Life Cycle Analysis of the Fashion Industry

Life Cycle psychoanalysis of the Fashion Industry BY caracal Industrial Ecology Practices in the Fashion Industry Introduction The industrial revolution in the answer brought a paradigm shift to the way humans interacted with the environment. The increased force of producing and manufacturing on a large scale, the rise of multiple industries, growing learn and pro life historyration of hedonistic consumption patterns, has created a culture of surplus, want and waste. (F every last(predicate)acy-Companion, 2012) From an environmental catch of view, this resource hungry trend is unsustainable and has detrimental ecological meets, such as pollution and mood counterchange.These problems model on highlighted the consequence of our insatiable demand for resources and the drive to rethink current practices and thoughts in order to maintain current brio standards and ensure future growth. The ideas of environmental steering, industrial ecology and ecological track deal been pro posed to allow for a meticulous look to the products that we manufacture and make use of, with tension on measuring the ecological impacts in hopes of reducing them.A multitude of tools have since been created to measure efficiency in hopes to highlight argonas for improvement, of which the ISO standard and Life calendar method of birth control assessment atomic number 18 part of. Undoubtedly, many companies have adopted life circle analysis (LLC) in order to assess and impose their products impact on the environment. The fashion application, at its core, is based on the notion of perennial consumption of the new and the discard of the old, especially with new seasonal lines coming out every 3 months.The industry celebrates creativity with the continuous derangement of trends, leading to the premature product replacement and fashion obsolescence. This constant change has major negative environmental and neighborly impacts, particularly on those at the bottom of the supp ly chain. Ellwood et al, 2006 Whether and Leastwise, 2008) Moreover, delicates production, often all over the world, is commonly practiced in line with the competitive advantages of different locales (such as low-cost labor, slight stringent standards/regulations, strength in technology etc).Studies of Ellwood et al (2006), Madsen et al (2007) and Fletcher (2008) have highlighted issues of appargonl waste as the majority of textile waste are not recycled or reuse but usually ends up in landfills. In this report, Nikkei Inc. And Levi Strauss & Co. Are chosen as case studies of the fashion industry for their efforts o apply LLC to their products. Life Cycle Assessment and IS014040 The International physical composition for Standardization (SO) is an organization that aims to promote worldwide standards for proprietary, industrial and commercial purposes. SO, 2013) The ISO 14000 serial is a family of standards that related to environmental management, which aims to tending organiz ations measure and minimize trading operations that entrust negatively affect the environment and comply with environmental regulations and audits involve in the country of operation. For example, the ISO 14001 is integral to the European Unions CEO-Management and Audit Scheme (AMASS). AMASS, 2011) ahead the development of the ISO 14000 series, around organizations had to rely on internal environmental management systems that made comparisons among companies difficult.The ISO 14040 standard focuses on Life Cycle Assessment. LLC is a technique to assess environment impacts associated with all the stages of a products life from its defenseless material extraction to its act uponing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair, recycle and disposal. It is believed to encompass a larger desktop of environmental concerns as the compiled record of relevant nada and material inputs and environmental releases includes the attention impacts associated with the identified inputs and rel eases, which cannister then be interpreted to help make informed decisions and build corporate environmental strategies. EPA, 2013) The method is most often used for the pinpointing potential for process improvements by assessing environmental impacts associated with all stages of a products life. (Securing & Mueller, 2008) ISO 14040 standards shows how the LLC is to be carried out in four distinct phases as seen in blueprint 1 before. Before any LLC can be carried out, an explicit goal and scope of the study, inclusive of technical details, has to be defined. This can then serve as a reference to guide the concomitant work.The functional unit, system boundaries, assumptions and limitations as well as the impact categories are identified and set in this first phase. The life cycle inventory analysis will then carry on from phase one by creating an inventory of all flows (input and output) between the stages of a product system, inclusive of all activities in the relevant supply chain and gives a puddle picture of the system boundaries. Only when this is complete can the life cycle impact assessment be carried out.This is the most complex stage of the process as it aims to evaluate he significance of potential environmental impacts and picture the input and output from the inventory. At the end of the assessment, the information ga thered is evaluated and the assessment is objectively assessed before the identification of significant issues and problems, its evaluation and limitations are put forth. Figure 1 The 4 phases of LLC (http//en. Wisped. Org/wick/ File mannequinsOfLifeCycleAnalysis. Eng) Current condition and Trends Environmental Management has progressed significantly over the years with regulations becoming to a greater extent than stringent and accountability expectations higher. Figure taken from Penmans (1999) report shows a mere(a) evolution of environmental policies and their primary characteristics from the sass to present, whereby at titudes towards the environment have changes from yet managing the problem in the early days to one that is more actively involved in trying to prevent problems.Figure 2 Evolution of environmental management (Seaman, 1999) Within the industry and companies, Lamming Hampton (1996) stresses the hire for companies to engage in environmental management as national pressure is and will continue to be a major factor. In their study, 75% of customers state that they would consider a Meanys environmental reputation when purchasing and 80% of those would be willing to ante up a premium for an environmentally friendlier product.Although there are limitations to their study, in that the fantasy may only be shared by the European club of consumers, there is a trend whereby consumers are becoming more kB informed. Hawked et al (1999) in the book Natural Capitalism in addition calls for companies to embrace a new industrialism that will create profits and jobs while saving the environme nt, finished the creation of a closed-loop supply chain that will generate more value and profit. By aggressive recycling, there is the potential of reducing up to 90% of energy and materials consumption.Although individual organizations are recognizing the need and their responsibility to mete out environmental and sustainability issues, there remains a lack of systematic and matching effort across the board. At a larger and general scale, there has been an increase of government level interest and engagement to transition sustainability at the firm and facility level, to one that is more holistic and encompasses production sustainability end-to-end the value chain. Golden et al, 2011) President Obama issued Executive Order 13514 in 2009 that requires the drop-off of greenhouse gas emissions, obtain 50% diversion rates of cheering waste, pursue opportunities with vendors to reduce greenhouse gas (GOGH) emissions, ensure procurement preferences for energy-efficient products, and reduce consumption of paper with low recycled content. Likewise the Securities Exchange guidance and the Federal Trade Commission are driving the use of sustainable product design and supply chains by the issuance of directives and instructive guidance. Golden et al, 2011) Since the fiasco of sweatshop labor in the sass, leading to public promulgate and clash on the fashion industry, there has been unison of calls for greater accountability. (Whether and Leastwise, 2008 cockamamy et al, 2012) Especially in an industry where the consumers are the largest stakeholders public opinion is significant and highly influential. This helps the environmental cause when more consumers become green conscious and demand for a smaller ecological footprint. There is a need to cater to these consumers and for companies to set themselves apart from their competitors. Kumar & Amalgamate, 2006) Environmental consciousness has been worked into the corporate social responsibility (CAR) of many c ompanies and increasingly, in the fashion industry, CEO-fashion is trying to capture a larger share of the mainstream market with fashionable and environmental apparel. Regions, 2006) There is overly the emergence of industry consortia such as the Sustainable Apparel federation (SAC), the Sustainability Consortium (TTS) and the Outdoor Industry Association (IA), all of which are multi-stakeholder organizations that are suited for establishing standardized metrics for regulation.Nikkei and Levies are both part of the SAC. crusade study LEVI STRAUSS & CO. Company Background The social club, Levi Strauss & Co. Was founded by its namesake, Levi Strauss onetime in the mid-sass. It scrawled off-key as a dry goods wholesaler before collaboration between Levi and Jacob Davis, a tailor, in 1872 saw the filing for its patented rivet pants- the start of the denim company that it is known for today. Over the years, the company have expectant tremendously and has expanded its brands carri ed.Its current brands include Levi, emailprotected, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. And emailprotected The company has a vision to be the embodiment of the energy and events of our times, inspiring bulk with a pioneering spirit (Levi, 2013) and is committed to a variety of issues in its public policy approach that includes read, worker rights, equality and the environment. Since the sass, with the rise of global environmental concerns and problems, Levies have been working on reducing the environmental impact of its products.This was make by complying with environmental regulations, implementing a Code of Conduct for its suppliers- ensuring a reduction of weewee consumption and ending the use of harmful chemicals on its curb Substances List, electrical switch to organic cotton fiber when possible and increasing the amount of recycled materials in their end product. In 2007, as part of an attempt at a consolidated look at the companys environmental impact, a LLC was one on 2 pro ducts- a pair of Levi 5018 stone moistened Sears and the emailprotected sea captain khakis.This enabled the company to develop strategies that will address the greatest impacts on the environment to ensure longevity in the industry. (Levi, 2013) Levies introduced its weeweeless Sears in 2011 and its wasteLess Sears in 2013. liquidateLess Sears has a minimum of 20% post-consumer recycled content (from PET bottles) alternatively of cotton. Ferries, 2013) Levies Life Cycle Assessment Levies product lifestyle assessment focuses on a quantitative method that looks at ass and energy counterweight using direct and verificatory selective information over the cradle to chafe lifespan of the product.A disclaimer on their website states that this LLC does not include social or economic impacts. In the input/output inventory aspect of the LLC, indirect info of mass and energy inputs are taken from extensive industry-average data sets. Together with the system analysis of the lifestyle as sessment, in accordance with ISO 14040 requirements, the data is then translated to calculate the environmental impacts of the system. Figure 3 below shows the 6 stage system analysis of the 5018 Sears taken from the Levies website, that starts from the cotton production work the end of life after consumer use.Figure 3 LLC of a pair of Levies 501 Sears (http//alleviators. Com/sites/ remissness/files/ liberationists/2012/4/ca-summary-2012-update. PDF) level 1 Goals and Scope Levies wanted their LLC to be make on a high volume product, produced for the U. S. Market during the 2006 production year. The Levi 5018, strong suit stonewashed blue jean was chosen. The data compiled from Levi Strauss and Co. s suppliers is processed via Gab 4 software package datasets, following the ISO 14040 series standards. The LLC was conducted by PEP Americas from Boston, MA.The results were intended for internal use and with the option to share selected data publicly after addition reviews. Phase 2 Inventory Analysis Figure 4 shows the system bound of the Levies 501 Jean, from the different places where cotton is sources, the different production plants, distribution channels to its end. Figure 4 Levies 501 Jean System Boundary (Levi, 2013) Phase 3 regard assessment After gathering information and data, Levies was able to measure the climate change, energy and water use of their best-selling Sears, with interesting results.A pair of original Levies has a global warming potential of 15 keg CA equivalent, consumes MAIM of energy in its production process and only has 1% of its ingredients that are recycled. (Gaskin, 2012) Figures 5-7 show a breakdown of the weight of different factors and their impacts. Unsurprisingly, the growth of cotton was the most water intensive stage in the LLC, with the usage of the Jean being the next highest. Usage however was by far, the biggest contributor of energy use and climate change.This is due to the long lifespan of the Jean (denim as a ma terial can be quite hardy) and the instant wash cycles can add up significantly over time. Figure 5 Impacts on energy use (Levi, 2013) Figure 6 Impacts on water use (Levi, 2013) Figure 7 Impacts on climate change (Levi, 2013) Phase 4 Interpretation From the LLC, Levies realized that the majority of environmental impacts occur in the lifestyle phases that are outside their direct control. Reducing the overall environmental impact requires a two-pronged approach of focusing on internal operations whilst engaging consumers.Internally, Levi started looking at cotton production at the farmers level, switching to organic cotton when possible and articulating in projects such as the pause Cotton Initiative, as cotton growing is water intensive. They also reduced product packaging and tweaked product design and manufacturing to reduce their water and energy use- the water