The fashion industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world. Significant impacts on the environment arise throughout the overall value chain. Reasons for this are new fashion phenomena such as "Fast Fashion" which includes cheap production, large purchase quantities and garments with short life cycles.
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to analyse the environmental impacts of the fashion industry and examine the extent of which these impacts are known by consumers. It is intended to provide information about possible alternatives to Fast Fashion in form of a shift in consumer behavior as well as possible actions for companies such as Corporate Social Responsibility strategies.
To acquire a profounder knowledge about consumer behavior in terms of clothing, the following research question guides this paper: To what extent do environmental impacts caused by the fashion industry influence consumer behavior? To find an explanation, an online survey is conducted, aimed at students aged 17 to 30 years. The responses to the survey show that there is less awareness and little knowledge of the environmental impacts of clothing, illustrating that there are no signs of a radical change towards slow and sustainable fashion. The results confirm that alternative options are only accepted to a very limited extent and that a perceived too high price is an essential criterion for rejection.
In the future it will be necessary to create awareness and consciousness about current and future fashion models to initiate a comprehensive change in thinking. Further research could focus on encouraging consumers to change their consumption habits as well as on developing strategies for fundamental changes in the fashion business.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Sustainability
- 2.1.1 Introduction - The Sustainable Use of Resources
- 2.1.2 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- 3 Corporate Social Responsibility
- 3.1 Concept
- 3.2 Reporting
- 3.3 CSR Policies implemented by Companies
- 4 The Fashion Industry Worldwide
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Textile Value Added Chain
- 4.2.1 Textile Value Added Chain worldwide
- 4.2.2 The Textile Value Added Chain and Environmental Externalities
- 4.2.3 Social Impacts of the Textile Value Added Chain
- 4.3 Conclusion
- 5 CSR and Fashion
- 5.1 Overview
- 5.2 The Meaning of Fashion
- 5.3 Fast Fashion
- 5.4 Sustainable Consumption of Fashion
- 5.4.1 The Power of Consumers
- 5.4.2 The Power of Companies
- 5.5 CSR reports of European fashion companies
- 5.5.1 Mango
- 5.5.2 H&M
- 5.5.3 Inditex
- 5.5.4 Primark
- 6 Empirical Part
- 6.1 Research Questions and Hypotheses
- 6.2 Survey Tool and most important Variables
- 6.3 Conduct/Implementation
- 6.4 Methodology
- 6.5 Results
- 6.5.1 Univariate statistics
- 6.5.2 Models and Hypotheses Testing
- 6.6 Survey Results Summary
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This bachelor thesis explores the environmental concerns within the fashion industry and how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be implemented to address these challenges. The study focuses on the sustainable use of resources, environmental and social impacts of the textile value chain, and the role of consumers and companies in promoting sustainable consumption.
- Sustainable use of resources and environmental impacts
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the fashion industry
- Sustainable consumption of fashion
- The role of consumers and companies in promoting sustainability
- Empirical analysis of consumer attitudes and willingness to pay for sustainable fashion
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The thesis begins with an introduction, defining the scope and objectives of the research. Chapter 2 explores the concept of sustainability, including the sustainable use of resources and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chapter 3 delves into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), examining its definition, reporting frameworks, and implementation by companies. Chapter 4 analyzes the global fashion industry, focusing on the textile value chain and its environmental and social externalities. Chapter 5 examines the intersection of CSR and fashion, discussing sustainable consumption, the power of consumers and companies, and CSR reporting practices of major European fashion retailers. Chapter 6 presents the empirical part of the research, detailing the methodology, survey findings, and analysis of consumer attitudes towards sustainable fashion.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The core keywords and themes explored in this thesis include: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sustainability, environmental concerns, fashion industry, textile value chain, sustainable consumption, consumer behavior, empirical research, willingness to pay, and sustainable development goals. The thesis delves into the complex relationship between these factors, examining the challenges and opportunities for achieving a more responsible and sustainable fashion industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Fast Fashion" and why is it problematic?
Fast Fashion involves cheap production and short life cycles, which leads to significant environmental damage throughout the value chain.
Do consumers know about the environmental impacts of clothing?
The survey shows that students aged 17 to 30 have limited knowledge and awareness of the environmental externalities caused by fashion.
What are Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies in fashion?
CSR policies are strategies implemented by companies like H&M or Inditex to address social and environmental issues in their production processes.
Why do consumers reject sustainable fashion alternatives?
A perceived high price is the essential criterion for consumers to reject sustainable or "Slow Fashion" options.
How can the fashion industry become more sustainable?
Necessary steps include creating consumer awareness, shifting consumption habits, and fundamental changes in business models through CSR.
- Quote paper
- Nathalie Martin (Author), 2020, Environmental Concerns in the Fashion Industry. An Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1030462
