Polyester Fleece Jacket
ApparelCarbon Cost Index Score
Per kg
Methodology v1.0 · Last reviewed 2026-04-07
Scope Breakdown
| Scope | kgCO₂e | % of Total | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 1.2 | 6% | |
| Scope 2 | 3.5 | 19% | |
| Scope 3 | 13.8 | 75% | |
| Total | 18.5 | 100% |
Emission Hotspots
| Emission Hotspot | Scope | Est. % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| PET resin production (petrochemical feedstock) | S3 | 32% |
| Fiber extrusion and texturing | S2 | 18% |
| Dyeing and finishing | S2 | 15% |
| Fabric knitting and brushing | S2 | 14% |
| Packaging and logistics | S3 | 13% |
| Garment assembly (cut-make-trim) | S1 | 8% |
Manufacturing Geography
- Region
- China (Zhejiang, Fujian), Vietnam
- Grid Intensity
- 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, China average)
Product Profile
The polyester fleece jacket represents a mid-weight synthetic outerwear garment weighing approximately 500 g, made from 100% polyester (PET) fleece fabric. Reference products include the Patagonia Better Sweater, Columbia Steens Mountain, and unbranded fleece pullovers.
At 18.5 kgCO2e per unit, polyester fleece sits between a cotton T-shirt (8.1 kgCO2e) and denim jeans (33.4 kgCO2e) despite being heavier than a T-shirt. The fossil-fuel feedstock for PET production is the dominant emissions driver.
Polyester vs. Cotton: A Carbon Comparison
Polyester and cotton have fundamentally different emission profiles:
- Polyester is derived from petroleum (or natural gas via ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid). The feedstock production phase is energy-intensive and generates significant process emissions. However, polyester requires no agricultural land, minimal water, and no fertilizer.
- Cotton has lower processing energy per kg but carries agricultural emissions (N2O from fertilizers, irrigation energy). Per-kg, conventional cotton fiber (~5-8 kgCO2e/kg) is comparable to polyester fiber (~5-6 kgCO2e/kg), but the wet processing of cotton garments often tips the balance.
The net result: per-garment emissions depend more on the manufacturing geography, dye chemistry, and garment weight than on the fiber type alone.
Recycled Polyester
Recycled PET (rPET) from post-consumer bottles reduces the feedstock emissions by an estimated 30-50% compared to virgin PET. Several brands (Patagonia, Adidas, Uniqlo) now use rPET in fleece products.
This is not reflected in the default score. The CCI assumes 100% virgin PET as the worst-case plausible default. Brands using verified rPET content may submit documentation for a provenance override.
Microplastic Note
While not captured in the CCI (which measures embodied carbon, not broader environmental impact), polyester fleece is a significant source of microplastic shedding during washing. This is noted for context but does not affect the carbon score.
Provenance Override
Brands may override the default score by submitting:
- Verified rPET content certification
- Factory energy audits showing renewable energy use
- bluesign or OEKO-TEX certification for dyeing and finishing
- ISO 14067-compliant full-garment PCF
Related Products
Related Concepts
Sources
- Patagonia — The Footprint Chronicles — product-level carbon footprint data for Better Sweater and other fleece products, 2022-2024.
- van der Velden et al. (2014) — Design and Material Selection for Sustainable Textiles. LCA of polyester garments including fleece. Journal of the Textile Institute.
- Quantis (2018) — Measuring Fashion report. Emission factors for polyester fiber production and garment manufacturing.
- Shen et al. (2010) — Environmental impact assessment of man-made cellulose fibres. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. Comparative LCA of fiber types.
- IEA — Emissions Factors 2024. China grid intensity for manufacturing Scope 2.