Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Exploring the Role of Social Sustainable Certification in Buyer-Supplier Relationship: Perspectives from U.S. Fashion Buyers

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Abstract

Sustainable certification has gained significant attention due to increasing concerns about the environmental and social impacts of textile production, with US textile buyers becoming more selective, prioritizing high-quality products produced sustainably and socially responsibly. This is driving textile manufacturers to adopt sustainable practices and to make sure they are providing the best products to their customers. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how social sustainable certificates are valued in a buyer-supplier relationship, how sustainable certificates help buyers building trust towards their suppliers, and how the authenticity of certificates influences the relationship between a buyer and their suppliers. To achieve these goals, this study utilized the semi-structured interview approach to understand the U.S fashion buyers’ perspective on social sustainable certification. The study findings revealed significant knowledge of the buyers regarding sustainable certification. However, not all participants prioritize certifications as a factor in their decision-making process.

Keywords: Social sustainable certification, US fashion buyers, Buyer-supplier relationship

How to Cite:

Monamy, M. & Das, D., (2024) “Exploring the Role of Social Sustainable Certification in Buyer-Supplier Relationship: Perspectives from U.S. Fashion Buyers”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17332