The company’s latest database targets a persistent problem in the industry namely, that most available emission factor databases provide aggregated averages that do not differentiate between process technologies, fibre types or chemical use, making verification and customisation difficult for brands and suppliers.
The “fully disaggregated” LCA datasets are being offered for free to brands, suppliers, and researchers active in apparel and footwear.
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Unlike conventional LCA sources that do not distinguish between technical processes or input materials, Carbonfact’s release provides detailed, unit-process level information for spinning, dyeing, weaving, knitting and more.
Each dataset identifies specific parameters such as fibre type, dye, and method of production, rather than grouping figures into a single category average.
This increased granularity gives companies the option to verify, adapt, or replace figures with their own supply chain data, which can be critical for compliance or audit processes.
Carbonfact’s release comprises over 300 life cycle inventory datasets, covering 159 for spinning, 38 for dyeing, 19 for weaving, 18 for finishing, 16 for printing, 15 each for textile assembly and the textile use phase, 13 for knitting, five for shoe assembly, four for natural rubber, and two for synthetic PU leather.
Each dataset is accompanied by full methodological documentation and includes emission factors for all 16 Product Environmental Footprint indicators.
According to Carbonfact, differences in emission values for dyeing processes range from –52% to +86% compared with the most widely used public datasets.
The sustainability platform developed the datasets internally, basing them on peer-reviewed literature, direct engagement with textile manufacturers, and primary factory data collected through Carbonfact for Suppliers, a free data platform.
Ecoinvent supplies the background information for upstream impacts such as energy, chemical inputs, transport and waste.
Every set has been validated against actual production processes and is published under the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 licence, allowing free use, adaptation, and further development, provided credit is given to Carbonfact and derivative works follow the same licence terms.
Further expansions are planned. Carbonfact intends to introduce additional datasets for non-woven fabric formation, viscose, apparel assembly, bovine leather and certain specialty chemicals in future releases.
Carbonfact science head Dr. Laurent Vandepaer said: “Decarbonising fashion is not something one company does alone. You can only reduce what you can measure, and better measurement requires data that is open, transparent, and improvable by the people closest to the supply chain. That is why we are releasing this freely, so brands, suppliers, and researchers can use it, challenge it, and make it better.”
Carbonfact’s database has attracted notice from both industry professionals at major apparel brands and the European Commission.
The sustainability platform stated that it is taking part in the PEFCR technical secretariat sub-group dedicated to advancing future EU methodology standards.
