Advancing sustainability of textiles: a life cycle and microfiber emission assessment of locally manufactured circular sportswear

Abstract Background The textile industry is facing increasing concerns due to resource-intensive value chains spanning the globe, the use of fossil feedstocks for fiber production, and the consistent accumulation of non-recyclable textile waste. Integrating textiles into a circular economy is one of the key strategies to reduce the human-induced pressure on the planet, as also emphasized by the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. However, a more circular value chain will also have an impact on the environment, and potential environmental hotspots need to be identified in early development stages. Results This research performed the Life Cycle Assessment of a cycling jersey that intentionally employs approaches of proximity and sustainable manufacturing principles. The potential impacts of marine microplastic emissions were included in the analysis. Energy use was identified as the main driver of environmental impacts. Impacts due to marine microplastics were found to be in the same order of magnitude as damage due to marine eutrophication. Detailed scenario analyses also revealed that changes both within the production (up to 10–14% impact reduction) and within the use phase (up to 33% impact reduction) have the potential to drastically reduce the environmental impact of the circular jersey, while still maintaining proximity manufacturing. Conclusions The results emphasize the inclusion of producers and consumer awareness in efforts to improve the environmental performance of textiles in the context of a circular economy, addressing the goals of the EU’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The assessment of some proximity manufacturing scenarios within Europe shows that site-specific and regional energy supply are also important factors influencing the environmental impacts. Microfiber emissions into the marine environment mostly result from waste mismanagement, which underlines the need for prevention.