From compliance to sustainability: Drivers and barriers influencing the adoption of waste management practices in Sri Lankan textile and apparel industry

Environmental sustainability represents a core dimension of the triple bottom line framework. As one of the largest and most rapidly expanding global industries, the apparel sector contributes substantially to economic growth, however, its intensive resource consumption and waste generation pose significant environmental challenges. Accordingly, industrial waste management is essential for sustainable development, environmental protection, and adherence to regulatory standards. Consequently, the adoption of environmentally sustainable waste management practices within the textile and apparel industry has become a critical and widely discussed issue worldwide. Accordingly, this study aims to study the key drivers and barriers influencing the adoption of waste management practices in Sri Lankan textile and apparel industry. The major underpinning theories of this study are Institutional and Stakeholder theories. Adoption of waste management practices (AD) has been used as the dependent variable, while Government Rules and Regulations (GRR), Public Pressure (PP), Competitor Pressure (CP), Consumer Behavior (CB), Top Management Support (TMS), and Cost of Initiation (CI) has been identified as the main drivers and barriers. The research model was developed by considering previous literature, which highlighted key drivers and barriers, and integrating these insights within the framework of Institutional and Stakeholder theories to assess their impact on the adoption of waste management practices. The study followed a quantitative approach and collected data through a structured questionnaire. The population for this study includes key decision-makers in sustainable practices at large textile and apparel manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka. Both purposive and judgmental sampling methods were used to select 114 executives and senior employees from Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing facilities, ensuring that all participants were involved in environmental sustainability decision-making. Multiple regression analysis and Factor analysis were used to analyze the collected data to derive conclusions. The study reveals that external factors such as government regulations, public pressure, and competitor pressure significantly impact on the adoption of waste management practices, highlighting the importance of regulatory and market forces in driving sustainability.