Putting environmental sustainability into practice: a decision-making process for the textile sector

A growing number of textile firms are embracing sustainability approaches for differentiating themselves from the competitors and achieving a competitive advantage. However there is a gap between today’s reality and the industry’s opportunities to leverage sustainability: while many companies commit to sustainability, few put their commitment into actions. One of the most predominant techniques that can support companies in making the textile and clothing industry less damaging to the environment is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, its influence and relevance for decision-making is still limited since the important relationships between the economic and environmental performance are not properly addressed. In this paper, a new decision-making process for the textile sector, exploiting the LCA methodology and integrating economic aspects, is proposed. A case study of a weaving and finishing company reveals the potential benefits of this decision-making process.