Design Life-Cycle

Olaf Morski

Seo Nguyen, Sreya Mahsin

DES 40A

Professor Cogdella

5/16/2023

Raw Materials Carhartt Detroit Jacket Life Cycle

The Carhartt Detroit jacket, a popular workwear jacket that has gained a cult following in recent years, is a versatile jacket designed to withstand harsh weather and tough work environments, making it a popular choice for workers across a wide range of industries. The Detroit jacket is made of a heavy-duty cotton duck fabric that is known for its durability and resistance to wear and tear. In addition, the jacket has a 61% polyester 39% acrylic blanket lining that keeps the wearer warm in cold weather. The jacket has a brass zipper, nylon lined sleeves, and a bi-swing back that adds movement and flexibility to the jacket. The jacket has a classic, timeless look that has kept it fashionable for decades. While the materials used in the Detroit work jacket may not be environmentally friendly, Carhartt prides itself on sourcing these materials ethically, and their longevity promotes responsible consumption and reduces waste.

The Detroit Jacket is made from a variety of raw materials, some of which have a poor reputation for sustainability; however, Carhartt's supplier code of conduct ensures that all raw materials used in their clothing mitigate global warming and negative environmental impacts. Cotton, which uses almost 10 gallons of water per plant, is the major raw material within the Detroit Jacket primarily making up the tough cotton duck outer shell. Carhartt sources their cotton from Mt. Vernon mills in Georgia, a company that is a part of the COTTON LEADS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM, a program that promotes the use of sustainably produced cotton. However, it is widely known that cotton pickers, the main machinery used to harvest cotton, continue to run on diesel fuel, which is yet another dirty fuel that has a negative impact on our environment. Diesel fuel is made from crude oil that is extracted from oil deposits and then distilled at temperatures ranging from 200 to 350 degrees Celsius. The diesel fuel is then hydrotreated to remove impurities, which involves heating and mixing it with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst.

The inner of the jacket consists of a 61% to 39% polyester to acrylic blend of blanket lining, these synthetic materials are a great contributor along with cotton towards the global warming crisis of the textile industry. Polyester is made from terephthalic acid, which is derived from crude oil, one of the most dangerous of the greenhouse gasses. Acrylic, like polyester, is primarily made from crude oil. Reliance industries is one of the largest producers of polyester manufacturing more than 2.5 million tons of polyester per year. While it is not directly stated who Carhartt gets their polyester from it is likely that they source their polyester from a company similar to Reliance industries. Reliance’s stewardship towards sustainability ensures that they meet all environmental regulations. The nylon sleeve lining is composed of nylon which is made by reacting adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, adipic acid is synthesized from a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, or KA oil, which is then treated with nitric acid to form adipic acid. The raw materials for KA oil are benzene and propylene, which are derived from carbon-rich materials such as coal or crude oil.

In all of their jackets, Carhartt uses YKK zippers. These zippers are made of brass, a copper and zinc alloy. Copper and zinc are extracted from the earth in a similar manner; they are drilled or blasted, and these methods of ore extraction typically require diesel fuel or electricity. According to YKK’s FAQ page, they have an environmental policy and source their metals ethically. There are also some raw materials that go into the manufacturing process of the carhartt jacket.

Although other parts of the jacket also contain additional raw materials, cotton duck is the material that receives the most treatment during manufacturing. Cotton duck fabric is entirely made of cotton thread. Mount Vernon, as previously stated, supplies the majority of Carhartt's cotton fabric. While Mount Vernon's fabric treatment process is not specified, hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to bleach cotton duck fabric to create a white or off-white base for dyeing or printing. Hydrogen peroxide is primarily made of anthraquinone which is derived from petroleum and coal tar. Sizing is a temporary starch or resin coating that can be applied to cotton duck fabric to help give it stiffness and structure. Starch-based sizing is derived from mixing starches like wheat or rice with heated water. To produce a wide variety of colors and patterns, cotton duck fabric can be dyed with either natural or synthetic dyes. Some natural dyes that are commonly used are turmeric for yellow dye, walnut skins for a variety of brown dyes, logwood for black dyes, and onion skins for orange-brown dyes. A water repellent coating may be applied to cotton duck fabric to increase its resistance to moisture. Wax, silicone, and fluorocarbons are just a few of the chemicals that could be used during this procedure. To make cotton duck fabric more fire-resistant, flame-retardant chemicals may be applied. It's possible that chemicals like ammonium phosphate or borax will be used in this treatment. Borax is made up of sodium borate mined from dried lake beds or volcanic areas.

Synthetic fibers, such as the 61% polyester, 39% acrylic blanket lining, are frequently dyed with natural and synthetic dyes; however, the fabric itself is only made of polyester and acrylic. Brass is used by YKK to make the slider and teeth on the jacket's zipper. They affix the zipper teeth to the nylon zipper tape. The slider and top and bottom stops are then attached. There are many materials that go into the shipping of these jackets.

Carhartt work jackets are distributed using a variety of raw materials, including cardboard boxes, plastic bubble wrap or paper packaging material, paper and polyester shipping labels, polypropylene or paper shipping tape, wooden pallets, wooden shipping containers, and diesel and jet fuel. Carhartt work jackets are placed into cardboard boxes filled with paper after they have been manufactured to prevent damage. The box is taped up with paper shipping tape and a paper shipping label is applied on top by the manufacturing facility. They are then transported through shipping containers into semi trucks, which transport them to cargo planes for international shipping. Jet fuel, which is derived from crude oil, is used to fuel cargo planes. Cargo planes then transport the shipping containers to shipping facilities, after which semi-trucks transport the packages to other shipping facilities, where delivery vans transport the jackets to their final destination. A lot of diesel fuel and gas are used during this process. To maintain any piece of clothing requires several household items and machinery.

Laundry detergent, stain remover, fabric softener, a washing machine, and a dryer are all necessary for clothing maintenance. The compound in laundry detergent that helps break down dirt is called alkylbenzene sulfonates, and it is derived from petroleum. Stain removers contain ingredients that aid in the breakdown and removal of stains, such as enzymes, proteins, surfactants, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and ethanol. The most common compound found in fabric softener is quaternary ammonium salt, which aids in static cling reduction. Plastic, metal, electrical components, rubber, and glass make up washing machines. A dryer is made up of electrical components, a drum, plastic, glass, rubber, insulation, and metal. The majority of workwear clothing is donated when it is done being used.

Clothing donation is a popular method of recycling. Although clothing warehouses may clean dirty donated clothes and use extra fabric to repair clothing with sewing machines, no other major raw material is used in this process.When carhartt jackets are done being used they will go to landfills where they will decompose.

Clothing that is discarded usually ends up in a landfill, where it decomposes slowly. Natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, degrade over time, but synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, can take hundreds of years. Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, is released as clothes decompose.

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Seo Nguyen

Olaf Morski, Sreya Mahsin

DES 40A

Professor Cogdella

16 March 2023

Energy Embodied in a Carhartt Detroit Jacket

Carhartt Jackets are a type of garment that has been designed to be very durable and incredibly long-lasting due to being made of heavyweight fabrics. They have been worn in the outdoor and manual labor industry but become more popular in the fashion industry over the years. The Detroit jacket is often seen as a high-quality, stylish garment that captures the “work-wear” style worn by streetwear enthusiasts. The manufacturing of a Detroit jacket relies on energy from machinery that utilizes chemical, mechanical, and thermal sources; however, the company has recently shown its dedication to implementing more sustainable methods to obtain energy, thus minimizing the environmental impact of creating long-lasting outerwear garments.

Cotton is a heavily used raw material throughout the production of making the Detroit Jacket and is embedded in various sections of the garment. This material begins from crops and farms located in USA and Mexico where it is planted by a tractor and utilizes mechanical energy to drop the seed into the ground. As seeds begin to germinate, chemical energy is used by the sun to perform photosynthesis and create a sprout. Once the cotton plant has finished flowering and lint is created, it is harvested using a cotton picker. This machine is powered by a water tank oil and uses mechanical energy to power spindles that extract the lint from the plant while keeping the rest of the plant safe. The lint is then transferred to a module builder where mechanical energy is used by a hydraulic press to shape the lint into a compact cube. Chemical energy is further applied through human labor to put tarps over the lint cube to be transported to a mill. Carhartt applies sustainable practices by only using organic cotton grown in the U.S. by utilizing mechanical energy and fair labor practices in agriculture. A tractor will use mechanical energy to go over the crop once it has been picked and pull the previous cotton stalk so it is broken, creating a plant matter layer above the ground to break down into the soil. This method is put into practice as a way of limiting soil erosion. Although 100% organic cotton is primarily used throughout the jacket, the addition of synthetic materials such as nylon, acrylic, and polyester is included in the formulation of the jacket.

Nylon is made from synthetic fibers and quilted along the sleeves of the Detroit jacket. It is created through the raw materials hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid and the polymers extracted from these materials. They are extracted through chemical energy where it is synthesized and purified. Adipic acid is produced through chemical synthesis where it is oxidized from cyclohexane and purified to isolate the adipic acid. To obtain acrylic in the interior lining of throughout in the Jacket, the production requires fossil fuels such as crude oil and natural gas to power the extraction of petrochemical feedstocks which is a raw material, Electrical energy is used to power the pumps and motors of equipment which also provides lighting for workers. The application of heat is used to facilitate chemical reactions including cracking and distillation throughout the process of production. The manufacturing process of polyester is 50% more energy intensive than the production of cotton because it requires thermal and kinetic energy to process the crude oil in order to obtain the chemicals that make up this material. These chemicals include terephthalic acid which derives from crude oil. The brass zipper used on the jacket uses multiple forms of energy to extract raw materials from the Earth. This includes fossil fuels to power machines for mining and smelting. Machinery used in this process to extract copper and zinc ore is powered by Electrical energy. These machines perform mechanical energy by grinding and crushing rocks into smaller pieces. Once the rock has been crushed, thermal energy is applied to the ore in order to smelt and separate the metals. Further kinetic energy is applied to refine the smelted metal to purify the composition and refine the metal. Thermal energy is crucial in applying heat to smelt the alloy as well. It is also used to maintain the proper temperature in the many stages of processing the metal. Mechanical energy also plays a large role in manufacturing and creating the product.

In manufacturing cotton fabric, the process consists of sewing the fabric tightly together in order to be turned into a cotton duck. Once the cotton is harvested it is sent to a mill with a gin where seeds are extracted from the lint. This process requires electrical energy to power the machinery used for cleaning the lint. This begins with cleaning the fibers which requires mechanical cleaners such as an air or vacuum system that also use electricity to operate. Once it has been cleaned, thermal energy is applied through a heat and comes from heaters powered by electricity to remove all the moisture from the cotton. After it has been thoroughly cleaned, it is carded through mechanical processes and involves machines powered by electricity to remove any leftover impurities from the lint. After the cotton fibers are carded, they are roved and drawn with machines to spin the fibers into a thin continuous strand. Machines are powered by electricity to spin the fibers which are spun into yarn. This process of ginning cotton uses a variation of electricity, heat, and fossil fuels to power machines throughout each step. Farms have begun to implement the use of renewable energy such as solar and wind in order to implement more efficient but environmentally friendly ways to produce the same material.

Once the yarn is created, it is sent to a weaving factory where the cotton is interlaced very tightly to form the heavy fabric structure of cotton duck. Shutterless looms are primarily used in this process and are powered by electricity from an electrical grid which is a mix of many energy sources. This modern loom compared to the shutter loom requires less energy to operate and relies on the motor to produce mechanical energy to weave the fabric. The implementation of an electrical grid allows for more energy-efficient fabric production by reducing energy consumption and leading to a more sustainable way to produce this textile. After the fabric is weaved, it is sent to a dyeing and finishing plant, which uses thermal and kinetic energy to set the dye. Heat and water are crucial in this process to improve the structure and longevity of the dye used on the fabric. In the finishing process, various chemicals are applied to the fabric and tested using thermal and kinetic energy to heat the fabric and maintain the required pH levels for the cotton duck. Fossil fuels are primarily used to power boilers, fans and to heat the water. The extensive amount of water and chemicals in this process is attempted to be reduced through the implementation of solar and wind power to reduce the number of fossil fuels used in dyeing these fabrics. Similar fuel sources are used to manufacture the synthetic fabrics required for the jacket as well.

The process to manufacture nylon begins with hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid being combined with water and more heat to produce nylon 6,6. Nylon 6,6 will be spun into fibers using electrical power spun machines to create a usable textile. After the fiber is spun, it is stretched to improve its longevity and requires electrical energy to power the drawing machines. The last step in manufacturing nylon is texturizing the fibers to give them a crimped appearance which often requires heat or electricity to do so. The manufacturing of nylon requires a combination of thermal reactions and polymerization from chemical energy which contribute to the overall energy requirements of the process For manufacturing acrylic, The fuel required to produce acrylic is by using natural gas as a feedstock and a large amount of heat and electricity. These components are used to produce acrylonitrile which is the primary raw material to start this process. After this is created, thermal energy is used to polymerize it into a polyacrylonitrile precursor. Light energy is also used to initiate a polymerization reaction with Ultraviolet rays. Kinetic energy is used to dissolve the precursor into a solvent and electrical energy is used to spin it into fibers. In order to solidify the fibers, more thermal energy is applied to evaporate the solvent so the solid fiber is only left behind. The final steps for manufacturing acrylic require drawing and finishing which further uses heat and electricity to texture the fiber in order to improve the volume and feel. In manufacturing polyester, once the processing of terephthalic acid is complete, a significant amount of electrical and mechanical energy is involved in spinning, weaving, and dying the fabric. Boilers use thermal energy to reach high temperatures in order to soften and dye the material. Sewing and weaving machines are fueled by electrical energy to attach the cotton and synthetic materials together. The final component of the jacket includes the metal accessories such as the zipper.

The brass zipper used on a Carhartt jacket requires thermal energy to be applied to the ore in order to smelt and separate the metals. Further kinetic energy is applied to refine the smelted metal to purify the composition. This requires the use of furnaces fueled by natural gas, petroleum, and diesel. These sources produce thermal energy to heat the furnace to extreme temperatures. Once the metal is purified, it is formed into zipper teeth through extrusion. This process uses machines that produce mechanical energy to stamp and create a continuous strip of zipper teeth. Another machine is used to combine a strip of fabric tape to the zipper through chain stitching. This process requires a special sewing machine powered by electricity and some renewable energy sources such as wind power. After the zipper is assembled, it is attached with a tab and slider to finalize the process using another machine to separate the teeth in order to crimp the pull tab and slider into place. The energy used in this process is primarily electrical and mechanical. After everything has been sewn together through various modes of electrical, mechanical, and chemical processes, the jacket must be distributed to consumers around the world.

The distribution and transportation of a Detroit Carhartt Jacket begin with the manufacturing process. The process of producing the jacket involves multiple networks of transportation to transfer materials to different factories before it is distributed to the public. The energy used in this process requires electricity and involves the use of mechanical energy through carriers such as trucks, cars, airplanes, and ships. These vehicles are fueled by large amounts of fossil fuels and petrol in order to operate. After the jacket has been manufactured, uses the same process of different carriers to bring the product into numerous countries and stored in distribution centers. This requires a large amount of non-renewable fuels such as gasoline and diesel to power these modes of transportation. Ground transportation typically is powered by fuel derived from crude oil that requires thermal energy to convert it to mechanical energy used to power motors. Once they have arrived at the storage facility, conveyer belts use electrical and mechanical energy to sort the jacket by color and place them into boxes to be shipped to distribution centers. Chemical energy is used by humans in order to manage forklifts and conveyer belts to store them in the correct locations. Workers who handle the jackets manually contribute to the total energy needed to transport and distribute the jacket. Carhartt’s manufacturing facilities are mostly located in North America, the United States, and Mexico however there are other facilities in Europe and Asia. The distance traveled to transport the Jacket can be roughly estimated to be global and use a significant amount of fuel. It is not an exaggeration to believe various types of vehicles would go extremely far distances to ship domestically and internationally. The time it takes to transport this jacket can go from days to weeks depending on where it is shipped from. For example, the time it would take to ship a Carhartt Detroit Jacket to Europe would depend on various shipping services. If expedited shipping is used, more mechanical energy is put into sending the jacket. This comes from the more frequent use of aircraft carriers fueled by jet fuel in order to ship expedited packages. Using this mode of transportation requires significantly more energy because jet fuel is sourced from crude oil. This is burned through thermal energy and released heat to be converted into mechanical energy in order to allow the aircraft to propel. After the jacket is in the consumer’s possession, it is encouraged to be worn for a lifetime and constantly re-used.

Carhartt has been known to create products built to last. Their repair service was launched in an effort to promote the constant reuse and maintenance of their jackets. Electrical energy is put into repairs that involve tools powered by electricity. These types of machinery require mechanical energy to replace zippers as well. Manual tools such as pliers are used to fix specific areas of the jacket and require human energy. This is due to the laborious process that is needed to restitch a Jacket. The energy put into repairing a jacket is something that Carhartt aims to promote as a way to keep their jackets maintainable and lessen energy consumption. Since the amount of energy it takes to repair a jacket is much less than manufacturing one, this program conveys its commitment to a more sustainable approach toward investing in workwear apparel. In terms of standard use, the energy required to maintain them would be from cleaning the jacket. Thermal energy and electrical energy are used in a washer and drying machine to power the motors. Once the consumer is done with the product, it can be recycled in order to reduce energy consumption in crafting another product.

Carhartt’s recycling program has encouraged consumers to send their Carhartt jackets back to the company in order to be repurposed or taken apart to be used in a different type of garment. The Process of recycling synthetic materials involves a larger amount of energy input in comparison to recycling cotton or brass. For nylon and acrylic, both materials have to be shredded through a mechanical process that requires electrical energy. Before this can occur, the fabric has to be sorted and cleaned through a variety of machines to transport items to specific categories. This requires electrical energy from a conveyer belt. Once the fabric is shredded, thermal energy must be applied to melt the fibers into a repurposable base material that can be used in another garment. Furnaces or extruders are used in this process and run on natural gas. Fibers are newly made by being pushed through a narrow opening where they are placed in spinning machines. These require mechanical energy powered by electricity in order to spin the fibers into usable yarn. The yarn will then be sent to knitting machines that use recycled yarn to create new fabrics. The energy put into recycling cotton is much less because it only requires it to be cleaned, spun into yarn, and then weaved into fabric. During the cleaning process, the cotton is separated from non-cotton materials and cleaned with water and detergent. Once the cotton is washed and dried using thermal energy, it is shredded with a machine to revert the fabric back to its fibrous state. Mechanical energy is utilized during this process and carded to comb the fibers together. It is then sent into a spinning machine where the fibers are twisted into yarn and knitted into new pieces of fabric. The process of recycling brass zippers from a Carhartt Jacket requires large amounts of thermal energy and mechanical energy to melt the alloy in order for it to be re-molded into a new zipper. A furnace is used to heat the metal and cast the zipper. Overall, Carhartt has demonstrated its commitment to reducing waste and energy consumption after the manufacturing of its jackets by offering these services to prolong the life of its jackets. These efforts are put into practice to increase the sustainability of owning a Carhartt Detroit Jacket however, some products still end up in a landfill.

Once the jacket is thrown away, it ends up in a landfill where various machines are used to process the material. This consists of compactors that use electrical and mechanical energy to compress and reduce the size of the garment. Bulldozers and excavators are used to transport the waste which requires fossil fuel as an energy source. Landfill gas extraction machinery is used to turn the methane gas emanating from landfills into a usable source of energy. This is another source of fuel that heavy machines used to operate.

Although most of the materials used in the Carhartt Detroit jacket come from nonrenewable sources of energy, this brand is continuing to expand its sustainability practices. From using solar power and wind power to provide electricity for their production plants, using 100% organic cotton, and implementing recycling programs, they aim to lessen their carbon footprint on the Earth and reduce the energy put into manufacturing one step at a time.

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Sreya Mahsin

Seo Nguyen, Olaf Morski

Professor Cogdell

DES 40A

16 March 2023

Carhartt Detroit Jacket Life Cycle Analysis: Waste & Emissions

Carhartt as a brand prides itself on being a working-class staple, offering an affordable price range while promising longevity and durability. However, what is the real price of the beloved Carhartt Detroit jacket that retails for $89.99? If we consider the waste created from raw materials, production, transportation, and questionable labor practices the price tag is quite hefty. Although Carhartt as a 21st-century brand has taken steps towards sustainable practices, the wastes and emissions created are still noteworthy and there is little research to show how sustainable it actually is. However, the newfound love for Carhartt amongst the younger generations has made it a lucrative asset as a secondhand, worn-in jacket, and vintage Carhartt jackets often go above the original price.

The first phase in the life cycle of a product is its raw materials acquisition. The main material used in a Carhartt Detroit jacket is cotton duck. Cotton duck is a strong, plain woven cotton fabric. Cotton farming requires the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers that release harmful emissions into the soil thus degrading its quality and harming the biodiversity in and downstream from the fields. Cotton farming also uses a significant amount of water and it is estimated that 10,000 liters of water is needed to produce one kilogram of cotton (Chapagain, A.K., et al.). If one jacket needs at least two yards of fabric in its construction, then we can estimate that around 10,000 litres of water is needed to create a single Carhartt Detroit jacket. Other byproducts of cotton are cottonseed (commonly used for animal feed, cooking oil, and other products), linters (short fibers that remain on the cottonseed after the long fibers are removed, and they are commonly used in the production of paper, textiles, and other products), and solid waste (plant material). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the production of one pound of cotton generates approximately 1.6 pounds of solid waste, which includes cottonseed, stems, leaves, and other plant material. Other materials used to make the Carhartt Detroit Jacket are polyester, acrylic and nylon all of which are synthetic fibers derived from petroleum, coal and other crude oils. According to A New Textiles Economy Report 2017, making plastic-based fibers for textile uses an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every year. Polyester, nylon and acrylic are all made through a process of polymerisation, and polymer output is processed further to create a synthetic fibre, which in turn requires more inputs of materials and energy and produces more waste.

The next step in the lifecycle is the manufacturing, processing and formulation of the garment meaning the raw materials need to be made into fabric, and then the fabric needs to be treated so that they can then be used to make the final garment. Both cotton and synthetic fibers use spinning to make the fabric. Creating the yarn also emits significant amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases through chemical processes namely combustion. After being spun, all fabric is then woven, cut and then finally sewn. All of these processes are usually aided by machines powered through electricity which emits greenhouse gases via chemical combustion. It also produces waste fibre and yarn. The most wasteful process during this stage is perhaps dyeing the fabric. It produces water and chemical waste as dyeing fabric requires a significant amount of water, a staggering 16% of the typical regular water intake of a garment factory of about 8000 kg cloth a day is consumed in dyeing meaning it uses 256000 liters of water a day to dye at a single factory. The dye section makes up 15%–20% of the total wastewater flow also (Singha, Kunal, et al.). The wastewater generated during the dyeing process contain chemicals and pollutants that can be harmful to the environment and human life if not properly treated and disposed of. The dyeing process requires energy to heat the water and maintain the dyeing temperature. Energy waste can occur if inefficient equipment is used or if the dyeing process is not properly monitored. The dyeing process may also result in fabric waste if the dyeing is not done correctly or if there are defects in the fabric that prevent it from being dyed properly. When cutting fabric to make garments, there may be leftover scraps or offcuts. These scraps may be collected and repurposed or recycled, or they may be discarded as waste. The sewing process can also generate waste, such as thread trimmings and other scraps of fabric. As stated previously, these fabrics are either reused or discarded.

After the jacket is sewn it is ready to be transported and distributed and as Carhartt does outsource a lot of their production to nations such as Bangladesh, Mexico and Jordan the carbon emissions are hefty. Cargo planes, ships and trucks that are run on fossil fuels emit CO2 to travel vast distances to get the products delivered. In the UK in 2009 studies found that 0.9 kg of CO2 was emitted during the distribution and retail processes of a single jacket (The Carbon Footprint Handbook). Moreover, there is a lot of waste generated from packaging as well such as plastic, cardboard, wood and styrofoam most of which end up in landfills and are created using fossil fuels. Plastic and styrofoam are non biodegradable and styrofoam is non recyclable so there is really no afterlife to these products except for causing pollution (Ecofreek.com). 

The next part of a product’s lifecycle is when it actually gets to the consumer. The consumer after acquiring the product will wash, dry and iron the jacket to maintain it. This requires a lot of energy in the form of water and electricity and produces significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Around 3.3 kg of CO2 is released in the lifetime of one jacket to maintain it (The Carbon Footprint Handbook). Furthermore, packaging used for detergent, dryer sheets, softeners and other cleaning products form plastic and paper pollution. Carhartt offers repairs at their in-store locations in Illinois and Utah for minor repairs of their garments with issues with zippers, tears and buttons. They also offer repair kits that can be purchased online (The Carhartt built to last commitment) Due to its sturdy construction, Carhartt jackets often last a very long time and are extremely durable which is why they’ve also opened a line called “Carhartt Reworked” where they take in previously worn Carhartt items and resell them at a lower price than what the product originally retails at. The Carhartt Detroit Jacket retails for $57 to $70. Furthermore, Carhartt has emerged as a brand worn by celebrities as much as blue collar workers alike with collaborations with high end fashion brands such as APC, Vetements and Junya Watanabe (Business Insider). This makes them a popular brand amongst the youth and the brand has seen a boom in the second hand market with individual sellers on sites like Depop, and Grailed selling “worked-in” Detroit jackets for well above retail prices ($599 even) if they’re in amazing vintage condition (depop.com). 

The next step in the Carhartt Detroit jacket’s lifecycle is recycling. Carhartt jackets contain metal hardware such as zippers, snaps, and buckles. These materials can be separated and recycled. Labels and tags on Carhartt jackets may be made of paper or other materials that can be recycled. The Carhartt Detroit jacket contains lining made from synthetic materials such as acrylic and polyester which can be recycled or repurposed into new products (Yacout, D.M.M., Abd El-Kawi, M.A. & Hassouna).

After recycling comes waste, which is the final step in the lifecycle of a product. Carhartt products that end up in landfills can contribute to environmental pollution and waste. Carhartt Detroit jacket uses fabrics such as cotton duck, polyester, acrylic and other synthetic materials. These fabrics can take years to decompose in landfills, contributing to the buildup of waste and potential harm to the environment. Zippers, and other hardware can take a long time to break down in landfills and may also release harmful chemicals as they decompose. Labels and tags on the Carhartt jacket may be made of paper or other materials that can take years to decompose in landfills (Ecofreek).

To conclude, buying a brand new Carhartt Detroit jacket comes with a heftier price tag than the price alludes to. Although the brand has taken better steps to ensure ethical, traceable and sustainable sourcing they have a long way to go to ensure better transparency of every step in their product’s lifecycle process. Although it might be more expensive to buy a Carhartt piece secondhand sometimes, it is definitely worth the environmental benefits.

Works Cited

Chapagain, A.K., et al. “The Water Footprint of Cotton Consumption: An Assessment of the Impact of Worldwide Consumption of Cotton Products on the Water Resources in the Cotton Producing Countries.” Ecological Economics, vol. 60, no. 1, 2006, pp. 186–203., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.11.027. Neil, Dan. "My Carhartt Detroit Jacket: As The Workwear Staple Goes High Fashion, A Die-Hard Fan Recalibrates The Meaning Of The Brand." Wall Street Journal (1923-), Mar 05, 2011, pp. 1. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/my-carhartt-detroit-jacket/docview/2729856953/se-2.

Grammatikos, Sotirios A. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Cotton and Other Natural Fibers for Textile Applications." Fibers, vol. 7, no. 12, 2019, pp. 101. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/comparative-life-cycle-assessment-cotton-other/docview/2548383205/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/fib7120101. 

Muthu, S.S. (Ed.). (2015). The Carbon Footprint Handbook (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b18929

Singha, Kunal, et al. “Harmful Environmental Effects for Textile Chemical Dyeing Practice.” Green Chemistry for Sustainable Textiles, 2021, pp. 153–164., https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-85204-3.00005-1.  

Subramanian, Karpagam, et al. "An Overview of Cotton and Polyester, and their Blended Waste Textile Valorisation to Value-Added Products: A Circular Economy Approach – Research Trends, Opportunities and Challenges." Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 52, no. 21, 2022, pp. 3921-3942. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/overview-cotton-polyester-their-blended-waste/docview/2703448466/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2021.1966254. 

“The Heart Breaking Truth: Is Styrofoam Biodegradable?” EcoFreek, 2 May 2020, https://ecofreek.com/biodegradable/is-styrofoam-biodegradable/. 

Yacout, Dalia M., et al. "Cradle to Gate Environmental Impact Assessment of Acrylic Fiber Manufacturing." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 21, no. 3, 2016, pp. 326-336. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/cradle-gate-environmental-impact-assessment/docview/1763336770/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-015-1023-3. 

Burgess, Zack. “An Overall Success; After 125 Years, Carhartt Rolls up Its Sleeves for the Future.” Crain’s Detroit Business, vol. 30, no. 25, 2014. 

  “Emerging Coolness: Carhartt.” The Orange County Register, 2012.

Hartmans, Avery. “The Rise of Carhartt, the 133-Year-Old Workwear Brand That's Beloved by Everyone from Rappers to Celebrities to Blue-Collar Workers.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/carhartt-history-popularity-workwear-fashion-trend-2022-11#meanwhile-carhartts-popularity-in-the-us-streetwear-market-had-started-attracting-attention-overseas-9.

Miralles-Snow, Lauren. An Exploration of Origins and Appropriations: How Workwear Has Traveled and Transformed, 2019, https://sites.temple.edu/emerge/files/2021/09/Vol4-Y-Miralles-Snow.pdf. 

Muthu, S.S. (Ed.). (2015). The Carbon Footprint Handbook (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b18929 

“Relaxed Fit Duck Blanket-Lined Detroit Jacket.” Carhartt, 2023, https://www.carhartt.com/product/103828/relaxed-fit-duck-blanket-lined-detroit-jacket---1-warm-rating.  

“Sustainability.” Carhartt, 2023, https://www.carhartt.com/sustainability. 

“The Carhartt Built to Last Commitment℠.” Carhartt, https://www.carhartt.com/our-commitment?icid=2022-08-15_clp_content-box_none_rank1_learn-more_cont_isc-sus-commitment-repair_allvisitors_lifestyle_16030.  

“Vintage Carhartt Jacket Size Medium Personal...” Depop, https://www.depop.com/products/factz-vintage-carhartt-jacket-size-medium-8184/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=client-share&utm_medium=social&utm_term=eartheater&_branch_match_id=995145324001368526&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0ktyC%2FQSywo0MvJzMvWzyoydk71CkhLqUwCABeF%2BH8iAAAA.