C., Xu, Y., Farooq, A., & Ahmed, S. (2025). Linkages between lean six sigma, green manufacturing, circular economy and operational performance in manufacturing organizations of a developing country. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 16(7), 1549–1586. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-12-2023-0229
Frempong, M. F., Mu, Y., Adu-Yeboah, S. S., Hossin, M. A., & Adu-Gyamfi, M. (2021). Corporate Sustainability and Firm Performance: The Role of Green Innovation Capabilities and Sustainability-Oriented Supplier–Buyer Relationship. Sustainability, 13(18), 10414. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810414
Gonçalves, A., Leite, B. R., & Silva, C. (2025). Sustainability Index in Apparel: A Multicriteria Model Covering Environmental Footprint, Social Impacts, and Durability. Sustainability, 17(17), 8004. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17178004
Hasan, M. M. (2025). The Role of Effective Management Strategies in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) Sector in Bangladesh. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, X(I), 189–197. https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.1001015
Hossain, Md. A. (2019). The Procedure of Cash Incentive and Its Role in the RMG Sector in Bangladesh: Evidence from Bangladesh. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3334383
Ivanov, D. (2024). Implementing Trust Management in the Garment Industry Supply Chain Using Hyperledger Blockchain. 2024 Dynamics of Systems, Mechanisms and Machines (Dynamics), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/Dynamics64718.2024.10838656
Jayalath, M. M., Perera, H. N., Seuring, S., & Thibbotuwawa, A. (2024). Social drivers affecting job design in apparel supply chains: Inferences from a discrete choice experiment. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(4), 3395–3413. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2757
Ka, L. S., & Nguyen, T. K. (2025). What Leads Households to Green Consumption Behavior: Case of a Developing Country. Sustainability, 17(10), 4319. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104319
Khan, H. Z. (2024). Multi-dimensional Performance Measurement Practices in Developing Countries: A Review of the Literature. In H. Z. Khan, An Innovative Performance Measurement System & Sustainability (pp. 33–73). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-6843-1_2
Kshetri, N. (2025). The luxury goods industry supply chains. In Blockchain and Supply Chain Management (pp. 147–178). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-30155-1.00006-X
Le, T. T., Oka, C., Carbone, V., & Acquier, A. (2025). Workers’ Responses to CSR Decoupling in Garment Supply Chains: A Hirschmanian Perspective. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 61(4), 116–133. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.70001
Lupo, L., & Verma, A. (2025). Do workplace unions and collective bargaining matter for labour standards compliance? The role of local industrial relations in global supply chains. International Labour Review, 164(2). https://doi.org/10.16995/ilr.18841
M, K., & V, N. (2025). From Data to Delivery: How AI is Streamlining Apparel Supply Chains. South India Journal of Social Sciences, 23(1), 205–211. https://doi.org/10.62656/SIJSS.v23i1.1803
Nasrin, S. (2025). Unraveling Organizational Conflicts and Conflict-Management Strategies in RMG Industrial Sector of Bangladesh: A Critical Discourse Analysis. Sociology and Anthropology, 13(3), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.13189/sa.2025.130301
Nguyen, X. H., Doan, T. D. U., & Hoang, V. N. (2020). The impact of global supply chain management on performance: Evidence from Textile and garment industry. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 17–26. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.uscm.2019.9.003
Pal, K. (2023). Information System Architecture in Apparel Production for Maintaining Supply Chain Sustainability: In B. Bentalha, A. Hmioui, & L. Alla (Eds), Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science (pp. 221–247). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-0225-5.ch012
Pandey, K. P., & Jjirojhul, S. (2023). Green Supply Chain Management Application Strategy In Nepalese Garment Industry. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4426715
Phan, T. T. H., Doan, X. T., & Nguyen, T. T. T. (2020). The impact of supply chain practices on performance through supply chain integration in textile and garment industry of Vietnam. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 175–186. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.uscm.2019.7.006
Rahman, S. (2021). The Bangladesh Garment Industry and the Global Supply Chain: Choices and Constraints of Management (1st edn). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003153238
Raihan, S. (2024). Informal Institutions, the RMG Sector, and the Present Challenge of Export Diversification in Bangladesh. In S. Raihan, F. Bourguignon, & U. Salam (Eds), Is the Bangladesh Paradox Sustainable? (1st edn, pp. 101–136). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009284677.008
Selvakumar, P. (2025). Social Sustainability Audits and Certifications: In M. Khokhar (Ed.), Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science (pp. 221–248). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-9740-4.ch008
Shamsuzzaman, M., & Islam, M. (2025). Environmental sustainability practices in effluent management of fashion manufacturing in developing country: Insights from Bangladesh. Cleaner Water, 3, 100085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100085
Sharma, L., & Sangal, S. (2025). CSR’s Role in Resilience via Boosting Social Sustainability in Economic and Environmental Challenges: In M. Khokhar (Ed.), Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science (pp. 109–134). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-9740-4.ch004
Sims, E. (2025). Labour standards in global supply chains. In S. De Silva, A. Froggatt, D. George, S. Goldberg, J. Haigh, O. Holland, S. Krier, M. Tanna, C. Kerrigan, & C. Norman (Eds), Expert Essentials (1st edn). Oxford University PressOxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198972877.003.0016
Sinha, A., & Jha, B. (2025). Future Trends in Social Sustainability in Manufacturing Supply Chains: In M. Khokhar (Ed.), Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science (pp. 163–198). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-9740-4.ch006
Sudusinghe, J. I., & Seuring, S. (2020). Social Sustainability Empowering the Economic Sustainability in the Global Apparel Supply Chain. Sustainability, 12(7), 2595. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072595
Velluti, S. (2024). Labour standards in global garment supply chains and the proposed EU corporate sustainability due diligence directive. European Labour Law Journal, 15(4), 822–850. https://doi.org/10.1177/20319525241239283
Warasthe, R., Schulz, F., Enneking, R., & Brandenburg, M. (2020). Sustainability Prerequisites and Practices in Textile and Apparel Supply Chains. Sustainability, 12(23), 9960. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239960
Zhang, W., & Zhong, S. (2025). From Control to Incentive: How Market-Driven Environmental Regulation Shapes ESG Performance in Manufacturing Industries. Sustainability, 17(23), 10516. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310516
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Tareq Mahmud, Dip Chowdhury, Md. Arefin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
