We are living in a world where in textile with the acceleration of industrialization, resource consumption and waste production is increasing rapidly. Many countries not to face a major disaster in the near future and to take the necessary measures in advance, began to give importance to "sustainability". As in all modern industry, substances that the textile manufacturers leave to environment usually gives great harm to the environment. Therefore, for the reduction of environmental damage and ecological protection in terms of reduction of resource consumption; adaptation of recycling, the use of environment-friendly fibers or other materials, reduction of pollution and developing methods to remove pollution began to gain importance.
Calculation of the carbon footprint and for more sustainable production in textile, recently Life Cycle Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment concepts were introduced. Life Cycle Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment, all environmental aspects of a obtained product; is a system that evaluates from acquisition of raw materials from nature, till all the waste is back in the nature. This evaluation, as well as in the processing of products including energy the production of raw materials, used and during disposal contains all the effects on air, water and soil. Life Cycle Assessment, used to identify and measure both direct and indirect effects.
An important feature of Life Cycle Assessment is, manufacturers are taking responsibility for the pollution from design to destruction due to products. This feature of Life Cycle Assessment, "Responsibility begins with obtaining raw materials, ends with the sale of finished product" is the main factor that distinguishes it from conventional thinking. Life Cycle Assessment, can be used for many purposes. When we look at the intended use and purpose of Life Cycle Assessment, product / process development and cost reduction is the priority; decision-making, environmental requirements and customer demands ranks second.
Life Cycle in Textile
Textile, is a sector that starts with production or harvesting of raw fibers followed by after yarn, fabric production steps, containing final product very broad in scope and with a lot of variety of products. Considering all stages of production, appears to be there are input and output which may be harmful to the environment will cause the emission. Application of Life Cycle Assessment in the textile industry will contribute to production of environmentally friendly products. On the one hand, restructuring of chemicals, energy and water usage in the industry will be optimized on the other hand reducing emissions will allow reducing the environmental load. Within the scope of a t-shirt production life cycle assessment is roughly under debate; processing raw material turning into first yarn and then formed into fabric while passing of the finishing process after manufacturing formed after cutting and sewing, packaging, transportation, use and when its usage ends with the possibilities of waste-recycling-re use it is seen that it can complete the life cycle stages.
Cotton Production
In the production of cotton raw material, certain chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and defoliants may be used and they can be found in cotton fibers that have reached to the textile business. Synthetic fertilizers are also used during production. In a study conducted in the USA in 2000, it has been been identified that an average of 159 kilograms synthetic fertilizers were used in the hectares. The substances used during fiber production, is mixed with the soil and from there is united with groundwater. Also these materials, carries an element of risk for growers. Cotton bales not only can be contaminated as a defoliant, but also by pentachlorphenol used as fungicides during transport. Another important point to consider in the production of cotton is water consumption. These consumption rates an be changed according to the requirements of the cotton growing areas.
Yarn Production
When it comes to yarn production stage, the most prominent factor is energy consumption. Energy consumption entry which can change by factors such as techniques like selected open-end or ring, machine and product type, it has been found in some studies that it is around 15-45 MJ/kg. At this stage, the preperation materials and blend oils used during fiber pulling must be considered.
During fabric production, chemical materials used in preperation stage such as sizing or waxing procedures, then will be removed by finishing operations and it will cause ennvironmental load. The quality of the oil used in weaving and knitting machines are also important. Also chemicals and dyestuffs used for scouring, bleaching, dyeing and finishing processes exposes emissions. In these processes emissions to air which may be the case, emissions to water are the biggest influence. Especially formation of water toxicity and AOX emissions is related to the selected process conditions.
Finishing Operations
After finishing operations heavy metals, salts are found in the waste water and causes environmental damage. In this section, energy and water consumption excels, should be seriously considered and works has to be done on optimization. When it comes to clothing stage, energy consumption and waste generation is observed and paper used for packaging, such as plastic materials should be evaluated. During delivery of the product to the consumer when it comes to energy consumption, during the use of textile productions energy, water and detergent are used. What will happen to the product when its expired is important in the scope of this evaluation.
Life cycle assessment when analyzing the effects of a product on the environment during the entire life cycle, entries such as energy, water, raw materials, auxiliary materials used for the creation of product is a systematic approach aimed at ensuring optimal use. Providing awareness towards effective use, waste management, energy efficiency and reduction of environmental burden of industry of natural resources that is limited with Life Cycle Assessment, is being created. With the increase of production and consumption that will help solving the problem from the agenda of sustainable development serves to reality. Current practices on a voluntary basis, although many countries are rapidly increasing. By using Life Cycle Assessment in the textile business, it is clear that it will benefit in economic, social and environmental.
