Analyzing the barriers of green textile supply chain management in Southeast Asia using interpretive structural modeling

Abstract Southeast Asian countries have become the production hub of lean textile and apparel supply chain. Textile supply chain consumes huge amount of natural resources and emits polluting effluents and gases creating serious environmental and human health concerns. Green design, green procurement, green operations and green transportation are the major areas of green supply chain management. This paper attempts to analyze the important barriers of green textile and apparel supply chain management in Southeast Asian countries. Twelve important barriers have been identified through literature review and questionnaire survey. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) has been used to decipher the contextual relationships among the barriers. Complexity of green process and system design was found to be the most elementary barrier having the maximum driving power. Lack of consumer support and encouragement, lack of guidance and support from regulatory authorities and high implementation and maintenance cost are the other elementary barriers of green textile supply chain. Lack of green suppliers is the most dependent barrier which is influenced by all other barriers considered in this research. Elimination of root causes or driving barriers are paramount to save the environment. Concerted efforts in terms of green technological innovation, consumers’ awareness and support of the regulatory bodies are needed for effective implementation of green supply practices in textile and apparel supply chains.