Life Cycle Assessment : a comparison of fossil energy use and climate impact on small scale manufacturing and large scale conventional manufacturing of textile toys

Abstract: This study conducts a Life Cycle Assessment to compare the environmental impacts, specifically climate impact and fossil fuel use, of textile toys produced in China and Sri Lanka. Through evaluating large-scale industrial production in China against small-scale, handcrafted production in Sri Lanka, it identifies the considerable environmental footprint of cotton production in both scenarios. The findings demonstrate that Sri Lanka’s handcrafted production results in a significantly lower environmental impact, with a Global Warming Potential of nearly 15 CO2-equivalents per kg, compared to over 21 CO2-equivalents per kg for China’s large-scale production. The study suggests that the reduced energy consumption and reliance on manual labor in Sri Lanka contribute to a lesser climate impact and decreased fossil fuel usage. These insights offer valuable guidance for APS Sweden, the project’s end-user, to refine supply chain practices for enhanced sustainability. The study also highlights areas for future research, including a comprehensive ”cradle-to-grave” analysis and deeper investigation into the supply chain and regional production differences, to further inform sustainable practices in the textile industry.