What is a life cycle assessment, and why is it important in textile production?

Domenic Schindler · October 13, 2026

A life cycle assessment (LCA) is a systematic method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or process over its entire life cycle. It is particularly relevant to textile production because the industry is one of the most resource-intensive in the world and generates significant environmental impacts throughout the entire value chain. The following questions shed light on how the life cycle assessment is calculated, which phases carry the most weight, and how textile companies can put this data to practical use.

How is a life cycle assessment calculated in the textile industry?

Life cycle assessments in the textile industry are calculated in four phases in accordance with ISO Standards 14040 and 14044: Goal definition, life cycle inventory (recording of all material and energy flows), impact assessment (evaluation of environmental impacts), and analysis. This process involves recording all inputs—such as water, energy, and raw materials—as well as all outputs—such as emissions and waste—across the entire product life cycle.

In practice, the calculation begins with defining the so-called system boundaries: Which stages of production are included? If the analysis covers the process from raw fiber to the finished garment, it is referred to as a „cradle-to-gate“ or „cradle-to-grave“ analysis. For a sustainable textile production A comprehensive analysis of all stages is particularly insightful.

Specifically, metrics such as water consumption per kilogram of yarn, CO₂ emissions per meter of fabric, and chemical use per production batch are measured and documented. This data comes from production measurements, supplier data, and industry databases such as ecoinvent.

Which stages of textile production have the greatest negative impact on the life cycle assessment?

The three most environmentally intensive stages in textile production are fiber extraction and yarn production, wet finishing (dyeing, bleaching, and finishing), and the end-user consumption phase. Together, these three stages account for the majority of water, energy, and chemical impacts along the entire textile value chain.

Fiber Extraction and Yarn Production

Cotton, for example, requires enormous amounts of water to grow and is often treated with pesticides. Synthetic fibers such as polyester consume fossil raw materials and generate significant CO₂ emissions during production. Thus, both types of fibers leave a significant ecological footprint even before the actual weaving process begins.

Wet Finishing and Assembly

The dyeing and finishing of textiles is one of the most water-intensive industrial processes of all. Large quantities of chemicals are used in this process, which can pollute water bodies if not properly treated. The garment manufacturing process itself is energy-intensive and generates significant amounts of fabric waste. Anyone looking to improve their company’s environmental footprint should focus on this area, as the potential for savings is particularly high.

What is the difference between a life cycle assessment, a carbon footprint, and an environmental statement?

The life cycle assessment is the most comprehensive of the three methods: It evaluates all environmental impacts of a product, including climate change, water consumption, toxicity, and more. The carbon footprint is a subset of this and focuses exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental statement is a communication document that presents the results of a life cycle assessment to external audiences.

In the textile industry, all three tools are used, but for different purposes. The carbon footprint is well-suited for quick comparisons and marketing claims. The full life cycle assessment is the tool for making informed product decisions and evaluating suppliers. The environmental declaration, often in the form of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), is aimed at buyers, retailers, and end customers who need reliable information on product sustainability.

Important: Only a life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/14044 provides a complete picture. Those who rely solely on the carbon footprint may overlook significant environmental impacts resulting from water consumption or the use of chemicals, which are often just as significant in the textile industry.

What legal requirements make life cycle assessment relevant for textile companies?

For textile companies in the EU, life cycle assessment data is increasingly becoming a legal requirement. The EU Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products (ESPR), the Digital Product Passport (DPP), and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will require more and more companies, starting in 2026, to provide robust sustainability data based on life cycle assessments.

The digital product passport, in particular, will directly affect the textile industry: It requires manufacturers to provide environmental information for each product in digital form, including details on materials, repairability, and, of course, the life cycle assessment. Companies that begin systematically collecting data now will have a clear advantage when these requirements become mandatory.

The circular economy in the textile sector is also gaining regulatory importance: The EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles explicitly calls for greater transparency regarding environmental impacts. Companies that cannot provide reliable data in this area risk competitive disadvantages and potential compliance issues.

How can textile companies integrate life cycle assessment data into their ERP processes?

Textile companies can integrate life cycle assessment data into their ERP processes by linking environmental metrics directly to material master records, bills of materials, and production orders. This creates an automated database that captures life cycle assessment metrics in real time, eliminating the need for employees to manually consolidate data.

Specifically, this means that every raw material item in the system is assigned environmental attributes such as water consumption, CO₂ equivalent, and chemical exposure. When a production order is created, the system automatically calculates the total of these values based on the materials and processes used. The result is a product-specific environmental footprint that can be accessed at any time.

Another step is integrating with production data acquisition (PDA): When machines report their actual energy and water consumption directly to the system, the life cycle assessment data becomes even more accurate. This is particularly important for the Operational Data Collection in Textile Production relevant because, in this context, the greatest potential for savings often becomes apparent only through real-time measurement.

Which life cycle assessment metrics are most important for textile customers and retailers?

For textile customers and retailers, four key metrics from the life cycle assessment are particularly relevant: the carbon footprint per product, water consumption during production, the percentage of recycled or certified materials, and chemical exposure during the production process. These four metrics form the basis for sustainability assessments in procurement and for communication with end customers.

Retailers who make sustainability promises to their customers need these metrics as a reliable foundation. Accusations of greenwashing can only be avoided if the data is documented in a transparent and traceable manner. This is precisely where the practical value of a well-conducted life cycle assessment lies: it provides the figures that retailers and buyers need for their own reporting.

For B2B textile customers, these metrics are increasingly becoming a prerequisite for inclusion on supplier lists. Those who cannot provide the relevant life cycle assessment data lose orders to competitors who transparently document their environmental performance. This makes life cycle assessment not only a sustainability tool but also a tangible competitive advantage within the context of the circular economy in the textile sector.

How update texware Can Help You with Your Life Cycle Assessment

As specialists in textile ERP and MES solutions, we help textile companies integrate life cycle assessment data directly into their operational processes without creating additional manual work. Our solutions are specifically designed to meet the requirements of the textile value chain and cover precisely those areas where environmental data is generated and utilized.

texware/ERP: Links material master records and production orders to environmental metrics and enables product-specific life cycle assessments directly from the system. For more information, see texware ERP.
texware/MES: Collects production data in real time and provides the basis for accurate energy and resource balances at the order level. For more information, see texware MES.
texware/Monitoring: Connects machine data to the ERP system and provides visibility into actual resource consumption for each production step.
Digital Product Passport: Our solutions provide the data foundation that textile companies need to meet upcoming regulatory requirements related to the digital product passport.

If you would like to know how your company can systematically collect and use life cycle assessment data, Please contact us. We'll show you exactly which solution is right for your processes.