The influence of sustainability drivers on the implementation of social sustainability practices in the leather industry

Abstract

As industries move actively towards sustainable operations, communicating the value created as a result of implementing social sustainability practices is still a challenge for researchers and practitioners. Understanding the rationale behind the implementation of sustainability practices can improve adoption and communication amongst supply chain actors. This study aims to investigate the drivers of social sustainability practices in the European Leather Supply chain through the lens of the stakeholder and institutional theory. A qualitative approach is applied in which primary and secondary data are used to achieve the study's aim and objectives in the context of the European leather supply chain. Data was thematically analysed based on the key themes developed in the initial conceptual framework. The study's key findings show that internal and external drivers that serve as antecedents for implementing social sustainability practices can be general or specific, providing another paradigm to Sustainability driver studies. Internal drivers rather than external drivers were observed to clearly relate to and explain sustainability practices implemented. The results from the study show that the application of the intersection between Institutional Theory and Stakeholder Theory can assist in explaining the relationship between social sustainability drivers and practices. The study proposes a framework for managers that can assist leather brands in understanding and explaining the importance of implementing social sustainability practices to key stakeholders whilst actualising short- and long-term business goals.