Wardrobe Environmental Impact Simulator

Carbon footprint is calculated by multiplying the garment weight by the material-specific CO2 emission factor (in kg CO2 per kg of textile), then dividing by estimated lifespan. For example, a 0.5 kg cashmere sweater with a factor of 28 kg CO2/kg and 20-year lifespan = 0.7 kg CO2/year. Emission factors come from the ADEME Impact database and Textile Exchange 2025 report.

Water consumption data comes mainly from the Water Footprint Network (ISO 14046 methodology) and ADEME. It covers the entire production cycle: crop irrigation (cotton), animal husbandry (wool, cashmere), chemical processing (viscose), and industrial processes (polyester). The 10,000 litres per jean figure is widely documented by these organizations.

Cashmere has a high production CO2 factor (28 kg CO2/kg) due to goat farming. But its exceptional lifespan (20 years) means annualized CO2 is very low: 0.7 kg CO2/year for a sweater. Compared to a polyester sweater replaced every 2 years (1.8 kg CO2/year), cashmere is 2.5x more CO2-efficient over time. The durability score reflects this long-term performance.

Yes. We use as baseline a standard polyester garment with a 1.5-year lifespan (source: Quantis 2024 report and European Environment Agency). In fast fashion, the average consumer replaces each piece 3-4 times over 5 years. Our calculations include the cumulative impact of these replacements: each additional piece = full new production (materials, water, transport, manufacturing).

The simulator covers production impact (extraction, processing, manufacturing). Care (washing, drying) and transport are not included as they vary enormously by individual habits and location. For reference, care represents about 20-35% of a garment's total lifetime impact (source: ADEME). Good care also reduces impact by extending lifespan.

The /100 score is calculated from the average durability indices of your pieces (scale 1.0x to 5.0x, multiplied by 20). A score of 80+ (Excellent) means your wardrobe mainly consists of premium long-lasting materials. Below 40 (Needs improvement) indicates a high proportion of short-lived synthetics. Indices come from our Materials Index 2026.

European linen combines several advantages: low water consumption (650 L/kg vs 10,000 L/kg for cotton), low carbon footprint (5.5 kg CO2/kg), rain-fed cultivation in Europe, and 20-year lifespan. It is objectively the most ecological material among natural fibers. This is why it scores 4.0x durability while having the lowest environmental impact.

Yes! Our data is free to use under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 license (attribution required, non-commercial use). Use the APA/MLA/Chicago citation formats provided in the 'For Journalists and Bloggers' section. For raw data requests, interviews or HD infographics, contact press@misciano.com. Guaranteed response within 24h.

Three main levers: (1) Choose durable materials (linen, silk, cashmere, merino wool) that last 4-5x longer, (2) Proper care (cold wash, air dry) to maximize lifespan, (3) Buy less, buy better: a capsule wardrobe of 30 premium pieces has lower impact than 100 fast fashion pieces. See our Cost Per Wear Calculator to quantify the investment.

Our data comes from verifiable, recognized sources: ADEME (official French database), Textile Exchange (global reference), Water Footprint Network (ISO methodology), European Environment Agency, and our own lab tests (IFTH, Hohenstein). Estimates are conservative and indicative: actual impact depends on specific production conditions, transport and care. We document our methodology with full transparency.