Designing Sustainable Product-service System (S.PSS) Framework for SME’s in Kenya’s Fashion Industry

Abstract

The fashion industry value chain activities are having a significant negative environmental and social impact across the globe. In order to effectively reduce their environmental harm, a new breed of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya’s fashion sectors are designing business models that are more conscious of the impact on the environment and human rights. This study is inspired by systems thinking and design thinking. The study looks at how Kenyan SMEs in the fashion industry are orienting their businesses toward sustainable goals through the use of a Sustainable Product-Service Systems (S.PSS) approach. There is currently a lack of understanding regarding how SMEs are adopting and applying S.PSS, particularly in the African context. To shed light on this gap, the researcher uses multiple case design to study the system innovations of three Kenyan fashion-based SMEs. Using descriptive qualitative research methods, the researcher administers a Business Model Canvas and applies the Methods for System Design for Sustainability (MSDS)(Vezzoli et al., 2022) design steering tools to determine their eco-efficient and social ethical orientation to bring to light the systemic relationships between stakeholders, economic activities, material & technical resources and information flow that deliver sustainable outcomes. The resultant was the development of an S.PSS framework. The research was conducted in Nairobi, Kenya. The main contribution of this study was to holistically provide the necessary understanding of how managers of SME fashion companies - in emerging, low to middle-income economies, system designers, engineers, and allied practitioners can adopt and implement a system innovation approach that reduces environmental impacts, unlocks opportunities within fashion value chains and the transition to a more sustainable future.