Date: 20/08/2025
Time: 14:00 – 15:00 (BST)
Location: Online
Environmental sustainability and circularity in clothing global value chains: lessons for manufacturers
In this webinar, Commonwealth Alumnus Denanjalee Gunaratne will discuss how the shifts in public and private sustainability standards are affecting clothing manufacturers in developing countries. Â
The clothing industry is one of the largest polluting sectors in the world, contributing to serious environmental threats and potentially hindering the progress in achieving the 1.5°C target outlined in the Paris Agreement. To address its negative impacts, governments and regulatory bodies are developing new public standards to promote environmental sustainability and circularity within the industry. Multinational enterprises involved in the global clothing sector are adapting to these evolving public standards by revising their company codes of conduct, garment design and manufacturing practices, and sourcing strategies.
Denanjalee will present the findings from her research into Sri Lanka’s clothing industry, highlighting how evolving standards impact manufacturers. The discussion will focus on whether manufacturers have the necessary resources and capabilities to adapt to these changes, as well as the hidden costs they may incur as a result.
The webinar will also emphasise the importance of recognising the effects on developing countries and formulating fair and inclusive policies and practices while promoting environmental sustainability and circularity in the industry.
This webinar will address the CSC development theme, Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The CSC’s Development in Action webinar series provides an opportunity for Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni to present on their work and contribution to development across a range of contemporary global challenges and provide insight into ongoing research and action.
Open to all Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni, the monthly webinars will address one of the CSC’s six development themes and provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in real-time Q&A discussion on the topic presented.
You can watch previous webinars on the CSC’s YouTube channel.
Denanjalee Gunaratne is a postdoctoral researcher at LUT University in Finland. She specialises in sustainability and international business.
She completed her PhD in Management at the University of Glasgow. Her research explores the intersection of sustainability, Industry 4.0 technologies, and business model innovation with a particular focus on clothing manufacturers in developing countries.
She previously held academic positions at the University of Glasgow and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka. Her recent work has been published in journals such as Asian Business & Management and Transnational Corporations.
Denanjalee Gunaratne is a 2018 Commonwealth Shared Scholar from Sri Lanka. She completed an MSc in International Business at the University of Leeds.
