Environmental improvements and sustainability analysis in the Peruvian textile industry: Comparative assessment of finished fabric production using ISO 14040 and SimaPro

Resumen

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is a scientific tool that allows for the improvement of production processes. The entire process was modeled using Sima Pro and primary data from the Peruvian textile company, with the functional unit being the production of 1 kg of finished fabric. The results identify the acquisition and use of cotton yarn as the main environmental determinant, responsible for approximately 73% of the global warming potential (14.35 kg CO2 eq/kg) and more than 70% of the impact on human toxicity and land use. The comparative analysis between conventional and organic cotton shows that the transition to organic raw materials reduces global warming by 29.6%, human carcinogenic toxicity by 37% and water consumption by more than 50%. However, organic cotton requires 7% more land and generates a 15% increase in freshwater eutrophication, highlighting environmental trade-offs linked to lower yields and higher demand for organic fertilizers. Simulation of a scenario with photovoltaic energy integration showed that an additional $32\%$ reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved compared to the conventional system. Economically, the cost of spinning organic cotton is 21% higher, representing a challenge in terms of competitiveness.