From reporting to reality: Measuring ESG-aligned sustainable behaviors in Thai textile communities

Abstract

This research introduces and validates a novel ESG behavior scale, grounded in stakeholder perspectives, and tailored for Thai textile community enterprises. Rather than treating ESG as a corporate reporting exercise, this study reimagines it as a set of lived, day-to-day practices embedded within informal economies. Anchored in Stakeholder Theory, the scale captures environmental, social, and governance behaviors shaped by cultural norms and relational accountability. Data collected from 200 textile entrepreneurs across Thailand, analyzed through both Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses, confirm the scale’s strong psychometric properties (CFI > 0.90, RMSEA < 0.08). Beyond methodological rigor, the study challenges conventional ESG frameworks by foregrounding micro-level, culturally rooted practices. For practitioners and policymakers, the scale offers a practical tool for assessing and fostering sustainable behaviors where traditional reporting mechanisms fall short. This work reshapes how ESG is understood—positioning it not as a global imposition, but as a locally grounded, stakeholder-driven process.