The textile industry is increasingly prioritizing sustainability, with companies across the globe adopting innovative methodologies to assess and reduce their environmental footprint. Among these tools, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a key instrument in evaluating and optimizing the sustainability of fabrics. LCA provides a scientific, systematic approach to measuring the environmental impact of textiles throughout their entire life cycle—from raw material extraction to production, use, and disposal. This method allows manufacturers to identify areas of improvement, reduce their environmental impact, and optimize production processes for greater sustainability.

What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive evaluation methodology (according to ISO 14040 – 14044) that analyzes the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave, so from raw material extraction to production, usage, disposal or recycling. By adhering to internationally recognized standards, LCA measures key environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, energy usage, and the carbon footprint of textiles. The LCA process allows manufacturers to gain valuable, data-driven insights, enabling them to take targeted actions to minimize their environmental impact at every stage of the product life cycle. This process not only helps identify areas for improvement but also drives the optimization of production processes, ensuring that sustainability becomes a core part of the manufacturing strategy.

We are conducting LCA on all fabrics in our portfolio. 

It is a big investment. Why is it important for our company and our customers? 

• Optimize Resource Efficiency: By analyzing the entire life cycle of fabrics, LCA helps identify opportunities for reducing energy and water consumption, thus contributing to resource efficiency.
• Develop of Sustainable Products: LCA supports the selection of better raw materials and refinement of production processes to reduce environmental impacts, leading to more sustainable textile products.
• Enhance Transparency and Credibility: LCA provides quantifiable data on the environmental impact of fabrics, enabling companies to offer transparent and reliable sustainability information to consumers and stakeholders.
• Reduce of Scope 3 Emissions: By examining the entire supply chain, LCA helps companies understand and minimize indirect emissions, particularly those from sourcing and transportation, which are often the largest contributors to a company’s environmental impact.
• Lower the environmental impact for our Customers: by calculating the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of our fabrics, we enable our customers, as garment makers, to significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products. As fabric is the dominant material in most garments – we play a key role in optimizing sustainability throughout the supply chain, benefiting both our customers’ environmental goals and our own efforts to minimize our footprint.

Klopman and TDV Industries: Pioneering Sustainable Textiles

Klopman European Leading workwear fabric manufacturer and France-based TDV Industries, specialized in technical and military textiles, have recently developed an advanced tool to calculate the LCA of their fabrics. This innovative tool has obtained Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification from Environdec, ensuring that the LCA methodology and results meet rigorous international standards.

This 3^rd party certification is a very important goal, so now Klopman and TDV Industries can provide verified, credible data on the environmental impact of each stage in their fabric production. This allows them to generate comprehensive EPD reports that comply with international regulations, by providing reliable insights into key environmental factors.

A Step Toward a Greener Textile Industry

With sustainability becoming a priority across all industries, the adoption of LCA tools represents a crucial step toward a more responsible textile sector. Companies like Klopman and TDV Industries are leading the way, leveraging technology and certifications like EPD to offer transparent and eco-friendly solutions.

As the industry continues to evolve, LCA will play an essential role in shaping the future of textiles—helping businesses make smarter choices, minimize environmental impact, and contribute to a more sustainable world.