The textile industry is notorious for high CO2 emissions, largely due to its significant energy consumption and reliance on various energy sources. This article dives into the energy consumption patterns of the textile sector, its contribution to global CO2 emissions, and explores strategies for reducing its carbon footprint through innovative technologies and processes, specifically focusing on increasing energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions in dyeing and finishing processes.

High Energy Consumption in the Textile Industry

The textile industry is a major consumer of energy, which translates into a significant share of global CO2 emissions[1]. NGO and policymakers claim up to of global CO2 10% would be due to the textile industry whereas the carbon budget would be only 2% to meet the 2 degrees global warming scenario. Measures are required “to make effective use of resources and move to renewable inputs “, according to Ellen MacArthur foundation (Figure 1[2]). Examples are given in Figure 2 on the environmental footprint of a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

Understanding the energy mix, and its impact on CO2 emissions, is crucial for identifying reduction opportunities.