Sustainable procurement in apparel industry: a focus on TALLY WEiJL

Abstract

As the apparel industry faces increasing scrutiny for its environmental and social impacts, sustainable procurement has emerged as a critical topic in the field of supply chain management. This report presents the findings of a study that aimed to understand the perspectives of supply chain practices in the liaison office especially in the merchandising department of the apparel industry. The report provides an overview of the current state of sustainable procurement in the apparel industry, including key concepts, challenges, and best practices. It then presents the methodology used for the study, including data collection through surveys, and directs working experience as a merchandiser at a sourcing office. The findings of the study are presented in three main themes: awareness and understanding of sustainable procurement, barriers to sustainable procurement, and opportunities for improvement. The results reveal that while supply chain students are aware of the concept of sustainable procurement, they face challenges in implementing sustainable procurement practices in their day-to-day work as merchandisers. Barriers identified include cost considerations, lack of supplier transparency, and limited support from management. However, the study also identifies several opportunities for improvement, including increasing awareness through education and training, fostering collaboration between stakeholders, and integrating sustainable procurement into the performance evaluation and incentive systems. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to the understanding of sustainable procurement in the apparel industry from the perspective of supply chain students working as merchandisers at a sourcing office. The report concludes with recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and educators to promote sustainable procurement practices in the apparel supply chain, aiming to foster a more sustainable and responsible industry.