Systematic Insights into a Textile Industry: Reviewing Life Cycle Assessment and Eco-Design

Ana Fonseca (), Edgar Ramalho, Ana Gouveia, Rita Henriques, Filipa Figueiredo and João Nunes
Additional contact information
Ana Fonseca: Associação CECOLAB—Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, nº. 2. Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
Edgar Ramalho: Associação CECOLAB—Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, nº. 2. Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
Ana Gouveia: Associação CECOLAB—Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, nº. 2. Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
Rita Henriques: Associação CECOLAB—Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, nº. 2. Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
Filipa Figueiredo: Associação CECOLAB—Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, nº. 2. Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
João Nunes: Associação CECOLAB—Collaborative Laboratory Towards Circular Economy, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, nº. 2. Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: The worldwide textile sector is one of the most polluting and consuming natural resource value chains. In recent years, trends have demonstrated a linear model driven by fast fashion, increasing the sustainability problems of this sector. The European market and industry are changing the paradigm and promoting some actions towards a sustainable value chain. This paper applies a systematic approach to reviewing scientific research, where Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is implemented as a tool to understand the impacts considering a holistic life cycle framework, from raw materials to the end-of-life of textile products. The methodology and criteria applied resulted in 73 articles used for qualitative analysis, of which 39 met the criteria for quantitative analysis. The quantitative results reported in the studies were organized and presented by phase of the garment production life cycle (production of fiber, yarn, fabric, manufacturing, and recovery/end of life). From a cradle-to-gate perspective, wool yarn production, by worsted processing, was the material with the highest values (95.70 kg CO 2 eq/kg) for climate change/global warming potential, closely followed by silk fabric (80.90 kg CO 2 eq/kg). Extending to a cradle-to-grave boundary, polyester had the highest values for the previously mentioned category, reaching a potential release of 40.28 kg CO 2 eq per kilogram of polyester textile. When data was available, the user phase predominantly contributed to climate change/global warming potential. Additionally, there were significant differences in maximum and minimum values for some of the materials, which were related to methodological considerations, database inventory, and frequency of use and care considered by the different authors. The study also addresses the considerations and limitations of diverse LCA impact assessment tools.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment; eco-design; circular economy; global warming potential; textile value chain; review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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