Relationship between sustainability and risk management in fashion supply chains: A systematic literature review

Rafi-Ul-Shan, Piyya Muhammad; Grant, David B.; Perry, Patsy; Ahmed, Shehzad

Abstract

Purpose: Fashion supply chain (FSC) research has identified two important issues of sustainability management and risk management. However, investigation of these issues is relatively sparse and has primarily been independent with little combinatory research, despite their important interrelationships. The purpose of this paper is to address that gap by critically reviewing extant literature to synthesise important sustainability risk issues in FSCs and proposing an empirical research agenda. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses a structured literature review approach and Denyer and Tranfield’s (2009) context, intervention, mechanisms and outcome (CIMO) criteria for critical analysis to enable the development of future empirical research areas. Findings: While sustainability and risk are discussed independently in the supply chain literature, combinatory discussions are very limited, despite the interdependence of these concepts. There is little substantial research on sustainability risk in global FSCs and therefore, an empirical research agenda is proposed with the four research directions to address the gap and take forward the notion of supply chain sustainability risk management in FSCs: definition; organisation and management; influence on performance; and development of a conceptual framework. Research limitations/implications: This paper provides a critical literature review and thus lacks empirical study. Practical implications: This paper highlights important issues in sustainability risk management for FSCs and presents an agenda for future empirical research. Originality/value: This paper contributes by providing a combinatory synthesis of sustainability and risk management in FSC literature and an agenda for future empirical research.

Citation

Rafi-Ul-Shan, P. M., Grant, D. B., Perry, P., & Ahmed, S. (2018). Relationship between sustainability and risk management in fashion supply chains: A systematic literature review. International journal of retail & distribution management, 46(5), 466-486. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm-04-2017-0092

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 11, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2018
• Publication Date: May 14, 2018
• Deposit Date: May 8, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 10, 2018
• Print ISSN: 0959-0552
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 466-486
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm-04-2017-0092
• Keywords: Fashion supply chains; Sustainability management; Risk management; Supply chain management; Sustainability risk
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/822740
• Publisher URL: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/IJRDM-04-2017-0092