Legacy Datasets and Their Impacts: Analysing Ecoinvent’s Influence on Wool and Polyester LCA Outcomes

Mitali Nautiyal (), Donna Cleveland, Amabel Hunting and Amanda Smith
Additional contact information
Mitali Nautiyal: School of Art & Design, Auckland University of Technology, 27 Saint Paul Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Donna Cleveland: School of Communication & Design, RMIT International University, 702 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Tân Phong, Hồ Chí Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Amabel Hunting: School of Art & Design, Auckland University of Technology, 27 Saint Paul Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Amanda Smith: School of Art & Design, Auckland University of Technology, 27 Saint Paul Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Accurate and transparent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) datasets are essential for reliable sustainability evaluations, particularly in the complex and varied textile industry. Historically, the ecoinvent database has been a foundational source for LCA studies in the textile sector. This paper critically examines the limitations of the ecoinvent v3.7 dataset, which is widely used in academic research, industry tools, and policymaking. While newer versions, such as v3.11, released in 2024, have addressed many issues, including enhanced geographical representation and updated emission profiles for chemicals, this study emphasises the historical implications of earlier data versions. By comparing the cradle-to-gate Global Warming Potential (GWP) of wool and polyester jumpers, this research reveals how aggregated and outdated data underestimated the polyester’s environmental impact while overestimating that of wool. These discrepancies have shaped fibre certification, eco-labelling, and consumer perceptions for years. Understanding the legacy of these datasets is vital for re-evaluating past LCA-based decisions and guiding future assessments toward greater regional relevance and transparency.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); textile sustainability; ecoinvent dataset; wool vs. polyester; Global Warming Potential (GWP); cradle-to-gate assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6513/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6513/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6513-:d:1702827

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().