THE LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: DENIM
Beyond impact
At COS, we're on a mission to look beyond today, to create a collection for the future. Beyond a season, a trend, a moment, to a more sustainable world.
This season, we continued to seek improvement by measuring the environmental impact of making our core denim styles, compared to a benchmark style from our 2019 collection. The results are in…
- We used
57% less energy by choosing renewable resources.
- We saved
89% fresh water by using organic or recycled fibres and less polluting chemicals.
- We produced
85% less greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient energy and steam usage.
These results are calculated using an innovative method we’re using known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Through this, we’re able to analyse our production methods and make better choices based on the results.
A Life Cycle Assessment measures the potential environmental impact of a product throughout all its stages, from the raw material extraction to the end of the production process. The results are calculated using the latest GaBi technology and verified by a panel of LCA experts.
This season, we continued to develop how we usually make our denim pieces – from using only organic or recycled cotton, to the means in which each piece was crafted. By using the LCA, we were able to compare the environmental impact of using more sustainably sourced fabrics and better production techniques with a benchmark style from our 2019 collection. Since the data is measured season on season, the numbers above will change over time. It’s important to us that we provide you with the most up-to-date information, which is why these figures will be updated to reflect our current collections.
Sharing the environmental impact of our denim collection is just another step in our journey towards becoming a fully transparent, responsible brand in all parts of our business – find out more about our progress so far here.
If you would like to reduce your impact too, the simple act of keeping your denim for longer can make a big difference. By buying less, you’ll help save more of the resources needed to make them. Read our care guide for tips on how to make your denim last as long as it was designed to. And if you choose to part ways, COS denim can be easily recycled or given a new life through secondhand platforms, such as COS Resell, to stop it from going into landfill.