Samenvatting

QUOTE: “100% sustainability is almost impossible. However, due to use of first-degree certification, certifications based on international standards, requesting all documents and have continuous cooperation with the supplier, this percentage will increase. Also, 100% reliability is hard to achieve. Independent control, using standard protocols, having extensive checks, creating trust, collaborating and educating will raise this reliability.” – RESEARCH AIM: The purpose of this research is to make sustainability of textiles for fashion brands more reliable by improving the sourcing process in using quality labels and certifications in the right way concerning the values of the particular fashion brand. – RESEARCH QUESTION: To what extent does sourcing certified textile suppliers, provide reliable environmental and social sustainable development for fashion brands? – SUB QUESTIONS: (1) To what degree is environmental and social sustainability in textiles measurable? (2) What are possible methods to provide more reliable textile sourcing and environmental and social control? (3) To what extent are the local laws being applied in the risk textile production countries, China, India, Bangladesh and Ethiopia sufficient to reach sustainable environmental and social development and what are focus points for certificates to increase this?(4) To what extent does the costs and time to obtain certifications, affect the decision of being environmental and social sustainable for both suppliers and fashion brands? (5) What are possible risks regarding failed audits and unreliable certificates for both suppliers and fashion brands and how can this be prevented?