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Comparative analysis of wool & other fibre types

Current Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) modelling and SAC scoring treats natural/renewable and non-renewable fibres differently by fully costing the environmental impacts of the former but not the latter. This disparity in system boundaries inherently disadvantages natural fibres, which are made from renewable biogenic carbon, and advantages fibres made from fossil carbon sources. This study seeks to highlight this inconsistency by analysing interchangeable garments made from wool and synthetic fibres to determine environmental impacts, including green house gas emissions, fossil energy use, water stress and eutrophication.

Project date

20 Jan 2019-30 Jun 2021

Principal investigator

Stephen Wiedemann

Project funded by

Multiple industries
Sheep & lamb Wool

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

Australian Wool Innovation is a not-for-profit enterprise that conducts research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain for Australian …

Multiple industries
Sheep & lamb Wool
  • Location

    Australia

  • Organisation type

    Research funding body

Logo for Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

Focus areas

Industries

Technology areas

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