An LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a standardised measurement of a product’s environmental impact according to ISO 14040 and 14044. It looks at five phases: raw materials, production, transport, use and end of life.
The five phases
- Raw materials: extraction and processing (e.g. cotton growing).
- Production: spinning yarn, weaving, dyeing, garment making.
- Transport: shipping from factory to warehouse.
- Use: washes, energy, water.
- End of life: recycling, reuse, incineration or landfill.
Impact categories
- Climate impact (kg CO2 equivalent).
- Water use (litres).
- Land use (m2).
- Toxicity and eutrophication.
- Fossil energy use.
When to request an LCA
For projects of 1,000 pieces or more, we have a product-specific LCA carried out by an accredited partner. For smaller projects, we provide LCA-based estimates using the Higg Materials Sustainability Index and Textile Exchange data.
More on our carbon footprint page.
