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Clothing Materials Index
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Clothing MaterialTime to decomposeMax time to decomposeDecompose RankSourceKg of CO2e per 2sqmCO2 RankSourceTotal ScoreScore out of 100Methodology
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Cow Leather25 - 40 years40 years6https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1543-measuring-biodegradability2209https://www.collectivefashionjustice.org/articles/carbon-cost-leather-goods1583.37.59 of the most common clothing materials were chosen for the study. Two metris were collected for each material:
- Time to decompose
- Kg of CO2 produced by 2m of the material

These metrics were then ranked from 1 to 9 with a higher number being given to the material performing the best in each metric. If a metric had the same result they scored the same rank.

For "Time to Decompose" the maximum length of time was chosen for the ranking, in order to take into account the worst possible scenario.

Both of the metrics were given an equal 50% weighting within the ranking as they both hold equal weighting when considering their impact on the environment.

These scores were then added together to give a total rank. These ranks were converted into a figure out of 100, those materials with a higher figure are viewed as better materials for the environment.
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Acrylic Fibre20 - 200 years200 years8https://www.naturalclothing.com/what-is-acrylic-fabric/11.536https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics1477.87.0
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Wool1 - 5 years5 years5https://www.close-the-loop.be/en/phase/3/end-of-life13.897https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics1266.76.0
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Denim10 - 12 months1 year3https://www.hercircle.in/engage/fashion-and-sustainability/trends/How-Long-Will-The-Clothes-You-Threw-Out-Take-To-Decompose-695.html19.98https://actions.sumofus.org/a/it-s-time-to-put-a-stop-the-the-denim-industry-s-dirty-secrets#:~:text=The%20apparel%20industry%20is%20a,passenger%20car%20nearly%2050%20miles.1161.15.5
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Polyester20 - 200 years200 years8https://goodonyou.eco/how-sustainable-is-polyester/6.42https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics1055.65.0
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Nylon30 - 40 years40 years6https://www.down2earthmaterials.ie/2013/02/14/decompose/7.313https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics950.04.5
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Silk1 - 4 years4 years4https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/fashion-biodegradable-material-circularity-cotton7.634https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics844.44.0
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Cotton1 week - 5 months5 months2https://www.close-the-loop.be/en/phase/3/end-of-life8.35https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics738.93.5
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Linen2 weeks2 weeks1https://www.close-the-loop.be/en/phase/3/end-of-life4.51https://www.co2everything.com/category/clothes-and-fabrics211.11.0
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Kg of CO2e per 2sqmThis is the carbon footprint of each material, which is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced in the lifecycle of the material
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