Carbon footprint of a T-shirt

The median T-shirt in our catalogue has a carbon footprint of 5.01 kg CO₂e over its whole life, from growing or making the materials to disposal. Half of the 3,223 T-shirts we have footprinted, from 145 brands, fall between 4.51 and 5.36 kg CO₂e.

5.01kg CO₂e, median whole life
3.31kg CO₂e, median cradle to gate
4.51–5.36kg CO₂e, middle half
3,223T-shirts in the catalogue
FIG. 01RAW MATERIALS16%PRODUCTION47%PACKAGING4.0%DISTRIBUTION<1%USE30%END OF LIFE2.6%
FIG. 01The life of a typical T-shirt: the median share of each stage across the catalogue's T-shirts, rescaled to add up to 100%.

Where the footprint of a T-shirt comes from

In the typical split, production makes up about 47% of the total, followed by use at about 30%. The split shows where a maker's own data changes the result most: replacing published averages for the largest stages with your own figures moves the footprint far more than refining the small ones.

The split is the median share of each stage across the catalogue's T-shirts, rescaled to add up to 100%. Read cradle to gate versus cradle to grave for what each stage covers.

  • Raw materials 16%
  • Production 47%
  • Packaging 4%
  • Distribution 1%
  • Use 30%
  • End of life 3%
Typical split by stage for a T-shirt, whole life

What T-shirts are made of

The main material is the biggest single choice in a T-shirt's raw-material footprint. These are the main materials of the T-shirts in our catalogue, by share of products:

  • Cotton, conventional46%
  • Cotton, organic30%
  • Viscose / rayon / bamboo viscose6%
  • Linen (flax)2%
  • Elastane (spandex)2%

What lowers it

For each product, our calculator tests common changes and reports the one with the largest saving. For T-shirts, the changes that come out on top most often are:

  • Run the factory on solar electricity98%
  • Care label: wash cold, line dry1%

Share of T-shirts for which each change gives the largest saving.

T-shirts in the catalogue

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How these figures are made

Each product's footprint is a screening estimate: we read the materials and weight from the product listing, apply emission factors from cited public sources, and follow the ISO 14067 method with every source shown. Without the maker's own energy and supplier data, these are typical values, not measurements of a particular factory.

To footprint your own T-shirt, start with a free estimate from a product link, or enter your own factory data. See our methodology for the method and sources, and read The carbon footprint of a T-shirt: what our catalogue shows for a worked example.

Questions

What is the carbon footprint of a T-shirt?

Across 3,223 T-shirts in our catalogue, the median footprint is 5.01 kg CO₂e per item over its whole life, and half fall between 4.51 and 5.36 kg CO₂e. These are screening estimates from product listings; your own product's figure depends on its materials, weight and factory.

Which stage of a T-shirt's life has the largest footprint?

In the typical split, production is the largest stage at about 47% of the total, followed by use at about 30%.

What is the cradle-to-gate footprint of a T-shirt?

Counting only raw materials, production, inbound transport and packaging, up to the factory gate, the median is 3.31 kg CO₂e per item. Buyers often ask for this figure for their Scope 3 inventory.

How can a maker lower the footprint of a T-shirt?

The change our calculator most often finds with the largest saving for T-shirts is “run the factory on solar electricity”. The best change for your product depends on your own materials and energy.

Can I use these figures for my own T-shirt?

Use them to see the size of the footprint and where it comes from. For a figure to send a buyer, footprint your own product with your materials, weight and factory energy, so the result describes what you make.

Get buyer-ready product carbon footprintsISO 14067 method, a PACT v3 data file and a PDF report with every source. Join the waitlist for launch prices in your region.
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