Indicadores de sustentabilidade para micro e pequenas empresas produtoras do vestuário

Abstract

Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) often implement sustainable practices organically, due to a lack of financial and human resources, and in a constant struggle for survival. However, with access to information and technical knowledge, the potential for improving sustainability within this sector is significant, generating positive impacts—especially considering that MSEs represent the majority of businesses in Brazil. Given the challenges MSEs face to remain in the market, and acknowledging that sustainability enhances competitiveness, this thesis investigates the central question: How can sustainability contribute to improving the competitiveness of micro and small enterprises? Additionally, this research explores the applicability of existing sustainability indicators, including ESG-Fiec, Ethos-Sebrae, and ABVTEX. The study focused on the fashion market in Fortaleza, analyzing MSEs through expert interviews and technical visits to 30 companies. The main objective is to provide a practical tool—an index—to assess and promote sustainable practices among small clothing manufacturers. The proposed index was developed from the study of existing models and structured into a checklist of 53 sustainable practices, evaluated by 10 external agents to select feasible and relevant indicators. The thesis also engages with the field of design, recognizing that material and immaterial attributes of a territory act as competitive differentials, playing a crucial role in the success of MSEs and the adoption of sustainable practices. Finally, some of the proposed indicators were tested in real companies, revealing key findings and opportunities for future improvements.