Carbon Footprint of a T-Shirt: LCA Benchmark (10,000 Simulations)
Last updated: 2026-03-14
Based on 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations using Ecoinvent 3.9.1 lifecycle inventory data, the median carbon footprint of a t-shirt is 3.01 kg CO₂e, with a mean of 3.08 kg CO₂e. The 80% confidence interval spans from 2.12 kg CO₂e (P10) to 4.12 kg CO₂e (P90), reflecting real-world variability in fiber type, manufacturing location, and end-of-life treatment. This benchmark draws on multiple authoritative sources including DEFRA 2025 emission factors, Textile Exchange market share data, and published academic LCA studies.
How Much CO₂ Does a T-Shirt Produce?
Impact Score Scale (A to E)
| Score | Rating | Range |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 0.00 – 2.41 kg CO₂e/t-shirt |
| B | Good | 2.41 – 2.82 kg CO₂e/t-shirt |
| C | Average | 2.82 – 3.22 kg CO₂e/t-shirt |
| D | Below Average | 3.22 – 3.71 kg CO₂e/t-shirt |
| E | High Impact | 3.71 – + kg CO₂e/t-shirt |
Phase Contribution Overview
LCA Phase Breakdown: Where Do the Emissions Come From?
| Phase | Median (kg CO₂e) | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Materials | 0.72 | |
| Manufacturing | 1.79 | |
| Packaging | 0.01 | |
| Transport | 0.06 | |
| Use Phase | 0.34 | |
| End of Life | 0.07 |
Key Findings
- The median carbon footprint of a t-shirt is 3.01 kg CO₂e, with a mean of 3.08 kg CO₂e across 10,000 simulated lifecycles.
- 80% of simulated t-shirts fall between 2.12 kg CO₂e (P10) and 4.12 kg CO₂e (P90), a nearly 2 kg CO₂e range driven by variation in material choice, manufacturing country, and end-of-life scenario.
- The standard deviation of 0.79 kg CO₂e indicates moderate spread around the mean, meaning real-world t-shirts can plausibly range well outside the central estimate depending on production choices.
- Third-party estimates for t-shirt carbon footprints vary widely — from 5.5 kg CO₂e (Earth.Org) to 11.54 kg CO₂e (Carbonfact) — likely reflecting differences in scope, fiber assumptions, and whether use-phase washing is included.
How This Benchmark Compares to Published EPDs
| Product / EPD | Source | CO₂e |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Fashion and Emissions: What’s the Link? | Earth.Org | Earth | 5.50 kg CO2e |
| What’s the carbon footprint of a t-shirt? ― Arbor | Arbor | 6.50 kg CO2e |
| Impact of additional carbon storage of natural plant fiber on product carbon footprint: A case study of cotton/kapok blended T-shirt VS pure cotton T-shirt - ScienceDirect | ScienceDirect | 9.47 kg CO2e |
| The Carbon Footprint of a T-Shirt | Carbonfact | 11.54 kg CO2e |
Methodology: ISO 14040 Monte Carlo Simulation
This benchmark was produced using 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations drawing on Ecoinvent 3.9.1 lifecycle inventory data, following ISO 14040/44 LCA principles. Material market shares, manufacturing location distributions, and end-of-life rates are sampled probabilistically from sources including Textile Exchange 2023, WTO/OTEXA 2022 trade data, and the European Commission JRC, with emission factors from DEFRA 2025 and published fiber-specific LCA studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the carbon footprint of a t-shirt?
Based on this benchmark, the carbon footprint of a t-shirt is approximately 3.01 kg CO₂e (median) or 3.08 kg CO₂e (mean). The 80% confidence interval runs from 2.12 kg CO₂e to 4.12 kg CO₂e, meaning most t-shirts fall within this range depending on the fiber used, where they are manufactured, and how they are disposed of at end of life.
How is this benchmark calculated?
We run 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations in which key input parameters — such as fiber type and market share, manufacturing country energy mix, packaging, transport mode, and end-of-life treatment — are sampled from probability distributions. Emission factors are sourced from Ecoinvent 3.9.1 and DEFRA 2025, and market share data comes from Textile Exchange 2023 and WTO/OTEXA 2022. The resulting distribution of 10,000 lifecycle estimates is then summarised using the median, mean, standard deviation, and percentiles.
Which life cycle phase contributes the most?
Phase-level contribution data is not broken out in this version of the benchmark. However, the wide P10–P90 range (2.12–4.12 kg CO₂e) suggests that upstream material production — where fiber choice (e.g., conventional cotton vs. kapok, which has an emission factor of ~0.45 kg CO₂e/kg) and manufacturing location vary significantly — is a key driver of variability across the distribution.
How can I reduce the carbon footprint of my t-shirt?
While this benchmark does not prescribe specific reduction measures, the data points to several high-leverage areas. Fiber choice matters: kapok fiber has a published emission factor of approximately 0.45 kg CO₂e/kg, significantly lower than conventional cotton or polyester. Manufacturing location affects the carbon intensity of energy use. At end of life, EU data on textile end-of-life rates (landfill, recycling, incineration) indicate that diverting garments from landfill can reduce lifecycle emissions. Extending garment lifetime is also an effective strategy since it spreads the production footprint over more uses.
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