Challenges and Environmental Performance of the Jeans Production Chain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19110694Keywords:
Textile and Clothing Manufacturing Sector., Textile supply chain., Regional development.Abstract
The study analyzed the effects of Brazil's economic and productive decentralization policy by examining the environmental impacts of clothing companies located in a regional hub in the Northeast. It analyzed production and supply chain infrastructure and the environmental impacts of jeans manufacturing, from cotton cultivation to final distribution. The research used LCA based on NBR ISO 14040 and 14044 (2009) to identify life cycle impacts from two jeans manufacturers in Piauí. Primary and secondary data and Ecoinvent were used with OpenLCA software. Key findings include significant water scarcity impacts from jeans processing, while cotton production in the Brazilian Cerrado showed lower water use due to favorable topography and climate. However, agricultural inputs contributed to eutrophication and soil acidification. High energy use and transport in weaving and manufacturing led to CO₂ and oxidant emissions. The current supply chain of the country’s apparel industry tends to disadvantage remote regions in terms of environmental impacts. The results of this study show that strengthening regional autonomy could foster more sustainable textile supply chains. Considering the specific conditions and characteristics of the Brazilian textile industry, this study has provided valuable insights into the operations and context of companies situated in regional hubs
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