Abstract
Economic and environmental upgrading in global value chains are intertwined processes. The existing global value chain literature has so far articulated the relationships between economic and social upgrading but has only recently started to explore the challenges of environmental upgrading from the perspective of suppliers in the Global South. In this article, we examine the ‘factory manager dilemma’ as a way of conceptualising the purchasing practices and environmental upgrading requirements faced by suppliers in their dealings with lead firms in global value chains. Specifically, we analyse the environmental upgrading challenges experienced by Pakistani apparel firms. We conclude that Pakistani apparel suppliers are required both to absorb the consequences of global buyers’ unsustainable purchasing practices and to reduce their own profitability – all in the name of sustainability.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Environment and Planning A |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 766-789 |
Number of pages | 24 |
ISSN | 0308-518X |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Published online: 18. September 2019Keywords
- Environmental upgrading
- Global value chains
- Buyer–supplier relationships
- Factory manager dilemma
- Apparel industry
- Pakistan