Indian textile heritage
Tussar Silk
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha forests
Impact score
70/ 100
Better Choice
A blended indicator of water, carbon, chemical load, durability and recyclability.
Measured impact per kg of fibre
Water footprint4,800 L / kg
Carbon footprint9.2 kg CO₂e / kg
Process energy52 MJ / kg
Microfibre sheddingNo shedding
BiodegradableYes
Durability20 years typical wear
Recyclability45 / 100
Data confidence
lowLow confidence — limited published data, treat as indicative
Sources: Central Silk Board 2022 · Silk Mark India 2023
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 useModerate
Carbon footprintModerate
Chemical loadLow
DurabilityHigh
RecyclabilityPoor once blended
What is it
Wild silk reeled from cocoons collected in sal and arjun forests.
Why it matters
Forest-based and largely rain-fed, supporting tribal livelihoods with far lower inputs than farmed silk.
Water Carbon Chemicals End of life
What you can do
Buy directly from Silk Mark-certified weaver clusters.