18 - Life cycle analysis of textiles and associated carbon emissions

Abstract

The textile and clothing supply chain is one of the longest, most intricate, dispersed and globally stretched systems with less transparent manufacturing processes. A gamut of environmental challenges like excessive utilization of chemicals, land use, climate change and depletion of natural and non-renewable energy sources are presented to textile industries. The ardent need of the hour is thus to monitor each phase of the textile supply chain and its associated environmental impact. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standardized framework methodology to quantify the impact of products, processes and services on the environment. The environmental performance of products in terms of energy expenditure, greenhouse gas emissions, water footprints and pollutants can be quantified by employing LCA tools and techniques. Additionally, LCA offers a holistic perspective and plays an indispensable role in the improvement of environmental performance ranking of textiles owing to the emphasis on the entire life cycle of the product right from raw material procurement, to material processing, manufacturing, distribution, usage, repair, maintenance, disposal and recycling. The LCA framework comprises four phases namely Goal and scope definition, inventory analysis (LCI), impact assessment (LCIA) and Interpretation phase.