Sustainability Assignment: Case of Bangladesh Garment Industry & Socio-environmental Issues

Question

Task: Learning Outcome 1: Appraise the multiple dimensions of sustainability for businesses in the context of global challenges.

• PC 1.1: Demonstrate a critical awareness of global current issues and sustainability challenges of a specific industry.
• PC 1.2: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of business (strategy & operations) in achieving the UN sustainable development goals.
• PC 1.3: Discuss the effects of global warming, resource scarcity, population growth and loss of bio-diversity on a specific business or industry.

Learning Outcome 2: Critically review, evaluate and develop sustainability strategies of organisations.

• PC 2.1: Critically review the existing business strategies of an organisation in relation to sustainability.
• PC 2.2: Discuss how implementation of innovative business strategies have addressed the sustainability challenges.
• PC 2.3: Formulate a sustainable strategy for an organization.
• PC 2.4: Critically evaluate the role of leadership in achieving sustainability objectives.

Answer

Task 1
This task presented in the sustainability assignment is a case study analysis on the garment industry of Bangladesh, which is facing different kinds of human rights challenges.

Introduction
Garment industry of Bangladesh significantly contributes towards the economic growth of the nation. It is identified herein sustainability assignment that almost 164 million people live in Bangladesh. Among total population, 4 million people of Bangladesh are employed within the garment industry. Among these 4 million employees, it is identified that almost 80 percent employees are women. This Bangladeshi garment industry exports the end-products to several multinational apparel companies. The companies of the United States of America are the major business clients of the factories within the Bangladeshi garment industry. Inequality, poor workplace conditions, unsafe working environment, and occupational hazards are considered to be identified human rights challenges of the factories, which are affecting the sustainability of the overall garment industry. Now, the multinational business clients are suggesting the factories within the Bangladesh garment industry to ensure sustainability measures. In addition, the multinational companies are also investing more capital in this Bangladeshi garment industry in order to ensure better workplace environment and sustainable human rights of the employees.

Important Sustainability Issues and Critical Awareness of the Challenges Faced in Application of Sustainable Initiatives (PC 1.1)
The Bangladeshi garment industry is suffering from different kinds of sustainability issues related to human rights of employees in the workplace. First of all, it is identified in the sustainability assignment that workplace inequality and poor women empowerment is considered to be the major sustainability challenges. Majority of the employees are women in the industry and they are purposely paid less by the management. Secondly, the factories within the industry also purposely recruit unmarried women employees, who have no family responsibilities. In addition, the female employees are strictly ordered by the owners of the factories that they cannot get married for certain times while getting employed by the factories. Apart from less payment, the basic facilities for the women employees are limited compared to the men. Hence, inequality and limited workplace empowerment for women are considered to be major sustainability issues in the Bangladeshi garment industry (Koksal et al., 2017). Secondly, the working condition is suffocating due to poor ventilation facility. In addition, the machinery and equipment are not advanced. The employees are directly exposed to the toxic and pollution, which are affecting the good health of the employees. This is another important sustainability issue identified in this section of sustainability assignment in the garment industry. Last but not the least, workplace hazards and occupational safety issues are also considered to be some important sustainability challenges for the Bangladeshi garment industry.

Critical Awareness of the Challenges faced in Application of Sustainable Initiatives
It is evident in the sustainability assignment that the garment industry in Bangladesh generally failed in providing security and sustainability to the workers of the factories. The employees also cannot shift to other industry due to lack of employment opportunities in other industries. The business clients like Walmart, Primark, and H&M identified that the company will suffer from different types of challenges in the business operation activities. First of all, the majority of the fashion retailers decided that they will not outsource garments from Bangladesh as these were affecting the sustainability and corporate governance of the companies. Secondly, it is identified herein sustainability assignment that the companies also tried to invest some capital in the manufacturing units of the factories for the betterment of the situation (Akbar and Ahsan, 2020). However, some of the companies decided against it due to high business operation cost. Thirdly, majority of the fashion retailers identified that potential of Bangladeshi workers are less compared to the Chinese workers. They also have identified that the cost-efficiency in Chinese market is impressive compared to the Bangladeshi market. In addition, poor workplace culture, poor workplace environment, and lack of ethics in the Bangladeshi garment factories were created challenges for the fashion retailers across the globe to apply sustainable initiatives.

Critical Realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (PC 1.2)
As per the sustainable development goals of the United Nations considered in this segment of sustainability assignment, every company is responsible for maintaining fundamental human rights of the employees in the workplace. According to the goals of the UN, every industry across the globe should be responsible for maintaining equality in the workplace. As per the sustainable development goals of the United Nation, every industry is also responsible for responsible and sustainable production as well as consumption activities in which social, economic, and environmental sustainability can be maintained (Koksal et al., 2018). The example of the apparel industry can be given herein sustainability assignment.

Every industry across the globe is responsible for maintaining triple bottom line approach in the business as per the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. The principle of triple bottom line approach states that the organisations should strongly maintain social, environmental, and economic sustainability in the business. In the global apparel industry, the manufacturing companies should maintain low carbon emission, effective water recycling, effective solid waste management approaches, and utilisation of sustainable energy resources in the manufacturing activities. These are some basic approaches mentioned in the sustainability assignment, which generally help in maintaining environmental sustainability in the business. However, the Bangladeshi garment industries are failing to follow these environmental sustainability measures in the business operation activities. However, the global apparel industry overall tries to follow the UN sustainability development goals in terms of consumption. The example of Primark can be considered here, which uses paper bags instead of plastic bags to help the consumers in maintaining sustainable consumption. These actually help in maintaining responsible consumption as per the UN sustainability development goals. Therefore, the industry itself is not doing enough to meet the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

As per the principles of triple bottom line approach, the industries are also responsible for the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals by maintaining economic sustainability. Cost efficiency in business and appropriate wages to the employees allow the companies to maintain the economic sustainability. However, it is identified in this context of sustainability assignment that the Bangladeshi garment industry has miserably failed to maintain cost efficiency in the manufacturing activities as it is identified that the Chinese garment industry is more effective compared to the Bangladeshi garment industry in terms of maintaining economic sustainability in the business (Ozek, 2017). It is also identified herein sustainability assignment that the women employees in the Bangladeshi garment industry arte paid less compared to the male employees. In addition, this is also identified that all the employees are not paid appropriately against their efforts in workplace. Hence, these are the economic sustainability issues of the Bangladeshi garment industry, which will create difficulty for the industry to meet the sustainability development objectives of the UN.

Lastly, the Bangladeshi garment industry also has failed to maintain the social sustainability in the business operation activities. Unhygienic working environment, female employees are forced to follow unethical contracts, long working hours, high workplace stress, workplace inequality and less empowerment for the female employees, lack of advancement in terms of machinery and equipment, and higher numbers of workplace accidents are considered to be the serious social sustainability issues for the garment industry of Bangladesh (Warasthe and Brandenburg, 2018). The UN sustainability development goals state that gender equality and women empowerment in workplace is not only a fundamental human right, but also a necessary aspect for the businesses. The garment industry of Bangladesh has failed to fulfil these UN sustainability goals by reducing inequality in workplace. These issues outlined in the sustainability assignment are not allowing the Bangladeshi garment industry to achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

Critical Understanding of the Impacts of Sustainability on Supply Chain Activities in the Apparel Industry (PC 4.1)
In the supply chain activities, the operation management professionals of the apparel industry need to promote social, economic, and environmental sustainability. There are several positive impacts of maintaining sustainability on the supply chain activities of the organisations in the apparel industry. First of all, maintaining sustainability improves the degree of responsiveness of the supply chain activities. The responsiveness of the supply chain can improve by improving supply chain agility and supply chain lead time. Moreover, supply chain becomes demand driven by ensuring sustainability.

Secondly, it is discussed in the sustainability assignment that sustainability in the operation management activities generally helps in improving the reliability of the supply chain activities. The reliability of the supply chain activities can be improved through better process control and better re-engineering. Most importantly, the organisations within the global apparel industries try to improve the re-engineering and reliability aspects through proper sustainability approaches (Ahmad et al., 2020). Hence, the degree of reliability is increased and it is one of the important aspects.

Thirdly, sustainability also helps in improving the degree of resilience of the supply chain management activities. The degree of resilience can be improved in the supply chain activities by managing critical nodes and links. It is quite sure that every organisation within the apparel industry faces different kinds of risks and complexities. The investigation carried on the sustainability assignment illustrates that strategies to reduce risk and effective conflict-management approaches can help the organisations to improve the degree of resilience of the supply chain activities, which ultimately can help the organisations overcome the possibilities of any conflicts or hazards in the operation management activities.

Fourthly, maintaining sustainability in the supply chain activities generally help in maintaining healthy relationship between the management and the employees. In the apparel industries, effective relationship with stakeholders and business clients is important. Poor quality, inadequate deadline management, low payment, inequality for employees, and lack of cost efficiency can hamper the relationships (Park, 2016). Therefore, it can be claimed in this segment of sustainability assignment that sustainability is important here for the apparel organisations to strengthen relationships with the important stakeholders to ensure potential business growth. These strong relationships due to sustainability allow the company to enhance profitability and growth.

Global Best Activities in Ethical Sourcing (PC 4.2)
Primark, H&M, Benetton, and Walmart are considered to be some important and popular companies within the global apparel industry. These organisations generally consider different kinds of unique and sustainable sourcing activities, which have significantly improved the degree of ethics of the business.

The leading European fashion retailers as well as leading American fashion retailers always focus on ethical and sustainable sourcing. One common approach of all of these companies is that the companies always source the end materials from the factories in which the degree of social sustainability in maintained. The example of Walmart and other leading fashion retailers can be considered in this particular section of sustainability assignment. Majority of the clothes of these leading retailers are manufactured in the Chinese and Bangladeshi manufacturing units. The management of Walmart have come to know that the fundamental human rights of the employees and social sustainability in the factories of garment industry are being violated in Bangladesh (Yang and Dong, 2017). Being one of the ethical and responsible fashion retailers, the management of Walmart always try to meet the sustainable development goals of the United Kingdom. When the management of Walmart has identified that Bangladeshi garment factories are not doing justice with the employees, immediately the management decided that the company will not source the garments from the factories of Bangladesh. Slowly and gradually, the Bangladeshi industry decided to improve the scenario. In addition, it is also identified in the sustainability assignment that the leading American and European retailers have developed a Treaty to improve the degree of ethics and sustainability of the Bangladeshi garment industry.

Therefore, considering the above information provided in this sustainability assignment it can be stated that Walmart not only motivated the factories of Bangladesh to maintain social sustainability by giving proper workplace environment and human rights to the employees, but also invested some capitals to assist the factories to improve the working conditions. In addition, the management of Walmart also have decided that they will come for surprise visits in the factories to decide whether the factories are maintaining further sustainability or not (Sun, 2018). This example of Walmart actually indicates that the leading organisations do follow sustainable approaches in the business to ensure ethical sourcing.

Sustainable Strategies to Improve Working Conditions and Comprehensive CSR Philosophy related to Global Outsourcing Issues (PC 2.3)
Working conditions of the garment workers in Bangladesh is not actually sustainable. This Bangladeshi garment industry is the leading contributor towards the economic growth of the nation. However, poor working conditions are actually creating dissatisfaction among the business clients. Therefore, it is important for the garment factories of Bangladesh to develop sustainable strategies and improve the working conditions of factories. Three important strategies can be applied and implemented by the management. People management, business management, and environment & operations management are considered to be three important sustainable strategies, which can improve the working conditions. First of all, people management in the workplace can be improved through health & safety aspects of the employees (Morris et al., 2016). The following of the labour laws and human rights also can help here. In addition, effective skill development and employee engagement activities can ensure adequate people management. Secondly, the owners of the factories in Bangladeshi garment industry should integrate innovation to offer a comfortable workplace environment. Thirdly, sustainable technology, environmental efficiency, safety of the equipment, and better ventilation can ensure sustainability of the environment & operations. These three approaches defined in the segments of sustainability assignment can help the Bangladeshi garment factories to improve the working conditions for the employees.

In terms of promoting and maintaining environmental sustainability in the global sourcing, the companies need to develop comprehensive CSR philosophy. A comprehensive CSR philosophy can be developed through several important steps. First of all, this is a vital approach for the companies across the globe to develop and integrate appropriate supplier selection process. Secondly, setting and communicating clear agenda with the suppliers is highly important for the companies across the globe. Thirdly, the global apparel organisations need to promote ethical and sustainable buying as well as selling practices. Fourthly, the suppliers need to be educated by the decision makers and professionals of the organisation regarding the use of most ethical and transparent business operation activities. Last but not the least; managing expectations of the stakeholders is also important. This can help in better reporting activities (De Angelis et al., 2020). The leading retailers in this contemporary era are considering these specific aspects in business to develop CWR philosophies.

Strategies Implemented by Primark and Benetton to Maintain Sustainability in Business Functions (PC 2.1)
Primark is considered to be a popular Irish fast fashion company. On the other hand, Benetton is a popular global fashion brand based in Italy. Both of these fashion brands have strong presence in the global apparel industry. These two popular global fashion brands selected in the present context of sustainability assignment are applying sustainable strategies in the business. First of all, the management of Primark is trying to maintain sustainability in the business operation functions by becoming more environment-friendly. The company is investing more capital in the sourcing and manufacturing activities to collect high quality cottons. In order to maintain environmental sustainability in business, the company also has started to use paper bags instead of plastic carriers since 2002. Secondly, the organisation is also raising its voice against the manufacturers or the factories if it is found that the factories have employed child labours. Primark has raised its voice against the poor workplace conditions for the employees in the Bangladeshi garment industries (White et al., 2020). The Rana Plaza Collapse incident has forced Primark to collaborate with other companies and develop a sustainability accord for the employees working in the factories to improve their level of workplace safety and workplace satisfaction. These are some specific examples in maintaining sustainability in the business functions, which have ensured by the management of Primark.

Apart from Primark, Benetton also has adopted an important strategic management approach in maintaining sustainability in the business operation activities. Considering the information provided in the segments of sustainability assignment, it is also identified that the management of Benetton prefers natural fibres, mono-fibre, organic cotton, natural dyes, ozone and later treatments, and cellulose-based labels in the manufacturing process of the clothes. Overall, the management of Benetton believes in product safety and environment sustainability approaches. Most importantly, the management is maintaining transparency in the supply chain management activities by ensuring appropriate flow of the information among engaged stakeholders (Jia et al., 2020). As per the employment policies of Benetton, the business client and company itself cannot hire employees below 15 years. Moreover, the company also raises voice against women’s rights and women empowerment. Notably, the management of Benetton has raised voice against the poor sustainability in the workplace of Bangladesh (Stanwick and Stanwick, 2015). Hence, it is identified in the sustainability assignment that both Benetton and Primark have maintained sustainability in their business functions by ensuring social, environmental, and economic accountability in the business.

Role of HRM in Maintaining Sustainability (PC 3.1)
Fast fashion companies like Benetton and Primark are driving sustainability in the business operation activities by the ethical and transparent HR activities. The HR department of the majority of the fast fashion companies are maintaining sustainability in the business by following some important steps in the business. First of all, the companies are developing sustainable mission and vision of the business. Secondly, majority of the fast fashion companies are adopting democratic leadership approaches to include the employees and important stakeholders to generate creative strategies in the business. Again, the example of Primark can be considered herein sustainability assignment. Primark is considered to be a popular fast fashion company, which ensures social, environmental, and economic sustainability in the business (Leon et al., 2016). The company always tries to meet the sustainability development goals of the UN in business. Therefore, the company has adopted democratic leadership skills in the business in which the suppliers and employees always have shared innovative ideas with the management professionals of Primark, so that the company can develop innovative ideas. Thirdly, it is stated in the sustainability assignment that the organisational structure also plays an important function of HR that helps in maintaining sustainability in business. Primark maintains less-hierarchical organisational structure through which the communication between top-management and employees become time-effective and transparent (Garcia-Torres et al., 2017). Fourthly, the management also focuses on enabling HR capability. It is identified in the sustainability assignment that the HR capability of Primark has been enabled through the less hierarchical structure, decentralised culture, diversity in workplace, equality in workplace, and employee engagement un workplace.

Fourthly, consideration of effective change management strategies in the operational activities is also considered to be an important approach, which has helped the company to overcome the possibilities of different possible conflicts. The company engages staffs and management professionals altogether in the organisational learning as well as change management strategies so that the employees can become highly aware of changes. These help in maintaining a friendly and conflict free workplace environment (Leon et al., 2016). Hence, it can be concluded in the sustainability assignment that HRM plays an important role in maintaining sustainability in the business.

Role of CEO in Dealing with Rana Plaza Collapse Crisis and Sustainable Recommendations (PC 2.4)
The CEO of Primark, Benetton, and other brands have decided after the collapse of Rana Plaza that the factories of the Bangladeshi garment industry should improve the safety measures and working condition of the workplaces. More than 1000 people have been killed after this Rana Plaza collapse incident. Several brands initially decided to do business with other country like China in order to ensure ethics in the sourcing. However, the leading fashion retailers wanted to give another chance after repeated mistakes that they will do business with the Bangladeshi garment industry but they have to improve the sustainability measures. The CEOs of the companies have come to the conclusion that they will improve the capital funding to improve the safety measures of these Bangladeshi factories. Secondly, they have decided that they will make sure that improvement activities are going on by frequent as well as surprised supervision of any of the facility or factory. In case of poor improvement, the fashion retailers will stop funding (Mohajeri et al., 2016). Thirdly, the CEOs of the fashion retailers have given a condition to the Bangladeshi government that strict laws and regulations need to be developed for these garment factories to maintain sustainability and safety measures in the business operation activities. The argument raised on the sustainability assignment signifies that following recommendation plans will help CEOs of the company to meet the sustainability objectives in the business.

First of all, this is essential for the CEOs and business leaders of the fashion retailers to instruct the owners of the garment factories in Bangladesh that dictatorship and autocracy should be stopped on immediate basis. Tis will somehow help the employees to enjoy their fundamental human rights.

Secondly, it is also mentioned in the sustainability assignment that the CEOs of the global fashion retailers should instruct the owners of the garment factories that women empowerment and workplace equality should be maintained. Most importantly, a quarterly report should be sent to the CEOs of the companies regarding this. Last but not the least; transparent communication channel between the employees and the ethical sourcing teams of the fashion retailers should take place. The fashion retailers should give a proposal to develop trade unions in order to ensure sustainability.

Conclusion
The Bangladeshi garment industry is suffering from different kinds of sustainability issues related to human rights of employees in the workplace. Majority of the employees are women in the industry and they are purposely paid less by the management. . In addition, the machinery and equipment are not advanced. The employees are directly exposed to the toxic and pollution, which are affecting the good health of the employees. Moreover, workplace hazards and occupational safety issues are also considered to be some important sustainability challenges for the Bangladeshi garment industry. This is another important sustainability issue noted in the sustainability assignment in the garment industry. Primark, H&M, Benetton, and Walmart are considered to be some important and popular companies within the global apparel industry. The readings of sustainability assignment examines that the one common approach of all of these companies is that the companies always source the end materials from the factories in which the degree of social sustainability in maintained. The CEOs of the companies have come to the conclusion that they will improve the capital funding to improve the safety measures of these Bangladeshi factories. In addition, they have decided that they will make sure that improvement activities are going on by frequent as well as surprised supervision of any of the facility or factory. Moreover, CEOs of the fashion retailers have given a condition to the Bangladeshi government that strict laws and regulations need to be developed for these garment factories to maintain sustainability and safety measures in the business operation activities. Following recommendation plans will help CEOs of the company to meet the sustainability objectives in the business.

Task 2
This task under sustainability assignment has discussed that connection between business operation activities and the socio-environmental challenges with regard to the sustainability. Primark has been selected as the organisation for the analysis in this task of sustainability assignment.

Introduction
Primark is one of the popular multinational fast fashion retailers based in Dublin. This Irish fashion retailer has successfully adopted and implemented a global business expansion strategy. Primark has a strong business presence in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain. Primark was developed in the year 1969. Since its formation, this global fast fashion retailer has adopted different sustainable strategies to maintain social, economic, and environmental sustainability in the business.

What are the effects of Global Warming, Loss of bio-diversity, population growth, and resource scarcity on Primark (PC 1.3) discussed in the sustainability assignment?
Primark is a socially, economically, and environmental responsible organisation. There are different social as well as environmental sustainability issues identified in the sustainability assignment, which have affected the business outcomes of different organisations.

Global warming is a serious environmental sustainability issue, which has somehow affected the business operation sustainability of Primark. Due to the growing impacts of global warming, the management of Primark is expanding its Carbon footprint. In last three years, the greenhouse gas emission of the company has increased by 15 percent. Due to rapid business expansion in the American market, it is expected that the degree of carbon emission and GHG emission will be increased (Garcia-Torres et al., 2019). This growing carbon and GHG emission level of Primark need to be controlled; otherwise it may create serious impact on the stakeholder support.

Resource scarcity is another important environmental issue illustrated in this section of sustainability assignment, which is affecting the business operation sustainability of Primark. The example of palm oil sourcing can be considered. Primark is one of the potential palm oil importers and it requires deforestation of millions of palm trees. However, as per the European regulations, an organisation has to make some balance between sourcing of palm oil and plantation of palm trees. Unfortunately, the management of Primark has faced some challenges regarding this particular issue and the management had to ensure that they will invest the capital in the plantation of four palm trees against the sourcing of palm oil produced from one particular tree.

Population growth is a social sustainability issue and this issue has somehow helped the management of Primark to improve the sales growth rate. It is identified in the sustainability assignment that the management of Primark is getting successful in terms of acquiring new customers due to its sustainable green production and overall green business strategy. These are helping to attain sustainable business growth.

Bio-diversity is an important environmental sustainability concept and it is helping the management of Primark to adopt different kinds of environmental sustainability strategies in the business to maintain ecological balance and reduce the level of carbon emission in the business.

Financing Challenges and Solutions for Sustainable Development, and Suitable Recommendations (PC 3.3)

Poverty in some regions can be considered as the major financing challenges. It is identified in the sustainability assignment that the providing financial aid for the sustainable development has become a complex task as financial institutions are failing in this due to inadequate financial regulations. Most importantly, lack of effective co-ordination between the private and public sector is affecting the equal distribution of the financial capital in the necessary regions. Systematic risks due to increased debt burden, poor private-public co-ordination, and inadequate poor trade policies towards the protectionism are causing some financial challenges. These are some financial challenges illustrated in the present context of sustainability assignment for global apparel industry to achieve sustainable goals. However, some financial institutions are making some resolutions to reduce these systematic risks. The United Nations along with the partner organisations are effectively focusing on the restricting of the global institution architecture. As per the investigation on sustainability assignment, in order to make global apparel industry and global finance more sustainable, the financial institutions as well as social development institutions are introducing integrated financing frameworks (raj et al., 2017). These are significantly improving the private-partner co-ordination. As a result, the national priorities as well as national policies are significantly aligning with the financing policies. As a result, the financial challenges in the global apparel industry are getting resolved gradually, and these are significantly contributing towards the sustainable development.

In terms of recommendations, it is important herein sustainability assignment to form a partnership between the international and domestic private companies. Primark is doing the same thing as the company is making partnership with the Malaysian companies to source palm oil in sustainable manner (Patwari and LeHew, 2018). The company is investing in the plantation programme of palm trees. This aspect presented in this part of sustainability assignment is helping to promote financial sustainability, which is significantly aligned with the environmental sustainability. Most importantly, the national interest of Malaysia is also intact due to this policy and approach of Primark.

Innovative Business Strategies to Address Sustainability Challenges (PC 2.2)
Primark is trying very hard to become a socially, economically, and environmentally responsible company by maintaining sustainability in the business. Still, the company is facing different kinds of environmental sustainability challenges as the emission level of carbon in the business of Primark is increasing die to aggressive business expansion in last three years. Following innovative strategies can help Primark to overcome the sustainability challenges. First of all, it will be important for Primark to develop an innovation program to promote sustainability in the business. In this innovative sustainability programme, the management needs to identify the actual environmental sustainability issue. In this case, the identified sustainability issue is resource scarcity and high carbon emission due to aggressive business operation activities.

Secondly, this is important for the management of Primark to identify the quantify the relationship between financial investment in sustainability programmes and environmental sustainability performance, It is identified herein sustainability assignment that the financial investment in environmental sustainability growth is very low (Ahn, 2017). Hence, the company may think about increased investment.

Thirdly, the innovation programme should generate innovative idea and develop a sustainable as well as innovative business model in which the triple bottom line approach can be sustained. In this activity as stated in the sustainability assignment, the management should think about the growth of the business by improve social, economic, and environmental sustainability of the business in an innovative way. For example, the company should hire cotton manufacturers, give their proper training, and invest capital in their farming as well as likelihood activities by manufacturing quality products. This also may help in improving the sustainability of social life of farmers. This is an innovative business model that can be followed.

Lastly, the innovative ideas discussed in the sustainability assignment regarding relationship with the cotton farmers should be communicated with every stakeholder for better transparency as it will definitely promote innovation.

Sustainability and its Impact on Manufacturing and Designing (PC 3.4)
Primark generally operates within the fashion retail industry. Majority of the organisations within the industry become successful due to the consideration of effective sustainability approaches in the business. Primark is considered to be one of the popular brands within the global fast fashion industry. The mission and vision of the company mentioned in the sustainability assignment is to become the global leader by maintaining sustainability in business (Koksal et al., 2016). The industry players always try to follow sustainability in the business by following three sustainability models in business, such as sustainability for people, sustainability for planet, and sustainability for products. All of these sustainability aspects are identified in the manufacturing and designing activities. All of these three aspects are discussed below.

First of all, it is clear on this sustainability assignment that the industries follows sustainability model for people by ensuring zero workplace fatalities in manufacturing and designing activities. The industry believes in ethical sourcing of raw-materials and resources from the factories across the globe. An example of ethical sourcing of Primark from the Bangladeshi garment factories can be considered. It is identified in Bangladeshi factories that women employees work for limited wages compared to male. Moreover, the degree of equality and unethical stress for the workers is high in Bangladeshi factories (White et al., 2017). It is also identified herein sustainability assignment that working conditions are not hygienic and safe. The management of Primark has raised voice against this and instructed the factory owners of Bangladesh strictly that they will not give orders in future if the lives of employees working in the factory become safe and sustainable. Hence, the example of the influence of sustainability in the manufacturing and designing process is strongly identified.

Secondly, the industry follows sustainability model for planet by using paper bags instead of plastic bags. From 2002, the company has started to use paper bags to pack the products for the consumers. Primark was one of very few companies in the industry in the early 2000s to reduce the GHG emission and avoid the challenges of pollutions. Hence, paper bags are used in this manufacturing and designing as the company guides their suppliers to send the resources in environment-friendly paper packages instead of packing those resources in plastic.

Thirdly, the industry players also follow the sustainability model for the manufacturing of products. The example of Primark again can be considered. It is identified in this sustainability assignment that the management of Primark prefers natural fibres, mono-fibre, organic cotton, natural dyes, ozone and later treatments, and cellulose-based labels in the manufacturing process of the clothes. These are considered to be quality resources, which are used in the manufacturing process of the products. Overall, it can be stated in this section of sustainability assignment that the industry players generally do not compromise with quality and sustainability in the business operation process.

Impact of International Codes and Regulations on Sustainability (PC 4.3)
The organisations within the global fashion retail industry must follow some international codes and regulations for maintaining sustainability in the business. Before discussion the impacts, it is important to know the names of some international sustainability codes and regulations. ISO 14000, TBL, Better Cotton Initiatives, Fair Labour Association, Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme, and the NICE Code of Conduct are considered to be some important international codes, initiatives, and regulations on sustainability. These are some valuable product certifications. The management professionals of the global fashion retail industry can overcome the challenges in the manufacturing and supply chain activities if they follow these international certification processes. Actually, the organisations can get certified by these standards, if they follow the parameters and criteria of these product certifications (Jia et al., 2020). Overall, these certifications as noted in this section of sustainability assignment help them to become successful in maintaining environmental and social sustainability in the business.

It is obvious that any organisation may face difficulties in following all the international codes and regulations on sustainability. ISO 14000, TBL, Better Cotton Initiatives, Fair Labour Association, Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme, and the NICE Code of Conduct are considered to be some important international codes, initiatives, and regulations on sustainability. The management of Primark already follows TBL approach in business (Akbar and Ahsan, 2020). Rest of the certifications need to be achieved by Primark and the manager should adopt appropriate change management strategy in business to adopt such certifications.

Kurt Lewin’s change management approach selected in the present context of sustainability assignment should be followed to initiate changes and follow the international codes. As a change initiation, three stages of the change management approach should be followed, such as unfreeze, change, refreeze. In the unfreeze stage, the management needs to communicate with all the stakeholders regarding the initiation and implication of change. In this stage, transparent communication and effective stakeholder engagement is required. Positive agreement and acknowledgement is necessary regarding implication of change (Koksal et al., 2018). In the change stage, the management along with necessary stakeholders should collaboratively apply the codes on the business to ensure sustainability in business. In refreeze stage, the management along with the stakeholders collaborative evaluate and decide whether the company is following the international codes appropriately or not.

Importance of Sustainability in Reporting and Sustainability Report of Primark (PC 3.2)
Primark is a socially responsible company. The social responsibility of the business of Primark can be identified from the information shared through sustainability report of the company. The findings obtained in the sustainability assignment signify that the company has developed some strict social policies on child labour, women empowerment, and workplace equality issues. The company not only follows these regulations, but also the company motivates or influences the suppliers as well as the owners of the garment factories to follow these principles.

(Source: Primark, 2019)

Environmental sustainability in business operation activities is an important agenda for Primark. The readings of this segment of sustainability assignment identified that Primark has adopted aggressive recycling strategy in business to ensure effective ecological balance and environmental sustainability. In the financial year 2018-2019, the management of Primark has become successful in recycling almost 56,358 tonnes of cardboard, 5,247 tonnes of plastics, and 7,940 tonnes of product hangers (primark, 2019). Most importantly, these recycling activities also have helped in reducing the higher sourcing of natural resources. As a result it has maintained environmental sustainability in business. However, it is discussed in the sustainability assignment that the level of carbon footprint in business has increased by 15 percent in the last three years. It is important here to state that the company has mentioned to adopt new strategies to reduce this percentage in the next two years (Ahmad et al., 2020). Most important, the company has adopted different kinds recycling, waste management, and energy usage sustainability policies to reduce the GHG emission in the upcoming years. In this sustainability assignment, the social sustainability issue of Primark also can be identified through its quality manufacturing examples. It is identified that the management natural fibres, mono-fibre, organic cotton, natural dyes, ozone and later treatments, and cellulose-based labels in the manufacturing process of the clothes. Hence, it states that the company is responsible for using quality and original resources to produce the goods (Patwary and LeHew, 2018). The company does not compromise with the quality of the products. The management or Primark does not believe in price war as the company perceives that price war and poor quality can hamper the brand image in the international market. As per the policies, whenever the company identifies that the partnering firms are hiring child labours, then the company issues notice against the partners regarding discontinuing of business partnership. Similarly, the company takes a strong stand against the workplace inequality, gender discrimination, racial discrimination, and women empowerment issues. The individuals aged less than 15 cannot be hired by the company or any other business partner of Primark (Park, 2016). These are some examples, which indicate that Primark significantly maintains social sustainability in business.

Conclusion
It can be concluded from the overall discussion on sustainability assignment that Primark has a strong business presence in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain. Since its formation, this global fast fashion retailer has adopted different sustainable strategies to maintain social, economic, and environmental sustainability in the business. In last three years, the greenhouse gas emission of the company has increased by 15 percent. Due to rapid business expansion in the American market, it is expected that the degree of carbon emission and GHG emission will be increased. Overall, the manufacturing approach is environmentally sustainable. It is identified in the sustainability assignment that the management of Primark is getting successful in terms of acquiring new customers due to its sustainable green production and overall green business strategy. From 2002, the company has started to use paper bags to pack the products for the consumers. Primark was one of very few companies in the industry in the early 2000s to reduce the GHG emission and avoid the challenges of pollutions. These are helping to attain sustainable business growth. The organisations within the global fashion retail industry must follow some international codes and regulations for maintaining sustainability in the business. The study developed in the sustainability assignment underline the only concern for Primark which is to become environmentally sustainable as the degree of GHG emission and carbon emission of the company has increased in last few years. The company should limit the use of natural resources for better ecological balance as these will help in following the codes and regulations of sustainability in global business.

References
Ahmad, S., Miskon, S., Alabdan, R. and Tlili, I., 2020. Towards Sustainable Textile and Apparel Industry: Exploring the Role of Business Intelligence Systems in the Era of Industry 4.0. Sustainability assignment Sustainability, 12(7), p.2632.

Ahn, Y., 2017. Sustainability in the Apparel Industry and Founding Firms’ Hybridized Logics. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2017, No. 1, p. 10860). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.

Akbar, S. and Ahsan, K., 2020. Investigation of the challenges of implementing social sustainability initiatives: a case study of the apparel industry. Social Responsibility Journal.

De Angelis, M., Amatulli, C. and Pinato, G., 2020. Sustainability in the Apparel Industry: The Role of Consumers’ Fashion Consciousness. In Sustainability in the Textile and Apparel Industries (pp. 19-33). Springer, Cham.

Garcia-Torres, S., Albareda, L., Rey-Garcia, M. and Seuring, S., 2019. Traceability for sustainability–literature review and conceptual framework. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal.

Garcia-Torres, S., Rey-Garcia, M. and Albareda-Vivo, L., 2017. Effective disclosure in the fast-fashion industry: from sustainability reporting to action. Sustainability, 9(12), p.2256.

Jia, F., Yin, S., Chen, L. and Chen, X., 2020. Circular economy in textile and apparel industry: A systematic literature review. Sustainability assignment Journal of Cleaner Production, p.120728.

Köksal, D., Strähle, J. and Müller, M., 2018. Social sustainability in apparel supply chains—The Role of the Sourcing Intermediary in a developing country. Sustainability, 10(4), p.1039.

Köksal, D., Strähle, J., Müller, M. and Freise, M., 2017. Social sustainable supply chain management in the textile and apparel industry—A literature review. Sustainability, 9(1), p.100.

León, R., Ferrero-Ferrero, I. and Muñoz-Torres, M.J., 2016, July. Environmental Performance Assessment in the Apparel Industry. A Materiality-Based Approach. In International Conference on Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, Economics and Management (pp. 51-60). Springer, Cham.

Mohajeri, B., Nyberg, T., Karjalainen, J., Nelson, M. and Xiong, G., 2016, July. Contributions of social manufacturing to sustainable apparel industry. In 2016 IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics (SOLI) (pp. 24-28). IEEE.

Morris, M., Barnes, J. and Kao, M., 2016. Global value chains, sustainable development, and the apparel industry in Lesotho. Country Case Study. pp. 44-88.

Ozek, H.Z., 2017. Sustainability: increasing impact on textile and apparel industry. Journal of Textile Engineering & Fashion Technology, 2(5).

Park, H., 2016. A confirmatory model for sustainability of apparel brands and its impact on brand outcomes. Sustainability assignment International Journal of Costume and Fashion, 16(1), pp.55-70.

Patwary, S. and LeHew, M., 2018, January. Consumers' knowledge gain of environmental sustainability issue pertaining to textile and apparel industry through social networking site engagement. In International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings (Vol. 75, No. 1). Iowa State University Digital Press.

Primark., 2019. PRIMARK ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORT 2019. [Online]. Available at: < https://primark.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/Primark_Environmental-Sustainability-Performance-Report_2019>. [Accessed on August 18, 2020].

Raj, D., Ma, Y.J., Gam, H.J. and Banning, J., 2017. Implementation of lean production and environmental sustainability in the Indian apparel manufacturing industry: a way to reach the triple bottom line.

International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 10(3), pp.254-264.

Stanwick, P., and Stanwick, S., 2015. The Garment Industry in Bangladesh: A Human Rights Challenge. Journal of Business & Economic Policy, 2(4), pp.40-44.

Sun, O., 2018. Sustainability Strategies and Challenges in the Luxury Apparel Industry. Diplomski rad. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania, 12(2), pp.109-178.

Warasthe, R. and Brandenburg, M., 2018. Sourcing Organic Cotton from African Countries Potentials and Risks for the Apparel Industry Supply Chain. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 51(30), pp.297-301.

White, C.L., Nielsen, A.E. and Valentini, C., 2017. CSR research in the apparel industry: A quantitative and qualitative review of existing literature. Corporate social responsibility and environmental management, 24(5), pp.382-394.

Yang, L. and Dong, S., 2017. Sustainable product strategy in apparel industry with consumer