The role of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives in Swedish apparel brands' Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Sammanfattning: This thesis aims to increase the understanding of multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) as means for the Swedish apparel industry to enhance their sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Three MSIs that address environmental issues in apparel supply chains are explored as cases – Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), Sweden Textile Water Initiative (STWI), and Textile Exchange (TE), focusing on the perceptions of Swedish apparel brands. A qualitative research method was applied where data was collected by semi-structured interviews with Swedish apparel brands and representatives from MSIs, and additionally supplemented with information from respective MSI website. Nine Swedish apparel brands who are members of one or more of the three case MSIs participated in the study. A conceptual framework was developed as a synthesis of reviewed literature relating to SSCM, in addition to literature about MSIs from political science, business management, and environmental governance fields, and used when analysing the findings. The analysis indicates that participation in MSIs presents several benefits for apparel brands in their SSCM, and further reveal to be addressing some of the previously identified barriers in existing literature for the adoption/advancement in SSCM. Based on this, the conceptual framework is further developed indicating how MSIs might contribute to the reduction of some of the barriers pertaining to SSCM. Furthermore, the characteristics of the selected MSIs (SAC, STWI, and TE) as governance mechanisms to address environmental issues in textile and apparel industry, and their implications are discussed. Findings also reveal a movement of MSIs collaborating and joining other MSIs and forming new collective arrangements. The movement suggests a trend towards an increased harmonisation of standards and the prevention of counter productivity, while also indicating a potential privatisation of standards. It is recommended that future research investigates the implications of this movement.