Carbon footprint for a textile sector

Climate change is a major problem exacerbated by various environmental factors, notably high carbon footprints in industrial sectors. This study zeroes in on the textile industry, a notable contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, by examining a factory in Gaziantep, Turkey. Utilizing CCALC2 Carbon Footprint software and the Ecoinvent Database, factory data from 2020 to 2023 was meticulously analyzed. The research aimed to quantify the use of electricity, natural gas, water, and different fabrics, alongside their contributions to the factory's carbon footprint. The analysis revealed that the factory's total carbon footprint stood at 1514.53 tons/year, with a predominant share of 1369.65 tons/year emanating from raw materials, particularly cotton and polypropylene fabrics. The production process accounted for an additional 110.50 tons/year, whereas storage and usage phases contributed 25.70 and 8.68 tons/year, respectively. Subsequent experiments with alternative materials and energy sources indicated substantial reductions in emissions. Replacing polypropylene with Polylactic Acid (PLA) fibers and refined cotton with organic variants, alongside adopting biodiesel and solar energy, the factory's carbon footprint was reduced to 710.13 tons/year. Implementation of solar panels alone, capitalizing on the 1200 m² of available rooftop space, further reduced the footprint to 625.18 tons/year, underscoring the effectiveness of renewable energy utilization. These findings emphasize the imperative for the textile industry to adopt more sustainable materials and energy-efficient manufacturing processes. The study provides a granular assessment of the factory's operations, pinpointing avenues for diminishing environmental impact. Keywords: Climate Change, Carbon Footprint, Textile Industry, CCALC2