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Clothing Lifespans: What Should Be Measured and How

Author

Listed:
  • Ingun Grimstad Klepp

    (Consumption Research Norway (SIFO), Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway)

  • Kirsi Laitala

    (Consumption Research Norway (SIFO), Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway)

  • Stephen Wiedemann

    (Integrity Ag & Environment, 10511 New England Highway, Highfields, QLD 4352, Australia)

Abstract

Increasing the use of each product, most often called longer lifespans, is an effective environmental strategy. This article discusses how garment lifespans can be described in order to be measured and compared. It answers two sub-questions: (1) what to measure (units), and (2) how to measure (methods). We introduce and define terms related to clothing lifespans and contribute to discussions about an appropriate functional unit for garments in life cycle assessments (LCA) and other environmental accounting tools. We use a global wardrobe survey to exemplify the units and methods. Clothing lifespans can be described and measured in years, the number of wears, cleaning cycles, and users. All have an independent value that show different and central aspects of clothing lifespans. A functional unit for LCAs should emphasise both the number of wears for all users as well as the service lifespan in years. Number of wears is the best measure for regular clothing, while number of years is most suited for occasion wear, because it is important to account for the need of more garments to cover all the relevant occasions during a specified time period. It is possible to study lifespan via carefully constructed surveys, providing key data relating to actual garment use.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingun Grimstad Klepp & Kirsi Laitala & Stephen Wiedemann, 2020. "Clothing Lifespans: What Should Be Measured and How," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:6219-:d:393594
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Masahiro Oguchi & Shinsuke Murakami & Tomohiro Tasaki & Ichiro Daigo & Seiji Hashimoto, 2010. "Lifespan of Commodities, Part II," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 14(4), pages 613-626, August.
    2. Shinsuke Murakami & Masahiro Oguchi & Tomohiro Tasaki & Ichiro Daigo & Seiji Hashimoto, 2010. "Lifespan of Commodities, Part I," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 14(4), pages 598-612, August.
    3. Dominik Zimon & Peter Madzik & Robert Sroufe, 2020. "The Influence of ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 on Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Goworek, Helen & Oxborrow, L. & Claxton, S. & McLaren, A. & Cooper, T. & Hill, H., 2020. "Managing sustainability in the fashion business: Challenges in product development for clothing longevity in the UK," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 629-641.
    5. Nelly Oelze, 2017. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management Implementation–Enablers and Barriers in the Textile Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Kirsi Laitala & Ingun Grimstad Klepp, 2020. "What Affects Garment Lifespans? International Clothing Practices Based on a Wardrobe Survey in China, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-45, November.
    7. Wencke Gwozdz & Kristian Steensen Nielsen & Tina Müller, 2017. "An Environmental Perspective on Clothing Consumption: Consumer Segments and Their Behavioral Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-27, May.
    8. Kirsi Laitala & Ingun Grimstad Klepp & Roy Kettlewell & Stephen Wiedemann, 2020. "Laundry Care Regimes: Do the Practices of Keeping Clothes Clean Have Different Environmental Impacts Based on the Fibre Content?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-31, September.
    9. Kirsi Laitala & Ingun Grimstad Klepp & Beverley Henry, 2018. "Does Use Matter? Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Clothing Based on Fiber Type," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-25, July.
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    Cited by:

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    7. Lisa Zhang & Jo Hale, 2022. "Extending the Lifetime of Clothing through Repair and Repurpose: An Investigation of Barriers and Enablers in UK Citizens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-18, August.

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