Visualized Example of Textile Fibers Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

4374 

Lightning 

Zahra Saki  
NC State University

Karen Leonas  
North Carolina State University

Melissa Sharp  
North Carolina State University

Zahra Saki  
NC State University

The textile industry, particularly the textile dyeing sector, is widely recognized as an unsustainable activity due to its excessive consumption of water, energy, and chemicals, all of which contribute to severe environmental degradation. Beyond pollution, the textile industry's waste crisis further exacerbates its environmental impact. The environmental damage caused by textiles are caused by multiple factors, including production, transportation, and disposal, all of which contribute to climate change, pollution, and ecosystem degradation. The unsustainable nature of textile production does not only affect ecosystems; it also has significant human health implications. The extensive environmental and human health impacts, necesitates sustainability in the textile industry that requires a structured, and actionable approach.One of the major barrier to sustainability in the industry is the lack of a standardized, publicly accessible database that compares the environmental impact of different textile materials. Most of the existing Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) provide some insights, but they are often fragmented, making it difficult for companies to make informed sourcing decisions. Furthermore, sustainability metrics must be tailored to different stakeholders . The aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive, publicly accessible LCA data visualization for different type of fibers. This system would serve as a decision making resources for sustainability efforts within the textile industry, allowing decision-makers to:
Compare the environmental impact of different textile fibers based on standardized data.
Track performance over time to assess progress toward sustainability targets.
Validate sustainability claims, enabling brands to communicate transparent and credible information to consumers.
Inform policy decisions, guiding regulations on textile production, dyeing, and waste management.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Visualization

Textile industry

Environmental Impact

Expert

Data Visualization