Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Fashion: A Complete Methodology Guide

In the fashion industry’s ongoing journey toward sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a crucial tool. LCA provides an insightful, data-driven method for evaluating a product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle. From raw material extraction to disposal, it allows brands to make informed, environmentally conscious decisions. Let’s explore the fundamentals of LCA and how it empowers the fashion industry to drive positive change.

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What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

LCA is a comprehensive method to evaluate the environmental impact of a product, process, or system from cradle to grave—or even cradle to cradle, in alignment with circular economy principles. It assesses multiple criteria, such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, to provide a holistic view of a product's life cycle.

Think of LCA as cooking a dish:

• The methodology is your recipe.
• The data are your ingredients.
• The final result reflects the quality of your inputs—the closer they align with reality, the more accurate your conclusions.

By examining every stage of a product’s journey, LCA identifies environmental hotspots and opportunities for improvement.

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The Stages of LCA

LCA typically evaluates the following stages in the life cycle of a textile product:

1. Raw Material Production: Involves the extraction and cultivation of resources like cotton, polyester, or viscose.
2. Manufacturing Processes: Encompasses operations such as spinning, dyeing, and sewing, while considering energy use, emissions, and waste.
3. Product Use: Accounts for consumer actions like washing and drying, which significantly contribute to the product’s environmental footprint.
4. End-of-Life Options: Includes recycling, resale, landfilling, or incineration. Circular strategies like repair and repurposing can reduce overall impact.

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Types of LCA

LCA frameworks can vary depending on the scope of assessment:

• Cradle to Gate: Evaluates from raw material extraction to the point of sale.
• Cradle to Grave: Covers the entire life cycle, including disposal.
• Cradle to Cradle: Focuses on circular design, where materials can be reused or recycled endlessly.

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The Methodological Framework

LCA adheres to ISO standards (ISO 14040-14044) and is structured into four key phases. It begins with defining the system, including the product's functional unit, boundaries, and assumptions—for example, measuring environmental impact per kilogram of fabric.

Next, the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) phase involves collecting data on inputs like raw materials and energy, as well as outputs such as emissions and waste, with data quality being crucial for reliable results.

The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) consists of translating the LCI data into key environmental impacts using an LCIA method, such as the Environmental Footprint (EF) method from the PEF, where the LCI is converted into 16 impact categories.

Finally, the results are analyzed and interpreted to pinpoint environmental hotspots and identify opportunities for improvement.

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How LCA Benefits the Textile Industry

LCA provides actionable insights to:

1. Optimize Material Choices: Compare the environmental footprints of fabrics to select sustainable options.
2. Improve Processes: Identify high-impact stages and implement cleaner, more efficient practices.
3. Communicate Transparently: Share data with stakeholders through sustainability reports, carbon footprint assessments, and compliance with regulations like France’s environmental labeling requirements for 2025 or EU’s Digital Product Passport.
4. Set Sustainability Targets: Use initial LCA results as a baseline to track and reduce impacts over time.

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LCI Databases: The Backbone of LCA

LCA relies on robust databases, including:

• Base Empreinte®: The official french public database for emissions factors, evolving to meet European sustainability standards.
• EF database: The official European database developed for the Environmental Footprint (EF) method, ensuring consistency with EU sustainability policies.
• Ecoinvent®: Widely used global database offering comprehensive environmental impact data.

A careful selection of databases ensures accurate assessments and comparability, allowing brands to align with current regulations and consumer expectations.

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Why LCA Matters

As sustainability regulations tighten, including the Digital Product Passport under the ESPR and France's environmental labeling, LCA equips brands to stay ahead. Beyond compliance, it enables transparent storytelling, fostering trust among stakeholders.

At Fairly Made, LCA is an integral part of our platform, offering brands accurate, data-driven insights to measure and optimize their environmental impact. Supported by a team of methodology experts, we provide tailored guidance to help fashion brands navigate complex assessments and implement impactful sustainability strategies starting from traceability.