Factors Allowing Users to Influence the Environmental Performance of Their T-Shirt

Abstract

Cotton t-shirts are a basic clothing item that everyone possesses. To date, no studies have taken into account the consumers’ perspective, even though they can play an important role regarding the actual environmental impact of their clothing items. Therefore, a life cycle assessment study was performed in order to inform the public about the environmental impacts of a typical cotton t-shirt and the relevance of consumer behavior (i.e., washing and drying) on the overall impacts along the entire life cycle of such a t-shirt. The aim was to provide hints, allowing users to reduce the impacts of their t-shirts. While the production phase was based on global data, the use phase focused on Switzerland as the study was established in the context of an exhibition in the Textile Museum in St. Gallen (Switzerland). With this study, it was found that users have various choices in order to make their t-shirt more sustainable. Wearing the t-shirt throughout its entire life expectancy was found to be the most important factor influencing the overall environmental performance of such a clothing item. The relevance of filling the washing machine to maximum capacity, washing at a lower temperature, or using a tumbler was also illustrated. In addition, choosing materials other than cotton or choosing textiles labelled for lower environmental impacts during production could further improve the environmental performance of t-shirts.

Turning trash into treasure: An approach to the environmental assessment of waste prevention and its application to clothing and furniture in Switzerland

“…Around 10% are collected for reuse in Switzerland (Caritas, 2020; Tell‐Tex, 2019; TEXAID, 2019, 2020). The production of garments and washing and drying were identified as environmental hotspots, confirming the findings of other studies (see, e.g., Schmutz et al., 2021; Sandin et al., 2019). Conceivable WPAs include reuse, repair, sharing of clothes, and reduced clothes consumption (see, e.g., Allianz der Konsumentenschutz‐Organisationen, 2020; Kleihd, 2020; RAGFAiR, 2021).…”

“…The use-phase impacts differed little across the scenarios, as only a small number of clothes was assumed to be shared. Less energy-intensive washing practices as well as clothes that require less frequent washing or less detergent could all contribute to a reduction in the environmental use-phase impacts of clothing (Sandin et al, 2019;Schmutz et al, 2021).…”

Combining industrial ecology tools to assess potential greenhouse gas reductions of a circular economy: Method development and application to Switzerland

“…The largest share of environmental impacts of clothing can be attributed to production (Nørup, 2019; Sandin et al., 2019; Schmutz et al. 2021; Wiprächtiger et al., 2022), emphasizing the need to alter consumption patterns to reduce environmental impacts.…”

How Relevant Are Direct Emissions of Microplastics into Freshwater from an LCA Perspective?

“…We considered various degradation rates of microplastics in water based on an analysis of existing data regarding degradation rates of plastics (i.e., plastic bags, food storage containers, biodegradable plastic bags, plastic bottles, single-use water bottles) in various environmental compartments [34]. Although this study does not specifically relate to microplastic, we assumed here as a worst-case assumption that the degradation time of plastic and microplastic would be in similar ranges.…”

“…For the fate factor, three plastic degradation rates were considered based on Chamas et al [34]. Considering the fastest degradation, the fate factor is 120 days, with a mean degradation rate the fate factor is 142 days, and considering no degradation of microplastics within the water compartment as the worst-case scenario the fate factor is 143 days.…”