A Deep Dive into Textile Industry Partnerships: Insights from Our Latest Research

Introduction: Unraveling the Fabric of Sustainability in Textiles

In our latest collaborative research with Andra Riandita and Anders Brostrom, we delve into the world of partnerships within the textile and fashion industry. Our study, accessible in full detail at Business Strategy and the Environment, provides a comprehensive analysis of the various types of partnerships, their mechanisms, targeted levels of change, and the specific sustainability issues they address.

Analysing the Weave of Partnerships

Our investigation into 444 distinct partnerships in the textile sector reveals a complex network of collaboration, each uniquely tailored to address specific challenges. These partnerships vary in their configuration, focusing on either environmental or social sustainability issues, and employ different mechanisms to achieve their goals.

Environmental Focus: The Push for Circularity and Material Innovation

A significant portion of these partnerships concentrates on environmental sustainability, with a heavy emphasis on circularity, waste management, and the adoption of sustainable materials. Interestingly, we found that inter-firm partnerships dominate when targeting firm-level changes in these areas. However, our critical analysis highlights a potential oversight in these partnerships: while they focus on integrating recycled materials, there’s a need for broader business…