Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Consumers' Evaluation of Sustainable Industrial Practices in the Textiles and Apparel Industry

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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate consumers’ assessment of the environmental practices in the apparel industry. Based on the schema theory and the literature in consumer environmental behaviors, the way consumers evaluate and categorize the environmental practices in their mental map and the impacts of individual factors on their evaluations were examined. A total of 272 completed responses collected from the MTurk were analyzed. The data revealed that consumers categorize the environmental practices into three broad themes: (a) resource optimization, (b) post-purchase care information, and (c) conservation. Regardless of the production stages, consumers seem to process environmental practices according to a resource usage orientation. The impact of consumers’ individual factors of sustainable behavior on their evaluation and categorization were discussed. This study produced implications for the marketers to formulate efficient and effective strategies to communicate their environmental practices with consumers.

Keywords: Sustainable industrial practices, Environmental impact, Perceived consumer effectiveness, consumer perception, Consumer perception

How to Cite:

Haque, F. & Park-Poaps, H., (2022) “Consumers' Evaluation of Sustainable Industrial Practices in the Textiles and Apparel Industry”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13739