Social Sustainability in Micro and Small Enterprise Supply Chains: Empirical Insights from the Clothing Industry

Abstract This paper argues that micro and small enterprises (MSEs) can address social supply chain sustainability using social capital elements. Through a nested case study at José Avelino fashion center, results show the prominence of internal social sustainability performance and strong elements related to a friendly and familiar connection among members of the MSE’s supply chain, but their relationships remain transactional. It was established that while structural and cognitive capital exists, relational capital is limited due to a lack of trust and commitment between suppliers. This paper demonstrates how social issues can be addressed to support the pathway to a balanced response to sustainability in MSE supply chains.