Page 79 - AJWEP-v22i3

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 3 (2025), pp. 73-87.
doi: 10.36922/ajwep.6241

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparative environmental impact assessment
of traditional and eco-friendly denim trousers

manufacturing: A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment

Kazi Rezwan Hossain and Mohammad Faizur Rahman*
Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author: Mohammad Faizur Rahman (rashedtex@aust.edu)

Received: November 19, 2024; 1st revised: December 31, 2024; 2nd revised: May 8, 2025; Accepted: May 8, 2025;
Published Online: May 27, 2025

Abstract: The denim sector, particularly in developing nations such as Bangladesh, is drawing increasing attention
due to its significant environmental impact. Traditional denim production processes involve high water and
energy consumption, synthetic chemicals, and unsustainable raw materials, all of which contribute significantly
to pollution and resource depletion. While environmentally friendly substitutes are emerging, their overall
environmental performance in the local setting remains underexplored. Following ISO 14040/44 standards and the
ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) methodology, this research intends to assess and compare the environmental impacts of
traditional and eco-friendly denim manufacturing in Bangladesh through a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment.
Seven key impact categories were analyzed: climate change (greenhouse gas emissions), water consumption,
terrestrial acidification, eutrophication, land use, fossil resource scarcity, and human toxicity. The functional unit
was defined as 1,000 pairs of denim pants. Data were collected through field surveys, interviews, utility records,
and secondary databases. Compared to the traditional model, the environmentally friendly scenario demonstrated
significant reductions in environmental impacts, including a 30% reduction in climate effect, 64% reduction in
water usage, 50% in acidification, 40% in eutrophication, 41% in fossil resource use, and 50% in human toxicity.
Although sustainable production required 10% more land, the advantages in other categories outweighed this
trade-off. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to address uncertainty and validate the robustness of the results.
This study offers a context-specific dataset for industry players considering investments in sustainable technology
and highlights the clear environmental advantages of adopting greener production techniques. These insights can
inform targeted policy changes and assist in the larger shift toward environmentally friendly textile manufacturing
in developing countries.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment; Denim life cycle; Cradle-to-grave; Eco-friendly; Environmental impact;
Environmental sustainability

1. Introduction for estimating the environmental effects of industrial
activities in recent years. Among the sectors under
Environmental issues have spurred increasing reliance close examination for their environmental impact and
on life cycle assessment (LCA) as a reliable technique resource load, denim production stands out, especially

Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025) 73 doi: 10.36922/ajwep.6241