LCA and SimaPro-based assessment of decarbonization and toxicity reduction in cotton yarn production in Arequipa, Peru.

Valdivieso Espejo A.L.; Flores Javier M.C.; Vásquez Noblecilla L.; Portal Calixto J.M.; Jiménez Borges R.; Castillo Alvarez Y. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2025) · DOI: 10.18687/leird2025.1.1.1041

Resumen

This study presents a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the cotton yarn production process in a company located in Arequipa, Peru, with the aim of identifying opportunities to reduce the environmental impacts associated with this industry. The functional unit considered is the production of 1 kg of cotton yarn, using a “gate-to-gate” approach and primary data validated by the company. The production process begins with the reception and storage of raw cotton, followed by a series of mechanical operations—opener, batan, carding, drawing, doubling, combing, autoleveller, roving, spinning, and winding—that transform the fiber into yarn, generating by-products and waste at each stage. Calculations determined that to obtain 1 kg of yarn, 1.287 kg of raw cotton is required, with an energy consumption of 7.99 kWh and the generation of 0.024 kg of solid waste. The LCA, carried out using SimaPro, prioritized the following impact categories: global warming, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity. Three improvement alternatives were evaluated: the use of photovoltaic energy, the replacement of conventional cotton with organic cotton, and the combination of both. The results indicate that the alternative based on organic cotton presents the lowest overall environmental impact, especially in terms of ecotoxicity and human toxicity, positioning it as the most sustainable option for the local textile industry. © LEIRD 2025.All rights reserved.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas