A System Approach: Fast Fashion Supply Chain for Sustainability

快时尚产业是全球化程度最高、利润最高的行业之一。在过去的几十年里，工业的成功见证了巨大的增长，为消费者提供了负担得起的和不断变化的服装风格，同时保持了成本效益。然而，这种成功是以社会和环境为代价的，因为快时尚公司优先考虑降低供应链成本以满足消费者的需求。研究问题集中在可持续性问题上，以消除、减少或减轻快时尚供应链中公司的不可持续做法。文献综述探讨了快时尚供应链的现状及其对可持续性的影响。它调查了与行业实践相关的环境退化、经济问题和社会挑战的各种因素。许多研究为快时尚行业提出了可持续的做法；然而，所提出的可持续实践往往不能解决公司、多方利益相关者的努力和多因素背景所面临的实际障碍。因此，一刀切的方法不足以解决各种利益相关者面临的复杂现实，需要量身定制的解决方案，以适应不同公司的独特情况和局限性。一项批判性分析显示，在系统方法方面存在重大差距，以增强具有可持续供应链的公司，帮助利益相关者确定快时尚供应链中的杠杆点，并提出系统的解决问题。缺乏具体的决策指导和关于在何处以及如何进行干预以对可持续性产生最重大影响的建议。该行业的复杂性使其多样化的业务模式、不同的供应链战略和公司之间的政策进一步复杂化。如果没有更全面、更综合的方法，油气行业可能难以驾驭这些复杂性，并推动有意义的可持续发展变革。为了解决这一差距，本研究旨在建立一个系统框架来评估可持续性，并确定快时尚行业供应链中的关键杠杆点，支持不同的公司为可持续实践做出贡献。确定这些杠杆点的理论框架是必不可少的，Donella Meadows的12个杠杆点为快速时尚行业提供了一个有希望的应用方法。研究人员和从业者可以使用这个框架系统地分析快时尚供应链，并找到战略干预点来推动变革。研究设计包括从系统的角度为快时尚行业的可持续供应链开发一个概念框架。数据收集的方法在不同阶段会有所不同，包括广泛的文献回顾、通过研讨会的专家输入和案例研究来测试框架的有效性。通过迭代的细化，框架将不断得到改进和适应。总之，本研究有助于提高对快时尚供应链可持续性问题的理解。通过采用系统的观点和利用变革性干预措施，该行业可以与可持续发展目标保持一致，并推动积极的变革。拟议的框架为公司向更可持续的未来过渡提供了另一种方法，同时承认快时尚的动态特性。持续改进和适应对一个可持续和负责任的行业至关重要。

The fast fashion industry is one of the most globalised and profitable. The success in industry has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few decades, offering consumers affordable and constantly changing clothing styles while maintaining cost efficiency. However, this success comes at a cost to society and the environment, as fast fashion companies prioritise low supply chain costs to meet consumer demands. The research problem focuses on sustainability issues to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate unsustainable practices within the firms in fast fashion supply chains.The literature review explores the current state of fast fashion supply chains and their implications for sustainability. It investigates the various factors contributing to the environmental degradation, economic issues, and social challenges associated with the industry's practices. Numerous studies propose sustainable practices for the fast fashion industry; however, the proposed sustainable practices often fail to address the practical barriers faced by companies, multi-stakeholder's efforts, and multifactor context. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient in tackling the complex realities faced by various stakeholders, necessitating tailored solutions that can accommodate the unique circumstances and limitations of different companies.A critical analysis shows a significant gap in terms of a systemic approach to enhance firms with sustainable supply chains, assist stakeholders in identifying leverage points within the fast fashion supply chain, and propose a systemic problem-solving. There is a lack of specific guidance for decision-making and recommendations on where and how to intervene to achieve the most significant impact on sustainability. The complexity of the industry further complicates matters with its diverse business models, varied supply chain strategies, and policies among companies. Without a more holistic and integrated approach, the industry may struggle to navigate these complexities and drive meaningful change toward sustainability.To address this gap, this research aims to build a systemic framework to assess sustainability and identify key leverage points within a supply chain in the fast fashion industry, supporting diverse companies to contribute to sustainable practices. A theoretical framework to identify these leverage points is essential, and Donella Meadows' 12 leverage points offer a promising approach for applying in the fast fashion industry. Researchers and practitioners can systematically analyse the fast fashion supply chain using this framework and find strategic intervention points to drive transformative change. The research design involves developing a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chains in the fast fashion industry from a systems perspective. The methodology for data collection will vary across stages, including extensive literature review, expert input through workshops, and case studies to test the framework's efficacy. Through iterative refinement, the framework will be continuously improved and adapted. In conclusion, this research contributes to an enhanced understanding of sustainability issues in fast fashion supply chains. By adopting a systemic perspective and leveraging transformative interventions, the industry can align with sustainable development goals and drive positive change. The proposed framework offers an alternative method for companies to transition toward a more sustainable future while acknowledging the dynamic nature of fast fashion. Continuous improvement and adaptation are crucial for a sustainable and responsible industry.