Case Study: The Sustainability Dilemma for Small Suppliers in H&M’s Supply Chain

Global fashion industry players, such as Swedish giant H&M, have been actively seeking to rationalize and streamline their operations, increasingly focusing on sustainability. However, these measures often bring their own set of challenges, particularly for smaller suppliers who struggle to meet the new standards.

Introduction

The process of achieving sustainable operations presents a complex challenge to many businesses. In the fashion industry, this task is even more convoluted given the intricate global supply chains. One brand grappling with this issue is H&M, a Swedish multinational clothing retail company known for its fast-fashion. This case study explores how H&M’s sustainability measures are impacting its supply chain, especially the small suppliers, and suggests actionable steps that the industry should undertake to prevent these entities from being disadvantaged.