UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Unravelling the motivations for the environmental harm posed by the unsustainable practices by the apparel industry in Ghana

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.1007/s44274-025-00236-4

Authors

William Boateng · Ronald Osei Mensah · Lillian Lamptey · Victor Fannam Nunfam

Reported year

2025

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.747932+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:04:47.747932+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University · Edith Cowan University · Takoradi Technical University · University of Cape Coast

Reported affiliation countries

AU · GH

Documentary abstract — original language

The apparel industry in Ghana has increasingly come under scrutiny for its environmental footprint, particularly in the wake of rising concerns about ecological degradation. This study critically examines the motivations behind unsustainable practices within the industry, exploring how economic, cultural, and structural factors contribute to environmental harm. Using Routine Activity Theory (RAT) as a guiding framework, the research identifies key drivers of ecological damage, including the dominance of profit-driven decisions, market demand for fast apparel, limited awareness of sustainable practices, and challenges in accessing eco-friendly materials. Additionally, the study investigates how the apparel industry's operations exploit natural resources and fragile ecosystems, making them vulnerable to degradation. The research adopts a qualitative approach, employing semi-structured interviews with 25 purposively selected apparel designers in Ghana to gain in-depth insights into their experiences and sustainability challenges. Despite existing sustainability efforts, gaps in enforcement, policy inconsistencies, and greenwashing continue to hinder meaningful progress. The study highlights the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight, increased industry awareness, and economically viable sustainability strategies. By bridging criminological and environmental perspectives, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ecological harm in Ghana’s apparel sector and provide a foundation for actionable interventions.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W4409597877

DOI

10.1007/s44274-025-00236-4

Documentary context

Documentary family

Scholarship

Source-reported types

article

Jurisdictions studied — explicit sources

GH

Natural entities mentioned

Ecosystem

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00236-4
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W4409597877

Documented bibliographic relations

Source-declared references and links; they do not establish legal support or UGLC qualification. Up to 20 outgoing references are displayed.

• openalex:w1714723801 · CITES
• openalex:w1833518599 · CITES
• openalex:w2001862891 · CITES
• openalex:w2003556306 · CITES
• openalex:w2019157369 · CITES
• openalex:w2019967521 · CITES
• openalex:w2059902720 · CITES
• openalex:w2139299089 · CITES
• openalex:w2180774558 · CITES
• openalex:w2460117687 · CITES
• openalex:w2604627085 · CITES
• openalex:w2754799758 · CITES
• openalex:w2883531657 · CITES
• openalex:w2889351352 · CITES
• openalex:w2925515791 · CITES
• openalex:w2937309842 · CITES
• openalex:w2940416697 · CITES
• openalex:w2971035958 · CITES
• openalex:w3013171296 · CITES
• openalex:w3013764545 · CITES

0 incoming references within the detected corpus

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.