Organic Cotton T-Shirt

Material Composition Assumptions

This assessment covers a standard crew-neck t-shirt weighing approximately 150 grams. The garment consists primarily of organic cotton fiber accounting for 95% of total weight or roughly 142 grams. Synthetic dyes and chemical finishing treatments represent less than 2% of material mass at approximately 3 grams. Reinforcement elements including polyester thread for seams and potential synthetic buttons contribute the remaining 3% or about 5 grams total weight.

Manufacturing Geography

The majority of organic cotton t-shirt production occurs across China, India, and Turkey, which collectively represent over 70% of global organic textile manufacturing capacity. China dominates with extensive vertical integration from cotton processing through garment assembly, operating at a grid intensity of 574 gCO2 per kilowatt-hour. This region provides cost advantages and established supply chains, though the coal-heavy electricity mix significantly impacts manufacturing emissions during energy-intensive dyeing and finishing processes.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	574 gCO2/kWh	4.0	Default baseline
India	708 gCO2/kWh	4.4	+10% higher emissions
Turkey	436 gCO2/kWh	3.6	-10% lower emissions
Portugal	252 gCO2/kWh	2.8	-30% lower emissions
Bangladesh	632 gCO2/kWh	4.2	+5% higher emissions

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Manufacturing facility electricity source documentation including renewable energy certificates or on-site solar capacity with annual consumption data
2. Organic cotton supplier certificates with farm location details and irrigation method specifications including drip versus flood irrigation systems
3. Textile mill processing data covering dyeing temperature profiles, chemical usage volumes, and wastewater treatment energy requirements
4. Transportation logistics records documenting shipping distances, modes, and fuel efficiency for fiber-to-mill and mill-to-retail segments
5. Consumer care instructions and regional washing machine efficiency ratings affecting use-phase emission calculations

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents total lifecycle emissions from organic cotton cultivation through consumer disposal, expressed as kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per individual garment
• Scope 3 emissions dominate at 87% of total impact, primarily driven by consumer washing and drying behaviors over an assumed 50-wear garment lifetime
• The functional unit assumes a 150-gram t-shirt experiencing typical consumer care patterns including weekly washing at 40°C and tumble drying
• Transportation emissions are excluded due to negligible contribution of less than 1% across typical global supply chain distances
• Regional grid intensity variations create the largest uncertainty factor, with coal-dependent manufacturing showing 40% higher emissions than renewable-powered facilities
• Consumer behavior assumptions regarding washing frequency and drying methods significantly influence total lifecycle calculations but remain difficult to standardize across markets