Entering the world behind the clothes that we wear: practical applications of blockchain technology

Abstract

This paper investigates blockchain technology from a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) perspective. Transparency is vital for achieving accountability, improving the environmental footprint and ensuring that workers’ rights are respected. Blockchain-enabled capabilities provide opportunities to support improved information transparency to sub-suppliers and customers. Case study research is used within the complex multi-tier global fashion industry to explore the application of blockchain technology in enhancing TBL performance. This paper responds to calls from the literature to provide practice-based research on blockchain and supply chain management challenges. The research is based on three technology-based start-ups (at different Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)) and investigates their practical experiences to date, in transforming and advancing supply chain TBL. As this research focuses on the early adoption of blockchain technology within the fashion industry, it demonstrates the practicalities of implementation including its capabilities, operational improvements, challenges and limitations.

Keywords:

• Blockchain technology
• triple bottom line
• supply chain
• transparency
• fashion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy V. Benstead

Dr Amy V. Benstead is a Lecturer in Fashion Management in the Department of Materials, University of Manchester, UK. She holds a PhD in Management Science from Lancaster University Management School and is a board member of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA). Her research interests include socially sustainable supply chain management and global sourcing, with a particular focus on the textiles and fashion industry. She has considerable knowledge and international experience gained in the fashion industry, most recently as Senior Merchandise Manager based in Istanbul, Turkey at global sourcing company Li & Fung where her main responsibilities included managing the sourcing and production for global fashion retailers. Her research interests include Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Global Sourcing, with a particular focus on the textiles and fashion industry.

Deodat Mwesiumo

Dr. Deodat Mwesiumo is an Associate professor in Supply Chain Management at Molde University College, Specialized University in Logistics. He holds an MSc degree and a PhD in Logistics, both from Molde University College. His current research activities focus on sustainable supply chain management, production location and digital business transformation. His work has appeared in internationally accredited scientific journals, including Technovation, Journal of Public Procurement, and Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management.

Hamid Moradlou

Dr. Hamid Moradlou is an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Wariwck Manufacturing Group. He previously was part of Cranfield School of Management as a lecturer in SCM. He has earned his BEng from University of Bath in Manufacturing Management followed by an MSc in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Management at Loughborough University. He also obtained his PhD in SCM which was funded by the Wolfson School at Loughborough University. His research interests mainly focuses on investigating the offshoring and re-shoring phenomenon in developed countries and the impacts of new generation of technologies, Industry 4.0, on manufacturing location decisions.

Albachiara Boffelli

Dr. Albachiara Boffelli is an Assistant Professor at the University of Bergamo. She holds a PhD in Economics and Management of Technology, from a joint PhD program between the University of Bergamo (Italy) and the University of Pavia (Italy). She has been a visiting researcher at the Department of Industrial Management and Logistics of Lund University (Sweden). Her research focuses on the topic of manufacturing relocation decisions, with a focus on the recent reshoring phenomenon. In addition, her research interests also include corporate social responsibility and sustainability, as well as the impact of new technologies on organizations and supply chains. Her research has been presented at national and international conferences (e.g. EurOMA, Academy of Management, DSI) and published in national and international journals, like International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, Production Planning and Control and Operations Management Research.