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Mango is a leading Spanish clothing brand known for stylish, affordable fashion. However, like many fast-fashion companies, Mango faces ethical issues related to concerns over labour conditions and environmental impact. Poor labour practices in supplier factories, often in developing countries, can lead to exploitation and unsafe working conditions. The Fast fashion nature contributes to significant textile waste and pollution, depleting resources and harming ecosystems. Addressing these issues would foster more ethical supply chains, benefiting workers, communities, and the environment while promoting sustainable consumer practices.

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Mango’s ethical challenges primarily relate to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Responsible Consumption and Production, focusing on reducing waste, pollution, and fostering sustainable business practices. Fast fashion brands like Mango rely on high production volumes and low costs, which can lead to excessive textile waste, water pollution, and unsustainable resource use.

Additionally, labour issues, such as low wages and unsafe working conditions in supplier factories, align with the SDG of Decent Work and Economic Growth. Ensuring fair wages, safe environments, and dignified employment is essential for promoting inclusive economic development.

This issue also impacts the SDG of Climate Action as fast fashion contributes to carbon emissions through energy-intensive processes and global supply chains. Addressing these concerns would help reduce Mango’s environmental impact and ensure ethical practices across its value chain, improving both local communities where production occurs and global efforts to combat climate change and social inequality.

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Key insights from two journal articles that discuss fast fashion’s impact and alignment with the UN SDGs:

Sourcing and Sustainability in Fast Fashion
A study from Sustainability examines how fast fashion brands have integrated sustainability into their global sourcing strategies. It highlights that the reliance on low-cost labour has often led to environmental and social challenges, such as poor working conditions. Following public criticism, especially after incidents such as the Rana Plaza collapse, retailers emphasize transparency and sustainability in sourcing. The study highlights that association with SDG Responsible Consumption and Production is crucial for building brand reputation while addressing hidden environmental costs in the supply chain. Ensuring better practices across suppliers also aligns with SDG Decent Work and Economic Growth by improving labour conditions in global factories.

Impact of COVID-19 and innovative ideas for a sustainable fashion supply chain in the future.

Another study from the Foresight explores how fast fashion brands shifted their sustainability goal. The research finds that companies maintained a focus on SDG sustainable consumption and production throughout the pandemic, emphasizing sustainable materials and production practices. Additionally, some brands improved water management efforts, supporting SDG for Clean Water and Sanitation. Although the pandemic shifted attention slightly towards health-related goals like SDG Good Health and Well-being, the overall focus on responsible consumption and sustainable operations remained consistent.

These studies emphasize the importance of aligning business operations with multiple SDGs to address both social and environmental challenges in fast fashion.

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Mango has taken several steps to address sustainability challenges, aligning with multiple UN SDGs. The company introduced sustainable collections, incorporating organic, recycled, and eco-friendly materials to support the SDG of Responsible Consumption and Production. Mango also committed to using 100% sustainable cotton by 2025 and reducing water consumption across its manufacturing processes (Presna, 2020). These actions align with SDG of Clean Water and Sanitation, as improved water management is crucial in textile production.

To enhance labour practices, Mango developed partnerships with local suppliers that promote ethical working conditions, aligning with the SDG of Decent Work and Economic Growth. The company increased supply chain transparency by publishing factory lists and participating in international initiatives such as the Fashion Transparency Index.

However, Mango has faced several ethical challenges in balancing profitability with sustainable practices. The fast fashion model inherently pressures companies to produce quickly and at low costs, which can lead to labour exploitation and environmental harm. Shifting toward sustainability has also required overcoming resistance from suppliers accustomed to traditional practices.

Despite these challenges, Mango’s efforts offer significant benefits. Locally, improved working conditions enhance the well-being of workers in supplier factories. Globally, sustainable production reduces pollution and resource depletion, contributing to environmental conservation. Additionally, transparent business practices foster consumer trust and promote more sustainable consumer behaviour. Mango’s actions demonstrate how fashion companies can integrate ethical considerations into their operations, contributing positively to both local communities and global sustainability efforts.

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Mango’s response to sustainability issues can be analysed through Kantian ethics, which emphasises duty and moral principles over outcomes. According to this framework, decisions should be guided by adherence to universal moral rules, such as treating individuals with dignity and respecting human rights. This aligns with the company’s commitment to fair labour practices and transparency, reflecting the principle of treating workers not purely as means to profit, consistent with SDG of Decent Work and Economic Growth​.

Mango's sustainable collections and commitment to eco-friendly materials align with Kant’s categorical imperative to act in ways that could become universal laws. By prioritising sustainable production, Mango sets a standard for responsible fashion that can be emulated by other brands, fostering industry-wide environmental responsibility reflecting the SDG of Responsible Consumption and Production.

Additionally, publishing their suppliers information demonstrates transparency, supports ethical accountability which is a key Kantian principle. This openness helps Mango build consumer trust while encouraging other stakeholders to adopt ethical behaviour.

However, Kantian ethics also poses challenges. Fast fashion is driven by profitability and consumer demand, so there is an inherent tension between ethical duties to workers and environmental concerns against economic interests. By adhering to sustainable practices, Mango faces higher costs and production delays, challenging its ability to compete effectively in the fast-fashion market. Despite these hurdles, the Kantian approach helps Mango create long-term value for society by developing fair labour conditions and reducing environmental damage, benefiting both local and global communities.

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Mango’s sustainability efforts, such as transparent supply chains and sustainable collections, reflect meaningful progress but are not without limitations. Social movements like the Fashion Revolution and rising consumer awareness, have pressured Mango and other fast fashion brands to adopt sustainable practices. Competitor actions, such as H&M’s Conscious collection, have also influenced Mango to align with industry standards. However, the company still faces challenges in fully integrating ethical practices within the fast fashion model, which inherently prioritizes speed and cost-efficiency.

Compliance with stricter policies offers Mango an opportunity to gain a competitive edge by defensively implementing sustainable practices. However, completely transitioning to a sustainable model could strain relationships with suppliers accustomed to conventional operations, highlighting the tension between short-term economic goals and long-term ethical commitments.

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Organisations that are determined to support the UN SDGs should adopt sustainable production practices by reducing waste and using eco-friendly materials, supporting SDG, Responsible Consumption and Production. They can also integrate the SDG circular economy models, promoting recycling and reuse to minimize environmental impact. Partnering with social movements and other industries promotes knowledge exchange and learning, this can accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. Additionally, companies should engage with regulatory frameworks and proactively comply with environmental and labour laws to stay ahead of evolving political and community expectations.