Life cycle assessment practices of Swedish fashion brands: Navigating the EU Green Deal
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
This thesis investigates the adoption and impact of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) practices within the Swedish textile industry, particularly in the context of the European Union's Green Deal regulations. By conducting semi-structured interviews with senior sustainability managers from two prominent Swedish fashion brands, Eton and Ellos and analysing their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports, the study highlights both innovative strategies and persistent challenges in achieving regulatory compliance and enhancing sustainability. Key findings indicate that while EU regulations will increase administrative demands, LCA tools can play a crucial role in enhancing transparency, regulatory alignment, and sustainability in textile production. However, some challenges in data management and technological integration hinder full compliance and optimal use of LCA. Additionally, the complexity of the supply chain and the variety of tools for collecting and managing information, which are not always compatible, limit the full integration of LCA into Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems. There is an expectation that in the future, innovative technologies such as AI could provide solutions for more detailed PLMs, incorporating information from various sources into a seamless data management system. This advancement could improve the fulfilment of data transparency obligations set forth by the European Union. The study contributes to the broader understanding of how companies are adapting to a changing legal landscape, as well as how LCA can support sustainable practices in the textile industry, providing practical recommendations for companies navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024.
Keywords [en]
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Swedish Fashion Industry, EU Green Deal, Environmental Compliance, Textile Industry Regulations, Sustainability in Fashion, Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Data Management in Textile Industry
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-32167OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hb-32167DiVA, id: diva2:1880223
2024-07-012024-07-012024-07-01Bibliographically approved