What is LCA and why all brands should know about it
A significant part of the sustainability claim for brands and manufacturers is the reduction of their carbon footprint. This is where understanding the LCA becomes crucial. Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, is a methodology for assessing and quantifying the environmental impact of a product, process or a service, and identification of major contributors to environmental impact. Key categories include Climate change (global warming potential), depletion of resources, water and land use, human health, biodiversity and ecotoxicity.
The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes the "greenhouse effect," which contributes to global warming and climate change. The carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions produced in the production of one kilogram of product, expressed in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is the global warming impact of different greenhouse gases and is expressed in kg CO2-eq. The assessment considers a product's entire life cycle. The environmental impact of each step in the manufacturing process is calculated, beginning with the raw materials, and ending when the product is delivered to retail.
How is this relevant?
There is a way that brands and manufacturers can reduce their carbon footprint right from the beginning of production. Consider a nylon shirt as an example: Like all other synthetic fibers, nylon yarns and its precursor caprolactam are made from fossil resources. Fabrics are knitted from the yarns, garments are made from the fabric and then sold in retail. Each step of the process has its own carbon footprint. The amount that each step in that value chain contributes to the total - varies significantly. Caprolactam production has by far the greatest impact.
Caprolactam is the monomer used for the production of nylon-6. It is a versatile and durable polymer that is used in a wide range of products and industries, such as sports and performance textiles.
Overall, caprolactam is the key component of nylon which is found in many products that we use in our daily lives. By choosing products made with low-carbon footprint and supporting sustainable fabric manufacturing practices, you can help to reduce carbon emissions and support the transition to a more sustainable future.
What you need to know about reducing your carbon footprint with EcoLactam®
Engineers at Fibrant explain how new technologies such as EcoLactam® and EcoLactam Bio® have been developed specifically with a goal to reduce the carbon footprint of caprolactam production, making it a more sustainable solution for reducing carbon emissions.
Fibrant, the producer of EcoLactam® applies the LCA as a powerful method for measuring and tracking the environmental effects and primary contributions. EcoLactam® was developed by focusing on the use of renewable energy, process optimization and preserving natural resources. This directly lowers the environmental results for EcoLactam®, and in parallel benefiting any nylon garments made with it.
Giovanni Henssen from Fibrant explains: “With EcoLactam® we have deployed a process that significantly reduced the carbon footprint up to 70% when compared to regular caprolactam. When produced on a large scale, it has a substantial and positive impact on the environment. It is definitely the impact that counts.”
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, using low-carbon footprint EcoLactam® Bio also has other environmental benefits. It uses Bio-circular feedstock, replacing and conserving natural resources, such as crude oil and natural gas.
Encourage adoption of low-carbon footprint caprolactam
By following the LCA guidelines and selecting products made with nylon-6, look for those that are made with low-carbon footprint EcoLactam® and EcoLactam® Bio. By making environmentally conscious decisions at the start of the manufacturing process, companies can help to encourage the widespread adoption of low-carbon footprint EcoLactam® that will make a big difference for creating a sustainable future.
To learn more, visit the Fibrant booth L03 at Performance Days on March 15-16th.
