Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Strategies for Synthetic Textile Dyeing and Finishing Sector

Abstract

China, as the world ’ s largest producer and consumer of synthetic textiles, faces ustainability challenges in the synthetic textile dyeing and finishing sector.The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission profiles and potential mitigation pathways for this sector require further classification.This study analyzed the GHG emissions from the synthetic textile dyeing and finishing process of eight representative life cycle assessment (LCA) cases.To explore the potential for emission mitigation, four mitigation strategies were developed, resulting in the formulation of 11 scenarios.The average GHG emissions per kilogram of synthetic textiles from the dyeing and finishing process were 3.06 kg CO₂ equivalent (eq) (ranging from 1.83 to 5.34 kg CO₂ eq), primarily contributed by the dyeing unit and resulting from energy consumption (steam and electricity).The scenario analysis suggested that in the business-as-usual scenario, GHG emissions from the dyeing and finishing sector could reach 17.79 Mt CO₂ eq by the year of 2060.Emission mitigation potentials across scenarios ranged from 35.72% to 71.65%.In the most optimistic scenario, emissions could be reduced to as low as 5.04 Mt CO₂ eq by the year of 2060.These findings provide valuable insights to identify key mitigation pathways for the synthetic textile dyeing and finishing sector.

Keywords

dyeing and finishing / life cycle assessment (LCA) / synthetic textile / greenhouse gas (GHG) emission

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Funding

Shanghai Municipal Natural Science Foundation, China(23ZR1402300)

Fundamental Research Funds for the CentralUniversities, China(2232022G-11)

Fundamental Research Funds for the CentralUniversities, China(2232023G-11)