A Gate-to-Gate LCA of the Environmental Footprint of Denim Jeans Production
摘要
This study presents a gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impacts associated with the production of a pair of blue jeans, focusing on the stages from spinning to Jeans washing. The assessment was conducted using The CML 2000 reference method. The results highlight that the dyeing process is the most environmentally burdensome stage overall, contributing significantly to multiple impact categories due to the intensive use of chemicals and energy. Moreover, the washing phase was found to be a major contributor to global warming (40%), abiotic resource depletion (40%), and human toxicity (39%). These impacts are primarily driven by the consumption of non-renewable energy sources, particularly electricity generated from natural gas. The findings underscore the need for more sustainable practices in the textile industry, including the adoption of renewable energy, organic cotton and eco-friendly chemical alternatives.