This paper presents a social and environmental behaviour assessment of Northeast Brazil textile industry using the strategic assessment framework, named the triple-SCP model. This model is an expansion of the structure-conduct-performance paradigm adding the assumption that the triple performance (economic, environmental and social) of a company is the result of its competitive practices or conduct standards, depending on the industrial structure in which it operates. The data were collected from textile companies located in Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte states through in-depth personal interviews. The study categorized companies by size and identified social and environmental strategic conduct profiles. The conduct of the companies was rated as strong, medium or weak. The results show that most of firms adopt weak conduct on both social and environmental matters. Overall companies are more concerned about environmental issues than social ones. In general, larger firms and those which have international markets tend to have a stronger environmental and social conduct.
SCP-triple model; Environmental management sustainability; Socio indicators; Environmental indicators; Textile industry
