Degree
Master of Science in Management
Faculty / School
School of Business Studies (SBS)
Department
Department of Management
Date of Submission
Summer 2025-9-11
Supervisor
Dr. Muhammad Ayaz, Supervisor, Department of Management
Project Type
MS Management Research Project
Access Type
Restricted Access
Keywords
Environmental upgrading, Global Value Chains (GVCs), Supplier agency, Compliance
Abstract
As environmental crises escalate globally, textile suppliers in developing countries face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. In this study, nine senior executives and one industry consultant were interviewed to examine how Pakistani textile companies participate in environmental upgrading within global value chains (GVCs). While external forces—such as buyer requirements and certification mandates—play a role, suppliers emphasize internal motivations: reducing long-term operational costs, securing market access, and enhancing reputation. Some firms adopt renewable energy, circular materials, and water recycling ahead of industry norms, demonstrating strategic foresight and environmental commitment. Sustainability is becoming ingrained in many suppliers' core business models, despite challenges including conflicting audits and lax local regulation. International agencies (e.g., GIZ, UNDP) provide crucial technical and financial support. These results demonstrate how suppliers' agency is changing and show that commercial reasoning and forward-thinking ideas, rather than merely top-down compliance frameworks, are driving environmental upgrading.
Recommended Citation
Khan, A. A. (2025). Role of Suppliers’ Agency in Achieving Environmental Upgrading in Global Value Chains (Unpublished graduate research project). Institute of Business Administration, Pakistan. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/research-projects-mgt/35
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