Organising environmental supply chain management. Experience from a sector with frequent product shifts and complex products chains: The case of the Danish Textile sector

This paper analyses the shaping of environmental supply chain management practice in the Danish textile sector. It is based on a qualitative study involving eight companies and their interaction with suppliers on environmental issues. The analyses show several aspects that influence environmental supply chain management practice: governmental regulation, public debate, customer demand, expectations for market opportunities, and international economic structures such as currency rates and trade quotas. From the case studies, three different environmental supply chain management practices have been identified: (1) the wake strategy, where companies follow in the 'wake' of other companies, which place the same requirements on their suppliers; (2) the asymmetrical partnership, where long-term relationships with a supplier are based on control; and (3) the symmetrical partnership, with longterm relationships and mutual partnership with a supplier. The tools and structures characterising each of the practices, and the opportunities and barriers for their continuing long-term and more widespread implementation as a part of long-term business strategies are discussed.