ESG Database
Keeping up with the ESG efforts of global companies
Our ESG Database shows companies' ESG performance based on their CSR reports,
allowing you to view their decarbonization efforts and compare your performance
to your industry peers.
Apparel & Textile Insutry
Modern textile manufacturing heavily relies on petrochemicals, which are used to produce polyester fibers constituting 60% of clothing materials. The production of polyester fibers not only results in significant carbon emissions (two to three times higher than that of natural fibers like cotton) but also leaves behind microplastics that persist in the oceans after the washing process, causing further harm to the environment. According to the UN environment programme (UNEP), the fashion industry accounts for 10% of the world's emissions, including material, manufacturing, sales, laundering, and disposal, far exceeding the carbon emissions of international flights and shipping combined. Moreover, the textile manufacturing process consumes about 215 trillion liters of fresh water annually, causing 20% of the global industry's water pollution and also contributing to a huge amount of carbon emissions. In addition, the rise of "fast fashion" has multiplied the amount of clothing consumption, with as much as 85% of textiles discarded each year. Overall, the sources of carbon emissions in the textile industry are not limited to the manufacturing phase, but also include usage and disposal of the products.
The upstream segment of the textile industry includes material production from petrochemicals. Synthetic fibers such as polyester are made from fossil fuels and synthesized into materials. The midstream segment covers the production of yarns, including fibers, chemical dyes, spinning, and dyeing. The downstream segment encompasses textile brands that directly interact with the public, such as clothing retail brands and home textile brands. According to the CSR reports, 40% of enterprises have implemented carbon credit purchasing, carbon capture, or established emissions reduction targets based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), while progress in renewable energy use varies greatly across the sector. It is necessary for all segments to cooperate and push forward to achieve a significant leap in carbon reduction and renewable energy use in the sector.