Supervisors: Dr. Simmi Bhagat, Prof. M.L. Gulrajani


Abstract


Climate change is increasingly recognized as a majorchallenge. It is widely accepted that the greenhouse gas emissions caused byhumans are having a negative impact on the environment. The most importantgreenhouse gas, arising from human activity is carbon dioxide (CO2).A way to track ones greenhouse gas emissions is to be aware of your carbonfootprint. Carbon footprint is the total amount of CO2 and othergreenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a process or product.Carbon footprints are typically calculated to include all green house gases andare expressed as CO2 equivalent measured in kilograms or tonnes.


Environmental impacts occur at every stage of the life cycleof garment. The garment industry has contributed to the global warming from thestage of growing of the fibers, raw material acquisition, to the manufacturingof the product, its distribution and transportation to stores and customers,then its use by the consumers and finally the disposal of the product afteruse. Thus one of the important aspects of the life cycle of the product that isgarment manufacturing is being considered in this study. In the present study, the assessmentof carbon footprints of a selected garment manufacturing unit was carried outby identifying the personnel and processes and calculating the carbonfootprints generated by them. The personnel of the selected unit were alsomade aware of the factors contributing to carbon footprints during productmanufacture and methods were recommended to reduce them.


Sample Selection


An ISO certified, government recognized export house,manufacturing knitted garments located in Faridabad was selected for the studyand is one of the members of Okhla Garment and Textile Cluster (OGTC).


Tools for Data Collection


This study is an initiative taken in the area of textileindustry. Thus an exhaustive review of literature was carried out for theunderstanding of the subject as a first step. Sample size of 10 people from different departmentsof the unit was selected by purposive sampling technique and the data wascollected through the interview schedule and observation technique. GTZconsultancy firms experts were also approached to gather more information regardingcarbon footprint.


Results and Discussion


Processes and their contribution to carbon footprints in agarment manufacturing unit

Administrative department includes accounts, documentationand personnel departments. Their work involved use of computers and stationery


Design and line development department included designing,merchandising and sampling sections, were responsible for working with thetextile and trims, sourcing, scheduling production, controlling product flowand presentation of line and making of prototypes. It consumed electricity in runningof machines like electric cutters, sewing machines and generated garbage likefabric scarps, pattern papers etc.


Production department undertook spreading, cutting andsewing responsibility. Power operated machines like cutters, sewing machines,fusing machines and steam iron sets were used for the purpose. Fabric sampleswere sent outside to reputed labs for testing .This department generated largeamount of waste in form of cardboard boxes, labels, tapes, thread cones, fusingrolls, fabric scraps and stickers. However, most of the fabric waste andpolythene bags are reused.


ReadFull Article



Theauthor is Post Graduate student, M.Sc. (Fabric and Apparel Science).The articleis prepared under the supervision of Dr. Simmi Bhagat; Associate Professor,Dept of Fabric and Apparel Science, Lady Irwin College, Delhi and Prof. M.L.Gulrajani; Professor, Dept of Textile Technology, Indian Institute ofTechnology, Delhi