Stakeholders’ influences on the adoption of cleaner production practices: A survey of the textile industry

Sustainability is a key concern across industries. In the textile sector, companies face a very competitive environment and struggle to combine the pressures for the reduction of cost with the demands for the implementation of cleaner production practices (CPP) that are advanced by the society and public policies. Whereas several studies have explored the factors that influence the adoption of CPP there is still a paucity of research addressing the relationship between stakeholders’ influences and CPP. The objective of this study is to explore the influence of stakeholders on the adoption of CPP in the textile industry. The study builds on data from survey data and expert perspectives, whereas data analysis resorted to structured equation modelling and Spearman's correlation test. The study suggests that shareholders have a positive influence on the adoption of CPP in this industry, driven by the expected impacts thatCPP may have for reducing costs and improving company's brand. On the contrary, the study finds no support for business partners, society and the government influencing the adoption of CPP. The study offers several contributions to theory building, notably by highlightingthe relevance of interpreting environmental costs as an investment. The study offers also insights for managerial practice by exploring evidences about the emergence of environmental cultural change following the precautionary principle. Insights are also put forward concerning the growing social in monitoring environmental actions through social networks.