Interviewing as a data collecting method was chosen to gain information about interviewees’ experiences and attitudes about collaborative experimenting (Gubrium &
Holstein, 2001). The research was using semi-structured interview with closed and open-ended questions, which was chosen due their theory driven nature and to provide additional information on the subject (Eriksson & Kovalainen, 2016). The method is known helping researchers to address complex topics and to collect comparable data (Wilson, 2013).
The data for this research was collected by conducting five semi-structured interviews. I chose semi-structured interviewing for the data collecting to gather information on the interviewee’s experiences, attitudes, and values towards the CBME in collaboration.
Qualitative interviews are in-depth, and the collected data perceived to be more theory driven and collaborative (Gubrium & Holstein, 2001). Business research tends to use interviews as a method of data collection as it is a fast way to collect information about experiences that cannot be found in published form. Semi-structured interviews are noted having more flexible structure, compared to structured or unstructured interviews, which is leaned more on themes, topics, and issues. This allows the interviewer to vary the wording or the order of the questions (Eriksson & Kovalainen, 2016). The method is combining predefined questions to open-ended exploratory of the topic.
The goal is to gather answers to the core topics as the conversation is allowing new topics or issues emerge. Semi-structured interview method is allowing new topics or issues emerge in the conversation. It is often used when prior information about the subject under inspection is limited and additional information on the subject is still needed. The pros of the method are that those can help the researcher address complex topics, make sure interviews will collect comparable data and help to redirect the conversation if needed (Wilson, 2013). The recognized cons are that the comparability of the data depend a lot on the interviewees and what sort of topics they raise up during the interview (Eriksson &
Kovalainen, 2016). The themes for the interview were assembled based on prior literature and research. The interviews focused on current business strategy, experimentation, and collaboration and to the collected experiments. Themes were addressed with each
interviewee as appropriate to their case taken account, but the order of the questions could vary depending on the informant.
I was using purposeful sampling as choosing companies for the interviews (Eriksson &
Kovalainen, 2016) in order to get homogeneous cases for the data collection. Case companies were selected from the textile industry, based on their stated sustainable vision.
By the set terms for the sampling contacted companies were supposed to be working in textile industry, SME and be able to be identified as sustainable actors based on their communication. The interview requests were sent by email to the participants to enforce the voluntary participation to the interview and informed why they were contacted regarding this research (Eriksson & Kovalainen, 2016). Overall, thirty-three companies were contacted with interview requests. Five of these companies accepted the interview request.
Interviews as a data collection method are known to include both ethical and moral issues.
The ethical issues are present throughout the whole interview process from the interview design to analysis/reporting stages. Ethical questions are often considering the consent of the interviewees, confidentiality, and consequences of the results (Brinkmann & Kvale, 2018). The participants were introduced to the document of consent before the interviews, to explain the purpose of the study, the roles and identities of the participants, agreed procedures and confidentiality (Brinkmann & Kvale, 2018; Eriksson & Kovalainen, 2016).
Companies were asked for consent to use the company name at the thesis.
The interviews were executed with Microsoft Teams communication platform due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By using the virtual interviews, the safety of the participants was able to be secured and possible contaminations to be avoided. Participants received the Teams invitation and the preliminary questions before the interview to be able to familiarize themselves with covered subjects. The interview language was chosen to be Finnish, due it was the mother tongue of all the participants. Interviews were recorder to be transcribed and interviewees (Table 2) were offered possibility to read and commend on the transcripts of their own interviews if needed.
Table 2: Interviewed organizations, occasions, and duration.
Pure Waste Textiles Oy, established in 2013, is manufacturing and selling yarns, fabrics and garments made from 100% recycled materials made from cutting waste from textile industry. Company is providing educational information about the garment maintenance (Pure Waste, 2021). The organization was established by Costo Oy, which is itself established in 2006. Costo Oy is selling and designing accessories manufactured from leftover quantities of branded, European design fabrics & leathers (Costo, 2021). Pure Waste Textiles was established, as Costo business model was acknowledged significantly different from the newly found business model (Pure Waste, 2021).
Tam-Silk Oy, established in 1925, owns multiple brands next to Tam-Silk: Neulomo, Kalsarit and Lentolan Lastenvaatetehdas. Brands clothes are manufactured from natural materials such as woollen-silk, bamboo, and cotton, in Finland. Tam-Silk is receiving their own clothes from consumers to deliver those to industry or to provide them new life as remade clothes to charity. They also strive to make its products timeless to extend the product lifecycle. Company is also selling their leftover material, such as reels of thread or knit, to consumers through their Tilkkutori concept. They are the first Finnish clothes manufacturer granted with The Finnish Social Enterprise Mark (Tam-Silk, 2021).
Remake Ecodesign Oy, established in 2007, is an eco-dressmaker’s shop. The concept is based on upcycling of collected post-consumer material. Company is offering alongside clothes repair, modification and customizing, workshops and trainings about CE and
having its own upcycled fashion line MEM. Remake Ecodesign has had over the years multiple circular economy related concept in use, such as Thrift second hand -store and Ekopuoti, a shared premises for ecological actors from multiple industries (Remake Ekodesign, 2021).
Image Wear Oy, established in 1959, is Finland’s leading uniform provider. Company is offering uniforms to buy or to borrow depending on the customer needs. Image Wear Oy offering multiple solution for clothes recycling and product life extension. They are taking used clothes back and providing those new life depending on the condition of the garment.
Reusable clothes company is reselling currently in two of their branches. They are also collaborating together with Globe Hope Oy to create new products from received broken material. As a last option for material which cannot be reused in other forms, they are creating composite outdoor furniture’s (Image Wear Oy, 2021).
Népra Oy, established 2015, is a Finnish activewear manufacturer. They aim to create timeless items in order to extend the product lifecycle. Currently over 50% of the items are made using recycled polyamide. Company is currently having a clothing collection manufactured by Pure Waste Oy. Part of their concept they are offering educational information about the garment maintenance (Népra, 2021).