Sustainable Textiles

The textile industry is one of the industries with the highest environmental impact. With its life cycle assessments, ifeu helps to find ecologically beneficial ways to achieve a sustainable industry.

Triggered in part by the increasing prevalence of fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion, more and more players have become aware of the significant environmental impact of the textile industry.

Since around the turn of the millennium, ifeu has been addressing issues of sustainability along the entire textile value chain, from natural, synthetic, and mineral fibers to the production of fiber materials such as yarns, nonwovens, and paper, to textile fabrics and garments. Our work ranges from life cycle assessments (LCA) for fibers, yarns, clothing, and other textiles to the evaluation of recycling processes and circular models to the development of sustainability strategies for companies and policymakers.

One focus is on comparing the environmental impacts of different materials and manufacturing processes – such as natural and chemical fibers, various textile surfaces (such as woven, knitted, and crocheted fabrics), finishing processes, product types, and disposal and recycling options. In addition, our range of methods includes SWOT analyses, techno-economic analyses, and integrated life cycle sustainability assessments (ILCSA), which consider ecological, economic, and social aspects together.

The goal of all our work is to develop well-founded recommendations for action – whether for policymakers, industry, or consumers. In close cooperation with companies, associations, and political institutions, ifeu is committed to making textile value creation more sustainable: through more environmentally friendly materials, fair supply chains, and consistent promotion of the circular economy. In this way, we create a scientifically sound basis for the transformation of the textile industry towards sustainability.