Fabric
Acrylic
Petrochemical plants; widely used in Ludhiana knitwear
Impact score
29/ 100
Very High Impact
A blended indicator of water, carbon, chemical load, durability and recyclability.
Measured impact per kg of fibre
Water footprint80 L / kg
Carbon footprint12 kg CO₂e / kg
Process energy157 MJ / kg
Microfibre sheddingHigh shedding
BiodegradableNo
Durability3 years typical wear
Recyclability20 / 100
Data confidence
highHigh confidence — multiple peer-reviewed or industry datasets agree
Sources: Higg MSI 2023 · Plymouth Marine Lab 2020
Figures are cradle-to-gate averages per kilogram of fibre or fabric, not measurements of your specific garment. A typical adult shirt weighs roughly 0.2 kg.
Qualitative ratings
Water useLow
Carbon footprintHigh
Chemical loadHigh
DurabilityLow
RecyclabilityPoor once blended
What is it
A synthetic fibre made from acrylonitrile, used as a cheap wool substitute.
Why it matters
Sheds heavily, pills fast, and acrylonitrile is hazardous to handle.
Water Carbon Chemicals End of life
What you can do
Choose wool or wool blends for winter layers wherever budget allows.