Zerow gained access to textile emission factors through the OpenCO2 API

Zerow is an Italian textile company providing surplus fabrics and leather from luxury brands to clothing and accessory manufacturers. The company’s goal is to make the textile industry more sustainable.

In addition to developing circular economy-based business ideas, another way to accelerate sustainable change in the textile sector is to analyze numerical data on the environmental impacts of materials and products. The information about carbon footprints of different textiles can play a critical role when potential customers compare material suppliers.

"At Zerow, sustainability is not just about reselling surplus materials—it’s about full transparency and accountability. By integrating emissions accounting through OpenCO2 API, we provide our customers with clear data on the climate impact of the fabrics and leather we sell, enabling them to make more informed and responsible choices. Additionally, we can now report to our sellers the impact avoided by preventing the incineration or destruction of their surplus materials, reinforcing the tangible benefits of circular practices and helping them align with sustainability goals." says Gabriele Rorandelli, Co-Founder and CEO of ZEROW – SRL.

Zerow chose to use the reliable emission factors from OpenCO2net’s emissions database

Zerow contacted OpenCO2net to seek help in providing emissions data for textile materials they sell. After discussions, it was agreed that the best solution would be OpenCO2net’s newly launched OpenCO2 API (Application Programming Interface).

The OpenCO2 API is designed to address needs where reliable emission factors are desired to be integrated into organizations’ own systems. The emission factors provided through OpenCO2 API come from the OpenCO2net emissions database, which currently contains almost 7,000 emission factors, with the number continuously growing. The emission factors have been collected from reliable sources such as scientific articles, statistics and other trusted databases, and each emission factor has been validated by OpenCO2net experts by carefully reviewing its background information.

Using OpenCO2net’s emission factors makes it easy to conduct emissions calculations in compliance with GHG Protocol and ESRS standards. The OpenCO2 API enables automatization of calculations saving resources while reducing manual work and human errors.

OpenCO2 API provides emission factors for fabrics

OpenCO2net provided the emission factors required by Zerow through the OpenCO2 API. Zerow compiled a list of fabrics they sell, and the necessary emission factors were selected from the OpenCO2net emissions database based on this list. Fabric manufacturing involves many life cycle stages, such as fibre production, yarn production from fibres, yarn bleaching and dyeing, fabric production, and finishing. The selected emission factors were cradle-to-gate emission factors that included the life cycle stages described above for fabrics produced in Italy. The fabrics included plant-based, animal-based, regenerated, synthetic, and inorganic materials.

"We integrated the OpenCO2 API to retrieve precise emission factors for all the fabrics listed on our platform. By mapping the cradle-to-gate emission factors to our material inventory, we accurately calculate and display the carbon footprint of each fabric roll. This data is now accessible in our online shop, allowing buyers to compare materials not only by quality and price but also by climate impact. Furthermore, we now track and report to our sellers the CO₂ emissions avoided by reselling instead of incinerating or disposing of their deadstock materials. This enhances both sustainability reporting and the value proposition of circularity in fashion." tells Alessio Troisi, Co-Founder and COO of ZEROW – SRL.

Learn more about the different OpenCO2 API packages offered by OpenCO2net here. Feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss your options further.