Post-consumer energy consumption of textile products during 'use' phase of the lifecycle

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to propose a rating model that measures the post-consumer energy consumption, specifically during the washing, drying, and ironing processes of textile products. Prior to designing the rating model, the methodology of sustainability assessment is overviewed, with discussions on textile sector's efforts in developing the sustainability index as an assessment tool for textile products or their manufacturers. Despite the significant environmental impacts made by the 'maintenance' or 'use' phase of the textile lifecycle, the assessment of 'use' phase is not thoroughly evaluated. In this study, a rating model was built to measure or estimate the amount of energy use during the product maintenance. The maintenance during 'use' phase, defined as washing, drying and ironing processes, is categorized for its maintenance options; washer type, wash temperature, dryer type, filling load, and ironing. The selection of maintenance options generates the score for the impact on energy use. Scenario analysis for different maintenance conditions with different textile products presents the applicability of the proposed rating model as a simple yet effective measurement tool.