The Fabric of Change: How Carbon Capture Can Cut Fashion’s Emissions

Fashion’s carbon footprint has woven itself into a global crisis, contributing more to global carbon emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2021). As the pressure to act mounts from all directions, the industry finds itself at a critical crossroads. Carbon capture technology could be the turning point it needs - offering a way to reduce emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3, and reshape fashion’s environmental footprint for good. Will this innovation be the catalyst for real change, or just another trend?

Breaking Down Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions: The Fashion Edition

Let’s take a closer look at what we’re working with: Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

• Scope 1: These are the direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the brand, such as fuel combustion in company owned vehicles, emissions from office buildings, or heating and cooling systems in retail stores. Most fashion brands don’t own the factories that produce their goods, so factory emissions generally fall outside Scope 1. Instead, the focus here is on emissions from corporate offices, retail operations, and any owned distribution or logistics fleets. This is where brands have more direct control, but the scope is narrower compared to other categories.

• Scope 2: Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the purchased electricity, heating, or cooling used by the brand. This includes the energy used in offices, stores, and distribution centers. For example, if a brand’s office or stores run on electricity from coal powered grids, the resulting emissions would fall under Scope 2. Brands can reduce these emissions by switching to renewable energy sources, which is a common area for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint. According to UNEP (2021), energy related emissions accounted for around 12% of the apparel sector’s total footprint in 2019.

• Scope 3: Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions throughout a brand’s value chain - this is where most of a brand’s environmental impact lies. For fashion brands, this includes emissions from outsourced manufacturing, raw material extraction, transportation, product use, and disposal. Since the majority of fashion brands outsource production, the emissions from those factories fall under Scope 3, not Scope 1. In fact, Scope 3 typically makes up around 70% of a fashion brand’s total carbon emissions. From the energy used in textile mills to shipping and product lifecycle, reducing Scope 3 emissions is the most challenging but essential step toward achieving sustainability.

Carbon Capture Fabrics: Climate Couture is In

Now, let’s shift gears to carbon capture fabrics - the cutting-edge textiles designed to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere, transforming your favourite t-shirt into a mini carbon sink. If this sounds like sci-fi, it’s not. These fabrics absorb CO2 through chemical processes while being worn, offering a promising solution for brands eager to offset emissions across the production cycle and beyond.

At the core of carbon capture textiles is a combination of chemical, physical, and biological processes that enable fabrics to absorb and store CO2. Chemical absorption often utilises materials like polyamines, which bond with carbon dioxide molecules, trapping them within the textile. Physical adsorption relies on materials like metal organic frameworks (MOFs), which capture CO2 through weak intermolecular forces due to their highly porous structures. Some textiles even incorporate biological elements, like algae, which naturally sequester CO2 through photosynthesis.

For example, TMC Global’s carbon capturing yarn can absorb over 2kg of CO2 per kilogram of yarn throughout its lifetime (TMC Global, 2021). Meanwhile, LanzaTech is creating textiles from recycled carbon emissions - a double win for reducing both Scope 1 emissions and textile waste (LanzaTech, 2020). These advancements mark a shift from superficial sustainability efforts to impactful, scalable solutions. Carbon capture fabrics hold the potential to be a cornerstone in the fashion industry’s transformation.

Carbon Looper by H&M: A Real-World Example of CO2 Capturing Textiles

H&M’s Carbon Looper initiative is a prime example of these innovations already being put to use. In collaboration with textile technology leaders, H&M is developing fabrics that capture and store CO2 during production, addressing H&M’s Scope 1 emissions directly. While still in its early stages, this project highlights the growing feasibility of integrating carbon capturing solutions into textile manufacturing - a significant leap forward for the sector.

The Impact of Carbon Capture Fabrics on Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions

So, how can carbon capture fabrics influence emissions across fashion’s supply chain? Let’s break it down.

• Scope 1: Carbon capture fabrics can help reduce emissions during production by transforming carbon released into the atmosphere into textiles that absorb even more CO2. This process enables factories to lower their own emissions while producing materials that actively contribute to carbon mitigation.

• Scope 2: Pairing carbon capture fabrics with renewable energy sources could be a game changer. While production may rely on green energy, the fabrics themselves continue to absorb CO2, creating a double layer of emissions reduction that could accelerate progress toward sustainability.

• Scope 3: This is where carbon capture fabrics truly shine. From raw material extraction to product disposal, these textiles can offset Scope 3 emissions across the product lifecycle. Even after a garment is purchased, worn, and recycled or discarded, it can still sequester CO2, making a lasting impact on fashion’s overall footprint.

The potential is staggering. If widely adopted, carbon capture fabrics could cut millions of tons of CO2 emissions annually (GreenBiz, 2020). Further, for brands striving to meet ambitious climate goals, these fabrics offer an exciting opportunity for innovation, evolution, and leadership in the sustainability race.

Challenges and Opportunities: The Fashion Industry’s Next Move

Of course, embracing carbon capture fabrics won’t be as easy as snapping your fingers. While promising, these fabrics are currently more expensive than traditional textiles, and scaling production to meet global demand will require significant investment in research and infrastructure. Brands will also need to collaborate closely with scientists and policymakers to move these materials from niche to mainstream.

That said, the scope of its impact could be huge. Take a conventional cotton t-shirt, for instance, which can produce between 2.1 and 5.5 kg of CO2e throughout its life cycle, factoring in emissions from farming, processing, transportation, and disposal (Fashion Revolution, 2020). Replacing that t-shirt with one made from carbon capturing fabric would not only reduce emissions during production but also sequester additional CO2. While this may not fully eliminate a product’s carbon footprint, it could significantly tip the balance toward lower net emissions, especially when combined with renewable energy sources and circular economy initiatives.

As sustainability continues to top consumer priorities, fashion brands adopting carbon absorbing fabrics could gain a significant competitive edge. Imagine the marketing potential - we could truly put the ‘air’ in Nike Air.

Conclusion: Can Carbon Capture Fabrics Help Fashion Achieve Net-Zero?

Carbon capture fabrics offer the fashion industry a glimpse into a future where clothing doesn’t just look good - it does good. While challenges remain, the potential for these fabrics to cut emissions is promising. With major players already experimenting with these innovations, the road to net-zero might just be lined with carbon capturing, eco friendly fabrics.

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