How Is Carbon Footprint Created?

Production

The story of a cotton T-shirt begins in the field. Conventional cotton farming is an extremely water- and chemical-intensive process; the cotton needed for a single T-shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters of water. After the cotton is harvested, it is spun, woven, dyed, and sewn. Energy is used at every stage. Since most of this energy comes from fossil fuels, roughly 5–10 kg of CO₂e emissions are generated before the T-shirt even reaches the store.

The production of a plastic bottle starts with crude oil. Extracting, refining, and converting oil into PET plastic are energy-intensive processes. Manufacturing a half-liter PET bottle has an impact of approximately 100–160 g CO₂e.

Transportation

Production usually takes place far from where consumption occurs. A T-shirt's cotton may be grown in India, its yarn spun in China, its stitching done in Bangladesh, and its logistics hub located in Europe. Transportation between each transfer point — typically by cargo ship or truck — adds further emissions.

Use

When it comes to a T-shirt, the biggest variable in the use stage is washing habits. Frequent washing, hot washing, and tumble dryer use can multiply the carbon impact several times over. Research shows that 25–50% of the total carbon footprint of some clothing items comes from the use stage.

Waste and Recycling

When a T-shirt reaches the end of its life, it usually ends up in the trash. Textile recycling rates remain low; globally, less than 1% of clothing is truly recycled. The waste stage is critical for plastic bottles as well. When recycled, producing a new bottle requires roughly 70% less energy.