Carbon footprint calculator for the Portuguese textile and clothing industry: development, application and validation

Abstract This study aimed to develop, implement, and validate a carbon footprint (CF) calculator to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by Portugal´s Textile and Clothing Sector (TCS). To achieve this, the GHG Protocol and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology were applied to develop the CF and analyse two textile and clothing companies (A and B). Validation was conducted using a self-assessment method that employed 2 online calculators and a LCA software. The CF calculator enables the quantification of the 3 scopes of GHG emissions. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the company, such as on-site energy, transportation of raw materials, finished products and personnel, as well as water usage. Scope 2 comprises indirect emissions from the use of purchased energy and Scope 3 includes emissions that occur across the supply chain, such as public water usage, wastewater, transportation, employee business travel, waste disposal and the end-of-life treatment of sold products. Avoided emissions and carbon offsetting measures and carbon sequestration strategies, were included. For Company A, energy consumption was the largest contributor to the CF, accounting for 76% of the contributions. In Company B, the waste component had the greatest impact on the CF, accounted for 38% of the contributions. In the validation process, the electricity and fuel consumption components yielded values that are consistent with those from other calculators. The calculator is a tool that TCS companies can use to quantify their emissions and define measures to reduce or offset their CF.