Exploring the effect of Supply Chain disruptions on the sustainability efforts: A case Study of Textile Sector of Pakistan

Abstract

Sustainability is one of the major thrusts of many conscious organizations. It involves not only changing the mindset of the organization but also making significant investments in process improvements, equipment, training, and audits. As a result, many organizations evaluate these investments from the perspective of feasibility and return on investment (ROI) and prioritize their efforts based on specific KPIs. Achieving sustainability becomes even more challenging when an entire value chain must be standardized to meet sustainability goals. In recent years, supply chains have faced numerous disruptions, particularly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, wars, climate disasters, and economic and political upheavals. Managing these disruptions has become a key focus for organizations, often forcing other objectives, including sustainability initiatives, to take a back seat. While disruptions have been studied extensively, there is limited research on the impact of such disruptions on a company’s motivation to achieve sustainability. This paper adopts a qualitative, exploratory approach to understand the effects of supply chain disruptions on sustainability efforts within Pakistan’s textile exporting industry