A Life cycle assessment methodology to suit the apparel industry

Abstract

Emissions, waste generation and consumption of resources occur at different phases in a product‟s life cycle. This is a complex issue characterised by uncertainties and ignorance; and contributes catastrophically to effects, such as global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, eutrophication, acidification and depletion of resources. Hence, it is important to address these product-related contributions in a more holistic and integrated manner. This research focuses on the development of a methodology to enable easy application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the apparel industry. The objectives were to study LCA methodologies, identify unique LCA parameters for the apparel sector, develop an LCA approach for the apparel industry and to evaluate it. By analysing the existing methodologies, an LCA methodology for the apparel industry was developed. It was named as Fibre-to-Fashion LCA. The approach had six main steps to be followed sequentially, namely, goal definition, scope, data, life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment, and improvement analysis. These steps also included sub-steps, which intended to guide the users of this approach. It was then applied to a cotton blouse manufacturing company in Sri Lanka. Fibre-to-fashion LCA provided a systematic and transparent approach to analysis of the environmental impact associated with the product during its entire life cycle. The simplification approaches avoided the complexities and time consuming nature of LCA, and provided veritable means of achieving objectives through a narrow domain. However, interpretation phase was hampered by the number and the heterogeneity of impact assessment results, as well as by the uncertainties arising from data, models and practitioner‟s choices, which are customary to the LCA approaches. The environmental impacts due to garment manufacturing were found to be comparatively less and it is only through improvements in fibre and/or fabric performance(s) that the environmental impacts can be altered. There is a distinct limitation on the extent to which the environmental impacts can be modelled in order to map real-life scenarios and further research is needed to establish impact models that are compatible for different special boundaries.