Logout
All Resources
Reports

Ensuring Integrity in the Use of Life Cycle Assessment Data

Ensuring Integrity in the Use of LCA

Ensuring Integrity in the Use of Life Cycle Assessment Data is a comprehensive position paper from Textile Exchange outlining best practice for the responsible use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data in the fashion, textile, and apparel industry.


The paper provides guidance on how to use LCA data, and—equally importantly—how it should not be used. It is intended for anyone looking to develop a greater understanding of the use of LCA studies and LCA data in the textile industry—particularly for brands using LCA data directly or those who rely on it for their impact modeling or progress tracking.

Ensuring Integrity in the Use of Life Cycle Assessment Data forms part of Textile Exchange’s commitment to convening actors across the supply chain to improve the impact data available for the industry. It includes a call for industry-wide integrity in the use of LCA data, listing key recommendations.

READ

Read the full paper

Ensuring Integrity in the Use of Life Cycle Assessment Data includes a call for industry-wide integrity in the use of LCA data, with key recommendations, such as only using LCA data when there is a full understanding of the key assumptions, methods, and use cases.

Download the full paper
Ensuring Integrity in the Use of LCA
TAKEAWAYS

Discover some of the key recommendations

  • Only use LCA data when there is a clear understanding of the underlying assumptions, methodologies, and intended use. To help, all assumptions, methodological choices, limitations, and source datasets should be fully documented in studies.

  • Avoid comparing LCA data between different fiber or material categories (e.g., natural vs. synthetic).

  • Avoid comparing LCA data between separate LCA studies or within a study, unless it is designed as a comparative LCA study.

  • Avoid comparing LCA data between different industry databases, which collect and store LCA data, as each of these databases applies differing methodologies and assumptions.

  • Consider adopting an “LCA+” approach that includes impact areas such as biodiversity, soil health, animal welfare, and livelihoods.
EXPLORE

In the paper you’ll also find

  • An introduction to Life Cycle Assessment, including a definition of what it is, why it’s used, and the steps to follow to conduct an LCA study.

  • The challenges and limitations of using LCA in the textile industry.

  • Textile Exchange’s work with LCA studies.

Other resources to explore

FAQS

Get in touch

If you have any questions about this report, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

Contact us
Share