**5. An environmental impact assessment framework for denim fabrics**

There are five main steps in product development that affect the sustainability score of a denim fabric:

a.Elasticity of the denim fabric

b.Weight of the denim fabric


#### **Table 4.**

*Use of resources per declared unit.*


#### **Table 5.**

*Output flows and waste categories.*

c.Composition of the denim fabric

d.Dyeing method of the denim fabric

e.Finish of the denim fabric

Product developers and/or designers in brands decide for each step to construct the desired look. This decision also determines the environmental impact of the fabric (**Table 6**). An environmental impact assessment framework for different types of denim fabrics is developed based on an LCA model to use scientific data to compare different products and production practices in denim industry (**Figure 3**).

Accordingly, the details of the five main steps in product development that are influential on the sustainability score of a denim fabric is given as follows:

*Life-Cycle Assessment as a Next Level of Transparency in Denim Manufacturing DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.110763*

