PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, AND PROCESS INNOVATION

Abstract

Textile industry is the most resource consuming manufacturing sector that puts a lot of stress on the environmental system through overconsumption of water, overuse of energy and commendable release of chemicals. The increases in regulatory awareness, the rise in stakeholder concern and the growing consumer demand of eco-friendly products have forced textile companies to incorporate environmental and social factors into their business and operational strategies. Based on resource-based view and sustainability theory, the research problem is to examine how top management support, technological innovation, infrastructure development, and process innovation affect sustainable performance in the textile organizations. Besides, this paper investigates how Industry 5.0, digital transformation, quality of human capital, and sustainable supply chain practices enable environmental and operational sustainability. Quantitative research design was adopted where the information was collected in the form of structured surveys with the participants being the professionals in the textile companies in various regions. The hypotheses about the relations and the moderating and mediating mechanisms were tested with the help of structural equation modeling (SEM).

The results show that the top management support in combination with the process innovation and the qualified staff contributes greatly to the sustainable performance through the efficiency of the resource usage, environmental compliance and the outcome of the operation. Technology innovation and infrastructure development is demonstrated to enhance sustainable supply chain practices and help in good performance measurement structures. Moreover, Industry 5.0 and digital transformation are both essential facilitators, as they moderate the correlation of leadership support and technological capability and sustainability outcomes. The research dwells on the links between organizational, technological and human-capital resources in realizing long-term environmental and operational resilience. In practice, it offers practical information to managers and policymakers who want integration of innovation, leadership, and human capital development to sustainable manufacturing goals, which, in the long-term, can result in long-term competitiveness and environmental stewardship.