Life Cycle Assessment

Product performance

Fashiontech: underwear and sportswear in an ethical circle

In June 2021, Fashiontech, a major two-year technical eco-design project, was completed at Radici Yarn (a company in RadiciGroup’s Advanced Textile Solutions sector), aiming to produce hosiery, underwear and sports garments using circular knitting technology. All by making use of recycled – and possibly also recyclable – raw materials, developed to reduce environmental impact as much as possible while maintaining the performance required by this type of application.

Several design phases and results were achieved, first the development of polyamide yarns mass dyed by adding the dyes directly during the extrusion phase. This solution made it possible to significantly reduce the environmental impact by eliminating the dyeing step, which requires significant water consumption. The reduced impact of the garments was measured objectively in the second phase of the trial, thanks to a PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) study comparing a mass-dyed product designed within the project, a black sock, with a similar garment-dyed product (via the classic dyeing step). The latter was found to have more significant environmental impacts than black socks made from mass-dyed yarn across all impact categories, particularly the most significant ones. For example, the mass-dyeing led to a 60% reduction in water use, a 53% reduction in emissions and a 47% reduction in energy use compared to garment-dyeing.

With a view to circularity, the following design phase, i.e. the development of a totally mono-material 100% polyamide, recycled, solution-dyed and textured item, used for hosiery and garments, also had encouraging results. Thanks to the synergy between Radici Yarn and its partners, prototype garments with a degree of elasticity that meet user expectations were made, while cutting the use of elastomer. This was an excellent solution that, above all, does not compromise the fit of the garments. It also allows them to be mechanically recycled at the end of their life without the need to split the components and without having to deal with the issue of splitting off the elastic component, because only a small amount is used.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific, analytical and systematic methodology that assesses the environmental footprint of a product throughout its entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, to production, distribution, use and final disposal or second life, giving the environmental impact values associated with each phase. It is an important technical foundation, allowing targeted actions to increase product sustainability through precise impact quantification. A methodology that has been widely used by RadiciGroup for more than a decade, it was also used by numerous companies in 2021. Below is an overview of the LCAs, or LCA-based environmental impact studies, carried out on strategic products for the Group till 2021:

Radici Chimica SpA Third-party verified PEF study for nitric acid, adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, bicarboxylic acid mixture (RADIMIX), PA66, PA610, PA66/6 5% CPL, PA66/6 10% CPL, PA XT.

Radici Chimica Deutschland GmbH Third-party verified PEF study for KA oil, adipic acid, bicarboxylic acid mixture (RADIMIX).

Radici Novacips SpA EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) certified for Radilon® A and S 25%, 30% and 35% glass fibre compounds, for Heramid® A tenacious and 30% glass fibre compounds. Radici Yarn SpA Third-party verified LCA study for Radipol® - polymer PA6 SD for POY, Radipol® - polymer PA6 SD for staple, Radilon® - PA6 POY 55F10 SD, Radilon® - PA6 SO 44F10 SD, Radilon® - PA6 staple 3.3 dtex SD, Renycle® - POY 55F10 SD, Renycle® - staple 3.3. dtex SD, Renycle® - SO 44F10 SD. Comparative PEF study of garment-dyed PA6 socks compared with PA6 socks made from solution-dyed yarn. PEF study on a PA6 and elastane jacket in cooperation with Customers. PEF study on PA510 DTY 40F30 SD and PA66 DTY 40F30 SD in the framework of the Lombardy Region POR FESR 2014-2020 call: Smart Fashion and Design.