In a first of its kind perhaps, the True Cost Calculator (TCC)—a freely accessible, self-assessment tool—has been launched to enable fashion professionals to efficiently measure, compare, and minimise the ecological, environmental, and social impact of clothing throughout its entire lifecycle.
- A key feature of the True Cost Calculator is the integration of financial, environmental and social dimensions, expressing the external costs associated with the lifecycle of clothing in monetary terms.
- The results are presented in clear and understandable blocks for the intended audience of fashion designers, buyers, sustainability managers, and other decision-makers in fashion companies.
- The tool is supported by scientifically substantiated data on garments and is user-friendly and accessible, allowing a wide audience to participate in responsible and informed decision-making.
DESIGN GUIDELINES: In addition to its broad analytical capabilities, the calculator, based on lessons from the SCIRT (System Circularity and Innovative Recycling of Textiles) project, offers practical design guidelines for brands and manufacturers.
- These guidelines provide valuable insights into material composition, assemblies and additions, enabling brands to make more sustainable choices from the design phase onwards.
- Unlike other tools, the True Cost Calculator takes into account the full lifecycle of a garment, measuring the impact from production to transport, use, and waste processing.
- Although the True Cost Calculator currently focuses on the fashion sector, the tool can also be applied to other sectors in the future, promoting sustainability across various industries.
- Designed by VITO and Flanders DC, this development is part of the SCIRT project within the framework of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 programme.
ABOUT SCIRT: A unique collaboration between industry and research, involving the entire textiles value chain to push boundaries in order to create real change and support the transition to a circular fashion industry, the SCIRT project aims to enable conditions and supporting measures to facilitate the transition towards a circular system for apparel, while paying special attention to the consumer behaviour, perspectives and needs.
ABOUT VITO: Vito is on a mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. It de-risks innovation for businesses and strengthens the economic and societal fabric of Flanders, with interdisciplinary research and large-scale pilot installations.
ABOUT FLANDERS DC: A nonprofit, Flanders DC is a Flemish design and fashion centre and works on strong future-oriented entrepreneurship in the design and fashion sector. It also supports the two sectors in their role as a motor for economic and social progress by ensuring that designers from other economic sectors are increasingly involved as innovation partners.
