Raw Material Source
Within each of the Textile material types there can be multiple raw material source options available to further customize a material.
If only the general fiber type is known, then the default selection should be left unchanged.
- Acetylated and regenerated cellulose, from pine, spruce or cotton linters is the default selection for acetate and triacetate fibers and should be selected unless using one of the listed branded acetate or triacetate fibers.
- Cellulosic Filament Yarn, Naia {Eastman} (includes yarn formation) should be selected when using Naia™ filament yarn. When selecting this option, make sure you update the Yarn Formation Method to “none”.
- Cellulosic Fiber, Naia {Eastman} should be selected when using Naia™ staple fiber.
- Cellulosic Filament Yarn, Naia Renew {Eastman} (includes yarn formation)should be selected when using Naia™ Renew (acetyl from recycled waste plastics) filament yarn. When selecting this option, make sure you update the Yarn Formation Method to “none”.
- Cellulosic Fiber, Naia Renew {Eastman} should be selected when using Naia™ Renew (acetyl from recycled waste plastics) staple fiber.
- Polyacrylonitrile, fossil fuel based, for textiles is the default selection for acrylic polymer and should be selected for all acrylic fabrics.
- Radianza Fiber {BIRLA} (includes preparation and coloration) should be selected when using Radianza™ fiber. The impacts shown in this process include preparation and coloration.
- Regel™, recycled acrylic fiber {Thai Acrylic Fibre Co. Ltd} should be selected when using Regel™ fiber. This fiber is made from virgin and waste polymer and is a GRS certified acrylic fibre.
- Acrylic tow {AKSA} should be selected when the Raw Material Source is acrylic tow manufactured by AKSA. The AKSA manufacturing process is based on a wet spinning process. This process should be selected for either of Aksa’s ecru or coloured acrylic tow.
- Alpaca fleece, pasture raised is the default selection for alpaca fibers and should be selected for all alpaca fabrics.
- Aromatic polyamide, aramids is the default selection for aramid polymer and should be selected for all aramid fabrics.
- Polyacrilonitrile (PAN), fossil fuel based is the default selection as the raw material source to make carbon fibers. It should be selected for homopolymer polyacrylonitrile and polyacrylonitrile co-polymers.
- Viscose/Rayon (generic), regenerated cellulose from wood pulp should be selected when the raw material source of the carbon fiber is derived from cellulosic fibers.
- Cotton fiber, conventional production is the default selection for cotton fabric and should be selected unless using one of the other cotton fiber types identified below. This process represents a global average for conventional cotton production. This dataset is based on the original cotton LCA methodology developed by Sphera. It does not conform to the Cascale Cotton LCA Methodology (2024), and direct comparison of results between the two methodologies is not supported.
- Cotton fiber, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) should be selected if the cotton fiber meets the requirements of the Cotton made in Africa program. This dataset is based on the original cotton LCA methodology developed by Sphera. It does not conform to the Cascale Cotton LCA Methodology (2024), and direct comparison of results between the two methodologies is not supported.
- Cotton fiber, organic should be selected if the cotton fiber meets the requirements of organic certification, such as industry standards including the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the Organic Content Standard (OCS). This dataset is based on the original cotton LCA methodology developed by Sphera. It does not conform to the Cascale Cotton LCA Methodology (2024), and direct comparison of results between the two methodologies is not supported.
- Recover™ recycled cotton (RPure) {Recover} should be selected only if mechanically recycled cotton fibers from Recover® are being used.
- Cotton fiber, recycled should be selected when using mechanically recycled cotton fibers, other than when they are from a listed branded option.
- Cotton fiber, recycled {Usha Yarn Ltd.} should be selected when using recycled cotton fom Usha Yarn Ltd. When selecting this process, the yarn formation process should be updated to ‘Spinning, recycled yarns, open end (rotor) (250 DTEX-225 denier-24/1 Ne-40 Nm) {Usha Yarns Ltd}’.
- Cotton fiber, recycled (Second Life) {Soorty} should be selected when using the recycled post-consumer waste cotton fibers from Soorty Enterprises, Ltd
- Cotton fiber {Better Cotton} (India) should only be selected if the cotton fiber is from India and sourced through the Better Cotton program. This dataset only covers aspects of the environmental footprint. Other sustainability metrics set forth by the Better Cotton program -like the efforts on decent work and sustainable livelihoods- are not included. This dataset is modelled with Cascale Cotton LCA Methodology (2024).
- Cotton fiber {Cotton Australia} should only be selected if Australian Cotton is being used. Australian cotton is represented by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) and Cotton Australia. Cotton Australia’s responsibilities include on-farm sustainability implementation, and engagement with the supply chain including brands and retailers. This dataset is modelled with Cascale Cotton LCA Methodology (2024).
- Cotton fiber {US Cotton Trust Protocol} should only be selected if the cotton fiber is sourced through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol program. This dataset only covers aspects of the environmental footprint. Other sustainability metrics set forth by the USCTP program -such as the emphasis on worker well-being, high labor standards, and support to grower education for sustainable practices- are not included. This dataset is modelled with Cascale Cotton LCA Methodology (2024).
- Spandex fiber {The LYCRA Company}, contains data for yarnformation/spinning is the default selection for spandex and elastane fibers. It should be selected as the best proxy for all spandex and elastane fibers.
- Creora® bio-based spandex {Hyosung}, (includes yarn formation) should be selected when using Creora® bio-based spandex from Hyosung. The default yarn spinning process is already an empty process and does not need to be updated.
- Flax fiber (linen), average production is the default selection for flax fiber and should be used unless the specific retting process is known. If the retting process is known but is not dew or warm water retting, then the default selection (average production) should be used.
- Flax fiber (linen), dew retted should be used if the flax fiber is known to have come from a source that practices dew retting.
- Flax fiber (linen), warm water retted should be used if the flax fiber is known to have come from a source that uses a warm water retting process.
- Flax Fiber {Bast Fiber Tech}, Belgium should be used when bast fibers (including flax and hemp) are processed using Bast Fiber Tech’s proprietary wet processing technology to create a refined flax or hemp fiber.
- Flax hackled long fiber (linen) {European Flax® certified} should be selected when using certified European Flax®.
- Glass fiber is the default selection for glass fibers and should be selected for all glass fiber fabrics.
- Hemp fiber, average production (long fiber for wet spinning) is the default selection for hemp fiber and should be used unless the specific retting process is known. If the retting process is known but is not dew or warm water retting, then the default selection (average production) should be used.
- Hemp fiber, dew retted (long fiber for wet spinning) should be used if the hemp fiber is known to have come from a source that practices dew retting.
- Hemp fiber, warm water retted (long fiber for wet spinning) should be used if the hemp fiber is known to have come from a source that uses a warm water retting process.
- Agraloop Oilseed Hemp BioFibre Refined + (cottonized) {Circular Systems} should only be used if the hemp fiber is Agraloop BioFibre™ from Circular Systems. When selecting this process, the yarn spinning production stage needs to be updated to a “cottonized” yarn spinning process.
- Agraloop™ CBD Hemp BioFibre™ Dry Refined (cottonized) {Circular Systems} should only be used when using CBD Hemp BioFibre™ Dry Refined derived from dual-purpose hemp from Circular Systems. When selecting this process, the yarn spinning production stage needs to be updated to a “cottonized” yarn spinning process.
- Marmara Original® hemp fiber (cottonized) {The Flax Company} should only be used when using Marmara Hemp fibre from The Flax Company. When selecting this process, the yarn spinning production stage needs to be updated to a “cottonized” yarn spinning process.
- Jute fibers is the default selection for jute fibers and should be selected for all jute fiber fabrics.
- Lyocell (generic), regenerated cellulose from wood pulp is the default selection for lyocell fibers and should be selected unless using a listed branded lyocell fiber.
- TENCEL® {Lenzing} should be selected when using Tencel™ Lyocell fibres.
- TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament {Lenzing} (includes yarn formation) should be selected when using TENCEL™ Lyocell filament produced by Lenzing group. This filament process should be combined with appropriate downstream process stages including the empty process for “Spinning, TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament {Lenzing} (empty process, impacts contained in raw material process)”, knitting, coloration and finishing to create a TENCEL™ Luxe fabric scenario.
- TENCEL™ Lyocell with REFIBRA™ technology {Lenzing} should be selected when using TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers made with REFIBRA™ technology by Lenzing Group. This fiber process should be combined with appropriate downstream process stages such as spinning, knitting, coloration and finishing to create a TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ Lyocell fabric scenario.
- GreenCell Lyocell {AceGreen} (includes yarn formation) should be selected when using GreenCell® (Lyocell filament) produced by AceGreen in Taiwan. This process includes yarn formation with a range of 50-300 denier.
- Lyocell, regenerated cellulose from eucalyptus wood pulp {Sateri} should only be selected when the Raw Material Source is Lyocell made from wood pulp sourced from sustainable plantations produced by Sateri.
- Modal (generic), regenerated cellulose from wood pulp is the default selection for modal fibers and should be selected unless using a listed branded modal fiber.
- TENCEL™ Modal {Lenzing} should be selected when using Tencel™ Modal fibres, unless the fibers are dope dyed, in which case TENCEL™ Modal Eco Color (color/black) {Lenzing}should be selected instead.
- TENCEL™ Modal Eco Color (color/black) {Lenzing} should be selected when using Tencel™ Modal fibres that are dope dyed. This includes Lenzing™ Modal Black and Modal Color. Note that this process stage does not include the impacts of the dope dyeing process and the Dope Dyeing for TENCEL™ Modal Eco Color (color/black) {Lenzing} process needs to be selected for the Coloration Production Stage.
- Livaeco™ Modal Fibre {BIRLA} should be selected when using Livaeco™ Modal fiber from Birla Cellulose.
- LENZING™ FR {Lenzing} should be selected when using LENZING™ FR fiber (flame-resistant cellulosic fiber based on Modal fiber production process) produced by Lenzing Group. This fiber process should be combined with appropriate downstream process stages such as spinning, knitting, and finishing to create a Modal fabric scenario.
- Nylon 6, fossil fuel based, for textile production is the default selection for nylon polymer. Nylon 6 is the most common type of nylon used in textiles and should be selected unless a different nylon polymer type is more representative, as described in this section.
- Nylon, mechanically recycled should be selected if the nylon polymer has come from a recycled source, except in instances where the supplier is known and noted in this section. This process should be selected for both mechanically recycled and chemically recycled nylon, as this is currently the closest proxy available.
- Nylon 6.6, fossil fuel based, for textile production should be selected if the nylon polymer is nylon 6,6. Nylon 6,6 is manufactured from two different monomers, hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. This process should be selected for all nylon 6,6 polymer manufacturing except where the nylon 6,6 manufacturer is known and noted in this section.
- Nylon 6.6, recycled (Fulgar Q-NOVA- contains data for yarn formation/spinning) should be selected when using Q-NOVA® recycled nylon 6,6 from Fulgar®. When selecting this option, make sure you update the Yarn Formation Method to “Spinning, recycled PA 6.6 {Fulgar Q-NOVA} (empty process, impact contained in raw material stage)”.
- Nylon 4.10, EcoPaxX {DSM} should be selected when using EcoPaxX PA410 bio based polyamide from DSM.
- Nylon 6.6, Amni Soul Eco {Solvay Group}, Brazil should be selected when using Amni Soul Eco® nylon 6,6 developed by the Solvay Group. When selecting this option, make sure you update the Yarn Formation Method to “Spinning, Amni Soul Eco {Solvay} (empty process, impact contained in raw material stage)”.
- Ultramid B {BASF} should be selected when using Ultramid® Polyamide from BASF, unless using the Biomass Balance version, in which case Ultramid B BMB (biomass balance) {BASF} should be selected instead.
- SenLoft™ fiber (pre-commercial), enzymatic polysaccharide, bio-based {IFF} (includes yarn formation} is the default selection for Novel Polysaccharide fabric. This is a novel (pre-commercial) Engineered Polysaccharide (EPS) process produced through enzymatic polymerization. This process contains the impacts of yarn formation, and thus you should select the ‘Spinning, continuous filament (dry) {IFF} (empty process, impact contained in raw material stage)’ in the yarn formation step.
- Glass fiber is the default process selection for plastic fillers. It is the most widely used composition to produce continuous filament glass fibre.
- Carbon black should be selected when furnace blac, general-purpose carbon black is used. General purpose carbon black is used in tire production, and large-area or industrial coatings and paints.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fossil fuel based is the default selection for PET polymer. PET is the most common type of polyester used in textiles and should be selected unless a different polyester polymer type is more representative, as described in this section. This process models PET manufacturing via the ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid synthesis route.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), mechanically recycled, for textilesshould be selected if the PET polymer is converted from mechanically recycled PET bottle flakes to recycled PET pellets before being converted into PET fiber. If the specific recycling technology is unknown, this mechanical recycling process is the most likely processing type and should be selected.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) {Toray}, partially bio-based should be selected if the PET polymer is manufactured by Toray and is partially (30%) bio-based (ethylene glycol derived from sugarcane molasses). This process is currently the best proxy for all bio-based PET in the Higg MSI and should be selected for any bio-based PET.
- Ground to Good™- recycled PET Flakeshould be selected if the PET polymer is known to be Thread International’s Ground to Good™ recycled PET.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), semi-mechanically recycled should be selected if the PET polymer is converted from mechanically recycled PET bottle flakes to recycled PET pellets before being converted into PET fiber. In this process, an additional ethylene glycol treatment is used to purify the polymer.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), chemically (BHET) recycled should be selected if the PET polymer is chemically depolymerized via a glycolysis process. In this production method, Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) will be the primary intermediate oligomer that is produced. After depolymerization, the BHET is filtered and re-polymerized back into PET. This process may be selected for any PET chemical recycling where a glycolysis reaction is the primary depolymerization route.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), chemically (methanolysis) recycled, for textiles should be selected if the PET polymer is chemically depolymerized via a methanolysis process. In this production method, PET is converted into dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and ethylene glycol monomers. These are then re-polymerized back into PET. This process is the best proxy for PET chemical recycling that uses hydrolysis (depolymerization to terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol) and other alcoholysis depolymerization routes. This process should also be selected for polyester raw material content that is known to be chemically recycled but does not have the specific technology disclosed.
- LYCRA® T400 EcoMade Fiber {The LYCRA Company}, (includes yarn formation) should be selected when using T400 EcoMade bicomponent stretch polyester (elasterell-p) from The LYCRA Company. This process is the closest proxy for all elasterell-p polyester and may be selected when using any elasterell-p fiber. The impacts shown in this process include yarn formation and Melt spinning with texturing, {The LYCRA Company} empty process, impacts contained in raw material process) should be selected as the Yarn Formation Method.
- Repreve® Yarn, {Unifi Manufacturing Inc} (includes extrusion/spinning + texturing) should be selected when using REPREVE® Polyester Yarn from Unifi Manufacturing Inc. The impacts shown in this process include Extrusion/spinning and texturizing. Extrusion/spinning and texturizing {REPREVE®} (empty process) should be selected as the Yarn Formation Method.
- Repreve® Resin (chip), {Unifi Manufacturing Inc} should be selected when using REPREVE® resin [chip] from Unifi Manufacturing Inc.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, mechanically recycled {Nan Ya Plastics} should be selected when using mechanically recycled PET produced by Nan Ya Plastics. This fiber process should be combined with the appropriate Nan Ya Plastics downstream processes such as thermal drawing and texturizing, and spinning for mechanically recycled PET.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, chemically recycled {Nan Ya Plastics} should be selected when using chemically recycled PET produced by Nan Ya Plastics. This fiber process should be combined with the appropriate Nan Ya Plastics downstream processes such as thermal drawing and texturizing, and spinning for chemically recycled PET.
- High density polyethylene (HDPE), fossil fuel based is the default process selection for PE fabric and should be selected when using HDPE or when the specific grade of polyethylene is unknown.
- Low density polyethylene (LDPE), fossil fuel based should be selected when using an LDPE polymer.
- Polyethylene (PE), recycled, for textile should be selected when using mechanically recycled Polyethylene. This process can be used for recycled LDPE or HDPE.
- Polylactic acid (PLA), bio-based, for textile sis the default selection for polylactic acid (PLA) polymer and should be selected for all polylactic acid (PLA) fabrics.
- Isotactic polypropylene (PP), Fossil fuel based is the default selection for polypropylene polymer and should be selected for all conventional production.
- Polypropylene (PP), recycled, for textile should be selected if using mechanically recycled polypropylene polymer.
- Sorona polymer {DuPont}, bio-based is the default selection for PTT polymer. This process is currently the best proxy for all sources of PTT polymer in the Higg MSI.
- Thermoset polyurethane (PU), fossil fuel based, for textiles is the default selection for polyurethane polymer and should be selected for all PU fabrics unless using Freeflex™ TPU Resin.
- Freeflex™ TPU Resin {BASF} for textile should only be selected when known to be using the Freeflex™ TPU resin from BASF.
- Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), hard polyether, fossil fuel based, for textiles should be selected when using hard polyether based TPU.
- Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), soft polyester, fossil fuel based, for textiles should be selected when using soft polyester based TPU.
- Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), soft polyether, fossil fuel based, for textiles should be selected when using soft polyether based TPU.
- Silk, raw, from silkworm is the default selection for raw silk and should be selected for silk fabrics.
- Viscose/Rayon (generic), regenerated cellulose from wood pulp is the default selection for viscose rayon fibers and should be selected unless using a listed branded viscose fiber or the pulp source is known to be bamboo.
- LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose should be selected when using ECOVERO™ viscose fiber produced by Lenzing™. This process is representative for all ECOVERO™ production.
- Regenerated cellulose, from bamboo should be selected for viscose rayon fibers are manufactured using cellulose pulp derived from bamboo fiber.
- Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™ Viscose Staple Fiber {BIRLA Cellulose} should be selected when using LivaEco traceable viscose fiber produced by Birla Cellulose. This dataset is representative of Birla’s Asia production regions (China, India, Thailand).
- ENKA® Viscose {ENKA} (includes yarn formation) should be selected when using ENKA viscose filament yarns. When selecting this process, the yarn formation process should be updated to ‘Spinning, ENKA® Viscose {ENKA} (empty process, impacts contained in raw material process)’ to avoid double counting impacts.
- Livaeco™ Spun-dyed Viscose Staple Fiber {BIRLA} (includes coloration) should be selected when using dope dyed Livaeco™ fiber from Birla Cellulose. When selecting this process, the dyeing process should be updated to “Dope dyeing for Livaeco Spun-dyed Viscose Staple Fiber {BIRLA} (empty process) to avoid double counting impacts”
- Purocel Eco Viscose {BIRLA Cellulose} should be selected when using Purocel™ Eco Viscose fiber produced by Birla Cellulose.
- CORONA™ viscose fiber {Daiwabo Rayon} should only be selected when using CORONA™, a viscose fiber produced from wood pulp by Daiwabo Rayon’s plant in Japan.
- OnceMore®, Viscose Staple Fiber (VSF), pulp {Södra} should only be selected when using OnceMore® dissolving pulp from Södra which is made from 50% wood and 50% reclaimed textiles.
- Tangcell® EcoTang® Viscose fiber {SanYou} should only be selected when the Raw Material Source is the regenerated cellulose fiber Tangcell® EcoTang® from Tangshan Sanyou Yuanda Fiber Co., Ltd.
- Tangcell® EcoColor Viscose fiber {SanYou} should only be selected when the raw material is Tangcell® EcoColor manufactured by SanYou.
- GRACE® Ecosliya® Cellulose Viscose Staple Fibre {Yibin Grace Co., Ltd.} should only be selected when the raw material is GRACE® Ecosliya® manufactured by Yibin Grace.
- Wool, from sheep, fine-medium and superfine, Australia, for textile is the default selection for wool fibers and should be used unless using recycled wool fiber.
- Wool fiber, recycled from waste textile, for textiles should be selected when using mechanically recycled wool fiber. This process is modelled from waste textiles and includes collection and processing impacts.
- Mwool®, recycled wool {Manteco} should only be selected when using the recycled wool Mwool® from Manteco S.p.a. For all other recycled wools, the generic option should be selected.
- ReviWool® Noils {Manteco} should only be selected when the raw material is ReviWool® manufactured by Manteco. ReviWool® fibres are virgin wool fibers that are recovered along the wool value chain.
- Carbonised ReviWool® noils {Manteco} should only be selected when the raw material is Carbonised ReviWool® manufactured by Manteco.