Canvaloop manufactures fibres from agricultural waste such as hemp, banana, nettle, and pine. These fibres are branded as HempLoop, BanLoop, NettleLoop, and PineLoop. To thoroughly understand and minimise their environmental impact, Canvaloop partnered with Monk Spaces for a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This rigorous assessment adheres to the requirements of ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

The assessment starts with identifying the appropriate product category rules (PCR) from the International EPD System. For the Canvaloop fibres, PCR 2013:12 – “Textile yarn and thread of natural fibres, man-made filaments or staple fibres” was identified. The PCR defines the requirements for life cycle modules (upstream, core and downstream) that must be included in the assessment. For this assessment, upstream processes include raw material collection and transporting raw materials to the Canvaloop manufacturing unit. Core processes include manufacturing at the factory regarding energy consumption, water use, waste generation, and packaging of finished products. Downstream processes included transporting the used product for end-of-life disposal and associated recycling, incineration or landfilling. The PCR also defined environmental impact indicators that must be declared. These impact indicators include global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential, water deprivation potential (WDP), and eutrophication potential.

Based on the requirements defined by PCR 2013:12, a data input sheet was created for Canvaloop’s products. The data collected includes details about raw materials, manufacturing process, electricity use, water consumption and waste generation for both pilot and commercial phases. Once the data was collected, the environmental impacts were calculated using OneClick LCA and the Ecoinvent database. These impacts were measured per kilogram of fibre. The results were documented in an LCA report for the fibres manufactured in both the pilot and commercial phases.

The significant contributors to environmental impact across the phases were identified. Key performance indicators were analysed for both the pilot and commercial phases. Based on the results, recommendations regarding decarbonisation strategies were provided for the commercial phases. As per the CML methodology, a previously conducted LCA was compared with the obtained results for Hemploop (CML 2016 vs EN 15804:A2). The assessment also highlighted the environmental benefits of Canvaloop fibres against conventional fibres like polyester, cotton and jute.

Once the comparison is complete, the assessment checks completeness, sensitivity and consistency. Using LCA, Canvaloop showcases its production of eco-friendly fibres and its commitment to environmental responsibility in the textile industry.