Evaluating producers as resource consumers and alternative consumption patterns : outcomes from emergy synthesis of the jeans supply chain

Under the mainframe of current consumption patterns and large supply chains based on profit making practices and conventional technologies, resource and energy management are key topics for sustainable development. Enhancing the resource/energy efficiency is decisive to achieve appropriate decision making, but all producers-driven actions must be in alignment with the perceptions of customers. The Textile Industry sector in Brazil has a strategic contribution to the economy of the country, employing more than 1.5 million workers and using intensive environmental, social, and economic resources. Decision making in this sector depends not only on identifying bottle necks at each textile production step to implement actions, but also on the customer sensitivity for designing and improving the effectiveness of recycling policies and programs for post-consumer materials. Emergy accounting can help measuring the environmental work required to generate their products, the linkage between resource and economy, and to monitor chains’ operations. This study points out to evaluate the efficacy of producers and consumers actions on the textile supply chain system using the emergy synthesis tool. Results show that combined producer/consumer-driven actions improves the environmental performance of the chain, and help to increase the efficiency of resources use, deal with technology restrictions and recognize consumption patterns.