Corporates and the Environment: External pressure pushes Sri Lanka’s Garment and Apparel sector towards Good Environmental Practices

Companies can gain access to broader export markets, enhance their reputation and reduce internal costs when they improve their environmental performance. An examination of Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector suggests that export-oriented firms face significant external market pressure to adopt sound environmental practices and save costs from taking these on. While factories respond to domestic environmental regulations, pressure from international buyers clearly nudges them toward voluntarily adopting environmental practices. Thus, global social corporate responsibility practices, domestic regulations and advocacy and training through industry associations are three levers that could prod Sri Lankan companies toward sustainability.