LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT IN WOVEN TEXTILES

The cycle assessment can evaluate th system-wide effects of product an d process design options. Software development is streamlining and red ucing the cost of life cycle assessments in the textile industry. One environmental decision support tool builds on the experience of life c ycle assessment of textile products such as the inventory analysis of a woman's 100% polyester blouse. Other types of product evaluations mi ght include analysis of the proposed eco-labeling systems being consid ered overseas that may pose trade barriers to the import of U.S. texti les. Additional uses include analysis of the cost of resource losses a nd opportunities for improving the system-wide cost-effectiveness of t he integrated U.S. textile industry.