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By Beth Gormley, Communications and PR Manager, UCD College of Business

UCD College of Business Professor Donna Marshall and Hakan Karaosman, Associate Professor at Cardiff University, have been awarded the prestigious Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award for their EU-funded research project, FReSCH (Fashion’s Responsible Supply Chain Hub). This award recognizes academic research that drives real-world change—shaping policy, equipping industry with practical tools, and improving societal outcomes.

FReSCH, based at the UCD College of Business, is pioneering a just transition for fashion supply chains by tackling human rights abuses and environmental challenges in the industry. The project has already influenced major global policies, including the Welsh government’s Just Transition Framework, the European Commission’s sustainable textiles strategy, and the UN’s push for greater transparency in fashion supply chains.

The Financial Times praised this year’s winning projects for demonstrating how academic work can transcend the ivory tower to create real-world impact. FReSCH stood out for its role in influencing policy, fostering collaboration, and holding the fashion industry accountable for both environmental sustainability and workers’ rights.

“Ultimately, FReSCH shows that true sustainability goes hand in hand with justice for workers,” the Financial Times stated.

Professors Marshall and Karaosman join a distinguished list of winners from the world’s top business schools, including MIT Sloan, Wharton (University of Pennsylvania), Northwestern Kellogg, Edinburgh Business School, and UC Berkeley.

“Many brands focus solely on carbon reduction and water efficiency, often overlooking worker exploitation and human rights violations,” said Professor Donna Marshall, who was until recently the President of the International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA). “FReSCH exposes these contradictions and provides an evidence-based framework for brands to implement holistic sustainability practices.”

“Sustainability has been reduced to an accounting tool and failed to create real change,” continued Professor Marshall. “Our research shows decarbonization is impossible unless the industry shifts towards being more people- and planet-friendly.”

For UCD Visiting Professor Hakan Karaosman, this recognition is deeply personal.

“Donna and I were born into fashion supply chains, as we were both raised by garment worker mothers,” said Associate Professor Karaosman, who is currently based at Cardiff University. “We have been observing complex fashion supply chains over the years, and we are thrilled that our lifelong observations and evidence-based research findings have received this recognition. FReSCH is dedicated to every supply chain worker, including our mothers, so thank you all for allowing us to bring some of these silenced voices into the spotlight.”

FReSCH has already collaborated with 50+ fashion brands, NGOs, and media platforms, providing them with actionable strategies for fairer supply chains.

Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research programme, FReSCH is not just an academic project—it is a catalyst for industry-wide transformation. By partnering with businesses and policymakers, the initiative ensures that research insights lead to tangible action, not just reports.

“We make sure our findings are embedded in industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives,” concluded Professors Marshall and Karaosman.

About FReSCH

Fashion’s Responsible Supply Chain Hub (FReSCH) is a leading action-research initiative housed at UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business. It works to create more ethical, transparent, and sustainable global fashion supply chains. FReSCH’s work has already informed government frameworks, UN initiatives, and corporate strategies, driving meaningful change across the industry. Read more here.