SHINSHU UNIVERSITY · INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

LCA Capacity Building
for the Textile Industry

Developing the expertise to assess environmental impacts and support a
sustainable textile industry.

About the Consortium

The LCA Capacity Building Consortium for Textile Industry was established in April 2023. Its members are the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology (Fii), Shinshu University, and six textile testing organizations:
Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center (QTEC)
Kaken Test Center (KAKEN)
Boken Quality Evaluation Institute (BOKEN)
Nissenken Quality Evaluation Center (Nissenken)
The Japan Cotton & Staple Fiber Fabric Inspecting Institute Foundation (menken)
KE’KEN Textile Testing & Certification Center (JWIF)

The consortium offers a jointly organized LCA capacity building program. It aims to develop professionals who can respond to changes in global industry and markets, quantitatively assess environmental impacts, and help lead the textile industry into the future through the use of clean energy and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data.

Through our research, we seek to establish an LCA platform for textile products and drive reductions in GHG emissions across the textile industry.

The program’s achievements build upon the support received from FY2023 to FY2024 through the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s grant program for the creation of joint courses at higher education institutions. Since April 2025, the consortium has continued these activities independently.

Information

The English edition of Environmental Impact Assessment of Apparel Products — Guidelines for Carbon Footprint Calculation — Ver. 3 has been released on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

For announcements and updates, please check the Japanese version of our website.

Library

GUIDELINES · VERSION 3 · ENGLISH

Environmental Impact Assessment Method for Apparel Products
～ Guidelines for Calculating the Carbon Footprint of Products ～

English edition

Seminar

The next seminar is scheduled to be held online on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 13:00 to 15:00 (Japan Standard Time). Speakers will include representatives from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and other experts. The presentation will be conducted in Japanese.

For details and registration, please contact Fii at fii@shinshu-u.ac.jp.

Vision

1. Three priorities of the joint capacity building program

Foster a deeper understanding of LCA throughout the textile industry through capacity building.
Develop systems for a circular textile industry, including repair, reduce, reuse, and recycle, through research aimed at sustainable textile products.
Leverage research findings to train professionals who can provide LCA consulting services to the textile industry.

2. Research objectives and the society we aim to create

We aim to establish an open LCA platform for textile products and drive GHG emission reductions across the textile industry.

Quantify the urgent need for GHG reductions across the entire product lifecycle—from raw materials onward—by using a comprehensive, LCA-based approach.
Translate this lifecycle-wide mission into concrete initiatives for waste reduction—covering manufacturing, unsold inventory, and post-consumer disposal—as well as product lifespan extension.
Accelerate circular initiatives—encompassing waste management, recovery, and subsequent reuse or recycling—through concrete quantification of their carbon reduction potential.

3. Research overview and mission statement (FY2023–FY2025)

Develop practical methods for conducting LCA at every stage of the textile product life cycle—from raw materials, spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing, garment manufacturing, to transport, sales, use, and disposal—and take a comprehensive view to identify priorities for GHG emission reduction.
Develop methods for predicting and assessing GHG emissions at the disposal stage during product development, and establish mechanisms that encourage waste reduction.
Develop methods for predicting and assessing product durability during product development, and establish mechanisms that encourage longer use, including repair.
Identify challenges in assessing collection systems after disposal, providing a basis for further system development.
Identify challenges in assessing reuse and recycling after collection, providing a basis for further system development.

Contact

Fii, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology
Shinshu University

3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
Tel: +81-268-21-5454
Fax: +81-268-21-5374
Email: fii@shinshu-u.ac.jp

LCA Capacity Building for the Textile Industry