Subterranean ecosystems are regarded as the most extensive biome on earth, comprising terrestrial and aquatic systems - the latter constituting freshwater, anchialine and marine systems. This system plays a key role in the distribution and storage of freshwater, once it contains 97% of the world’s total liquid freshwater (Chapter 1), which has been progressively explored in quality and amount. Initial observation of the subterranean environment began with speleological studies by the recognition of a typical fauna adapted to live inside caves. The first studies to provide information about aquatic subterranean fauna commenced in Slovenia, with the description of the Proteus aguinus by Laurenti in 1768. After an initial faunal classification by the Danish zoologist Schiödte (1849), the Austrian naturalist Schiner (1854) established the most commonly used classification for cave fauna and a great portion of modern research dealing with ecobilogy of aquatic subterranean fauna has mostly evolved from the European biospeleology (Chapters 1 and 3). Studies in biospeleology have made a significant contribution to the progressive knowledge in aquatic subterranean ecology, especially in those circumstances where the access of the underground through smaller voids (e.g. crevicular spaces) is not possible. Accessibility to the underground environment is in fact a negative factor that has led a large number of studies consider about subterranean fauna initially being limited to caves. Spatial constraint was (and still is) a limiting factor in accessing a diverse range of subsurface habitats, although during the last decade, modern research has been using advance technology as a tool to overcome the physical barriers to subterranean research. For a long time the classification of subterranean aquatic organisms was an unclear subject, with the classification subterranean fauna mostly related to terrestrial cave fauna (troglofauna). The classification system dealing with aquatic subterranean groups (stygofauna) is more recent. A few nomenclature schemes have been proposed to describe these relationships, based on morphological, behavioural, and ecological adaptations of animals to the underground life and their level of relationship with groundwater (Chapter 4). The prefix “stygo” is suggested as the most descriptive to refer ecologically to a group of animals related to groundwater habitats. Groundwater related fauna (stygofauna) is comprised by groups of animals encompassing aquatic surface, intermediate and subterranean habitats. They represent diverse group of animals that have different interactive relationships with the groundwater habitat. Some may transact between surface water and groundwater systems, while others spend the whole life cycle in the subterranean voids (Gibert et al., 1994). This transition zone between surface streams and groundwater is recognized as a critically important boundary or ecotone, constituted by a habitat that contains a reservoir of invertebrate fauna biodiversity. It is therefore from the study of karst systems that most information on groundwater ecobiology is resourced, once the open structure of most karsts terrains promotes a number of caves, streams, crevices, sinkholes, and springs to allow human access. Karst systems are well fractured because of the relation between the rock mass and the action of meteoric water, as well as the dissolution rate of calcium carbonate rocks that high. The latter increases with time, producing a terrain with a great drainage potential (Chapter 2). Once porosity is high and the flow of percolating water is fast, it allows good vagility for subterranean fauna and nutrients, as well as penetration of contaminants. In subterranean karsts, much water saturates some areas inside rock spaces. The saturation in the rock in turn promotes large water pockets, known as aquifers. When these groundwater aquifers are found to be interconnecting with the adjacent ecosystems, they became active eco-hydrological components, due to their key participation in the surface-groundwater continuum. Groundwater has different degrees of importance, depending on the available sources of surface water. In many countries it supplies a significant proportion of urban and rural drinking water, industrial, and agricultural. Yet, groundwater systems are “hidden”, difficult in access and to study (Chapter 4, 5 and 7), consequently the recognition of the groundwater aquifer as a natural resource that needs to be protected is largely ignored. Moreover, studies in the ecobiology and distribution of stygobitic invertebrates (Chapter 5), and the need to identify a frame of methods for quality assessment and the suitability of groundwater invertebrates as bioindicative elements, has not been developed (Chapter 6). Finally, strong management and public education programs are required to emphasize the need for a better understanding of the nature of groundwater resources, their participation and complexity (Chapter 8), with the conceptualization of the groundwater aquifer integrity as an ecosystem still receiving little attention in South Africa. / Dr. J.F. Durand Prof. G.J. Steyn

Because of the changing energy supply landscape, with the transition towards renewable energy, an emerging demand for energy storage systems (ESS) is expected in the near future. Battery energy storage is promising to contribute to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions, but face issues considering resource use (IEA, 2023; IRENA, 2022). Sodium-ion batteries are a promising technology for the ESS-market, expected to take up 21 % of new installations by 2030. This means an anticipated demand of about 50 GWh of sodium-ion cells required in 2030. Key drivers for the expected entrance of sodium-ion storage are the low price, high abundance of cell materials and expectations of a more safe and sustainable battery. Lithium-ion technology is currently dominating the energy storage market, but have concerns with ethical resource supply and rising mineral prices combined with the growing demand. (BloombergNEF, 2023; IEA, 2023) There is a scarcity of information considering sodium-ion environmental reporting (Liu et al., 2021; Peters et al., 2021). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental aspect of sodium-ion storage technology. Thereby, with this study a life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed on a specific sodium-ion cell. The specific scope for the thesis is to look at 1 kWh of produced battery energy storage, in a cradle-to-gate perspective. The results are to be presented with a decomposition of the emissions across the value chain including materials, transport, and energy influence. As well a division of the cell materials impacts are demonstrated. For the assessed cell, it is assumed to be intended for a giga scale production (>1 GWh annual cell storage produced). Hypothetically this is to be placed in Europe, with both a global and a local supply chain presented. In order with European initiatives, there is a guideline called PEFCR, that recommends how to access the environmental footprint of different products. Among these guidelines, there is a certain standard for battery environmental assessment, which was pursued to be followed. According to these recommendations, the methodology of this assessment will include 16 environmental perspectives, called EF2.0. The EF2.0 emission categories presented as main result are Climate Change (total), Acidification, Resource Use (fossils), Resource Use (minerals & metals), and Particulate Matter, since these are considered relevant for batteries by PEFCR. (European Commission and ReCharge, 2018) Furthermore, it was chosen for this study to have its core in analysing the EF2.0 Climate Change impact, with the aim to identify measures on how to reduce the carbon footprint caused by the cell’s life cycle. With the perspective of the 16 environmental effects, a sodium-ion current state scenario was put in focus. On top of this, a decarbonized scenario is presented for the EF2.0 Climate Change impact. For the current state scenario, a comparison is made with a lithium-ion cell from industry, produced from fossil-free energy. This is framing the sodium-ion environmental results in the perspective of how a decarbonized lithium-ion cell performs environmentally. Both the sodium and lithium cells included in the comparison, have the aim to be used for energy storage system applications (ESS). Regarding the results for the 16 environmental categories, overall, the cathode is the main driver for emissions, followed by electrolyte and anode. Furthermore, in the decarbonized scenario, it is illustrated that implementing certain measures within the value chain could reduce the sodium-cell carbon emissions with potentially more than half of what is estimated today. Altogether, the sodium-ion value chain is in an emerging expansion phase (Rho motion, 2023), with a young supply chain starting to form. It is discussed that in the near future, with higher energy density on sodium cells commercialized (Peters et al., 2021), the environmental footprint for sodium-ion could significantly improve. Anyhow, the strongest indication from this study, is that the resource use from minerals and metals drastically would reduce with a technology switch from lithium to sodium. Among the 16 environmental impacts as a whole, the main trend is that sodium-ion cells induce less harm on the environment compared to lithium technologies. Certainly, in the future sodium-ion cells could be a low cost and sustainable option available for energy storage systems. / I och med dagens förändrade energiförsörjningslandskap, med en pågående trend mot mer förnybar energi, förväntas en ökad efterfrågan på storskaliga energilagringssystem (ESS) inom en snar framtid. Däribland är batterilagring lovande för att bidra till att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser, men försörjningen av batterier står samtidigt inför utmaningar vad gäller resursutarmning (IEA, 2023; IRENA, 2022). Natriumjonbatterier är en lovande teknik för ESS-marknaden, som förväntas uppta 21 % av försäljningsmarknaden till 2030. Vilket skulle motsvara en efterfrågan på cirka 50 GWh natriumjonceller till 2030. De viktigaste drivkrafterna för en förmodad ökning av natriumbatterilagring är låga kostnader, överflödig tillgång på cellmaterial och förväntningar om att det ska vara ett säkrare och mer hållbart batteri. Litiumbatterier dominerar för närvarande energilagringsmarknaden, men har problem med etisk resursförsörjning och stigande mineralpriser, samtidigt som det finns en växande efterfrågan av energilagring. (BloombergNEF, 2023; IEA, 2023) Eftersom det finns sparsamt med information kring miljökonsekvenser av natriumbatteriproduktion (Liu et al., 2021; Peters et al., 2021) är syftet med den här studien att utvärdera miljöavtrycket av natriumjonbatterilagring. I studien utförs därför en livscykelanalys (LCA) på en bestämd natriumjoncell. Mer specifikt omfattar det att analysera det ekologiska avtrycket av 1 kWh producerad batterikapacitet, i ett cradle-to-gate-perspektiv. Resultaten presenteras dels som en fördelning av utsläppen över hela värdekedjan, inklusive material, transport och produktionspåverkan. Därtill visas en differentiering av cellmaterialets miljöpåverkan. Det berörda batteriet antas vara tillverkad i en giga scale produktion (>1 GWh årlig celltillverkning). Hypotetiskt antas tillverkningen placeras i Europa, men både en global och en lokal leveranskedja bedöms. I enlighet med europeiska initiativ finns det riktlinjer kallade PEFCR, som rekommenderar hur bedömningar av produkters miljöavtryck bör utföras. Det finns en specifik standard för miljöbedömning av batterier, vilken har eftersträvats i den här studien. I enlighet med rekommendationerna, innefattar den här studiens metod att utvärdera 16 miljöperspektiv, kallade EF2.0. De utsläppskategorier (EF2.0) som presenteras som huvudresultat är Climate Change (total), Acidification, Resource Use (fossils), Resource Use (minerals & metals), och Particulate Matter, eftersom dessa enligt PEFCR anses vara relevanta för just batterier. (European Commission and ReCharge, 2018) Det bör understrykas att den här studie har sitt huvudfokus på att analysera EF2.0 Climate Change (total), med målet att identifiera åtgärder för hur koldioxidavtrycket orsakat av batteriets livscykel kan minskas. För de 16 miljökategorierna, har ett natriumbatteris nuvarande läge ”current state scenario” satts i fokus. Utöver det presenteras ett ”decarbonized scenario” för EF2.0 Climate Change (total). För ”current state”-scenariot görs en jämförelse med ett litiumbatteri från industrin, vilket produceras med fossilfri energi. Därmed skapas förståelse för hur natriumbatteriets miljöpåverkan skiljer sig från det lågfossilintensiva litiumjoncellen. Både natrium- och litiumcellerna som ingår i jämförelsen har som avsikt att användas för energilagringssystem (ESS). Gällande resultatet av de 16 miljökategorierna är det tydligt att katoden är den främsta källan för utsläpp, följt av elektrolyten och anoden. I ”decarbonized scenario” illustreras därtill att om vissa specifika åtgärder implementeras i värdekedjan, skulle det kunna minska natriumbatteriers koldioxidutsläpp med potentiellt mer än hälften av vad som uppskattats idag. I nuläget pågår en utveckling och expansion av leveranskedjan för natriumbatteriproduktion (Rho motion, 2023), med en materialproduktion som börjar ta form. Samtidigt kan det i en snart framtid förväntas levereras natriumbatterier med högre energidensitet (Peters et al., 2021) och då skulle miljöpåverkan från natriumceller kunna sjunka avsevärt. Det centrala medskicket från den här studien är att resursanvändningen av mineraler och metaller drastiskt skulle minska i och med ett teknikskifte från litium- till natriumbatterier. Med de 16 miljöperspektiven i åtanke, är det övergripande resultatet att natriumceller orsakar mindre miljöskada jämfört med litiumteknik. Högst troligt, kan natriumceller i framtiden vara ett billigt och hållbart alternativ för energilagringssystem.

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M.Sc. / The grassland biome of South Africa harbours rich ecosystem diversity. Some of the distinctive features of grassland biodiversity in South Africa include globally significant centres of plant endemism, half of the country's endemic mammal species, a third of its endangered butterfly species and 10 of 14 of its globally threatened bird species. Grassland is one of the most inadequately maintained biomes in Southern Africa because 23% is under cultivation, 60% is irreversibly transformed and most of the remaining natural area is used as rangeland for livestock. Only 2% of the grassland biome is currently protected. Grasslands provide essential ecosystem services for economic development, but this biome also supports a large human population whose resource demands have serious environmental implications that threaten the grasslands‘ biodiversity. Urbanisation is possibly one of the major immediate threats to the grassland ecology in South Africa. This is also the case in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COHWHS) and adjacent areas. New housing complexes and informal housing are encroaching on the COHWHS. Indigenous fauna and flora are being affected by ecologically insensitive urban development. This poses a major threat to the fauna of this region including the insects that occur in grassland habitats. The insects play a vital role as pollinators in grassland habitats and form an essential food source to a range of predators, including grass owls, shrews, bull frogs, lizards and bats. In order to conserve the insects and therefore the food web of which they form part, it is necessary to understand the diversity of the insects in the grassland in the dolomitic areas. The COHWHS is a world renowned heritage site devoted to the origin of humankind and is characterised by dolomitic caves. These caves are also the home of a large population of bats consisting of several species. The negative impact on the grasslands in the COHWHS and surroundings pose a threat to the survival of these bat populations if the food source they depend on is negatively affected. For this reason it is important to determine which flying nocturnal insect species are available in the grasslands surrounding bat roosts in the COHWHS and surroundings. 3 The choice of location for the primary trap site was made on the basis of its proximity to known bat roosts and the fact that it is situated in a nature reserve that, although the river is polluted, contains an otherwise relatively unspoilt grassland habitat. Sampling took place over a period of 14 months during which fluctuations in the insect population was observed. The fluctuations can be ascribed to seasonal climate changes and the three veld fires that occurred during this period. This fluctuation was most evident in the representatives of the Orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera sampled.

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate how manufacturing organisations can decrease their environmental impact in the supply chain. To meet the purpose, two research questions were formulated:  1. How can a manufacturing organisation reduce its environmental impact caused by transportation?  2. How can a manufacturing organisation reduce its environmental impact caused by production?  Method – To provide the opportunity to reach a conclusion and to create a basic understanding of the research area, a literature review was conducted, which formed the basis of the theoretical framework. Through a case study at a manufacturing organisation, interviews and document analyses were used as sources for empirical data. In order to develop solutions and recommendations, collected data and theoretical framework were analysed and discussed.  Findings – The research findings indicate that there are several possible measures to implement to reduce an organisation's environmental impact in the supply chain. A decisive factor is creating a holistic and fundamental understanding of sustainability and enabling everyone involved to work according a common view and in the same direction. In addition, a requirement to pursue the same goal is that all stakeholders are involved where a prerequisite is a well-functioning internal communication.  Implications – The research did not contribute to any new theories, but through the research analysis, statements and theories from previous research were strengthened. The research suggests actions that can be used for organisations to reduce their environmental impact, but also to increase the understanding of why actions should be implemented. Society has an important responsibility for motivating and provide conditions for manufacturing organisations to reduce their footprint. This research is considered to lead to an improved environment in the form of lower emission levels where both organisations and the entire community take responsibility for the planet.  Limitations – The case study is designed as a single-case study which, from a validity perspective, is not considered as advantageous as a multiple case study because the results are difficult to generalize. In order to strengthen the study's reliability, several functional units and / or organisations could have been included in the study.

Walt Whitman used animistic techniques in his poetry and prose, specifically "Song of the Redwood Tree," "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," and Specimen Days. The term animism can be traced to the Latin root of the word, anime, which connotes a "soul" or "vitality." So, when one is talking about animistic techniques, one is speaking of the (metaphoric or realistic) ensoulment of natural objects. In the wake of a growing global crisis modern scholarship has begun reexamining the implications of this belief; often it introduces ambiguities into an otherwise comfortable relationship of unquestioned human domination. In Specimen Days, Whitman seems to have a more clear view of his natural philosophy, in which he expresses his belief that nature possesses an inherency that he envies and an ability to communicate that quality with him. However, Whitman's "Song of the Redwood Tree" is ambiguous and contradicting. Whitman creates a vision of Manifest Destiny by portraying settlers in California clearing space for houses and agriculture by cutting down the majestic redwood forests. However, this poem contains a particularly odd element: the trees have a voice. They mourn their own demise while simultaneously celebrating the arrival of the new American populace. It is a conflicting image. The animistic, majestic qualities of the trees challenge an anthropocentric view of the world, not allowing the reader to quickly disregard the extinction of the redwood forests in order to embrace American ideals of progress, which in a way defeats the more imperialistic message of the poem. Another comparison, with "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," demonstrates how important subversion of self to place is when using animistic techniques in poetry. This poem implies that animate nature is a locus for Whitman's creative genius, both inspiring his poetry and permeating it with confusion. Whitman's very engagement with the process of imagining a voice for nature inserts doubt into some of his more imperialistic pronouncements and encourages the reader to question his own previously unexamined assumptions. Animistic literary techniques have the potential to encourage an involvement with non-human nature, along with a more conscious awareness of the way we use (and abuse) that Other.

Livscykelanalys (LCA) används för att beräkna produktsystemets potentiella miljöpåverkan och identifiera hotspots i livscykeln. Resultatet kan användas för att tilllämpaåtgärder på produktsystemets hotspots för en minskad potentiell miljöpåverkan. SCC AB är specialiserade på tillverkning av härvsatser, som är en delkomponent ielmotorer och generatorer. En härvsats består av lindningstråd gjord av koppar ochisoleringsmaterial. Syftet med denna studie är att redovisa kvalitativa- och kvantitativadata om härvsatsens potentiella miljöpåverkan under tillverkningen genom att– beräkna potentiell miljöpåverkan från vald härvsats– identifiera var det finns störst potential att göra förbättringar i livscykel– redovisa förbättringar för att minska potentiell miljöpåverkan i livscykeln. Den funktionella enheten (FE) är definierad som nytillverkning av generatorlindning tillrenovering av elektrisk utrustning. I jämförelse med andra härvsatser är den av mellanstorlek ochinte den mest producerade härvtypen på SCC. Den har en märkspänning (Un) på 13,8 kV ochbestår av 100 härvor gjorda av 1650 kg koppar och 230 kg isoleringsmaterial. Resultatet erhålls för miljöpåverkanskategorierna Global uppvärmnings-potential(GUP), försurnings-potential (FP) och abiotisk resursutarmnings-potential (ARP). Global uppvärmning beror främst på smältverket och koppargruvan som står för 43%respektive 38% av det totala bidraget på 9106 kg koldioxidekvivalenter (CO2e). Detär främst smältverket som bidrar till försurning på 63% av det totala bidraget på 279kg svaveldioxidekvivalenter (SO2e). Abiotisk resursutarmning beror till största delenpå koppargruvan som står för 82% av det totala bidraget på 3330 kg kopparekvivalenter (CUe). Förbättringsanalysen är baserad på ett materialflödesbaserat cirkularitetsmått (MEM),vilket beräknas genom att jämföra användning av primär- och sekundär kopparråvarai produktionen. Analysen visar att det finns sekundärproducerad lindningstråd påmarknaden som kan användas i tillverkning och kan beställas till en extra kostnad. Slutsatsen är att sekundärproducerad lindningstråd kan ersätta primärproduceradlindningstråd till en extra ekonomisk kostnad för att tillämpa en open loop mellan SCCAB och smältverket. Det kan bidra till en potentiellt minskad miljöpåverkan och enfrämjad CE. / Lifecycle assessment (LCA) is used to calculate the products potential environmentalimpact and identify hotspots in the life cycle. The result can be used to apply measuresto the product system hotspots for a reduced potential environmental impact. SCC AB specializes in the manufacture of coils, which are a sub-component in electricmotors and generators. A coil set consists of winding wire made of copper and insulating material. The purpose of this study is to present qualitative and quantitativedata on the coil set during production by– calculate the potential environmental impact from the selected coil set– identify the greatest potential to make improvements in the life cycle– report improvements to reduce the potential environmental impact in thelife cycle. The functional unit (FU) is defined as the manufacture of generator coil set for the renovation of electrical equipment. In comparison with other coil set, it is of medium size and not themost produced coil set on SCC. It has a rated voltage (Un) of 13.8 kV and consists of 100 coilsmade of 1650 kg of copper and 230 kg of insulation material. The result is obtained for the environmental impact categories global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP) and abiotic resource depletion potential(ADP). Global warming is mainly due to the copper smelter and the copper mine,which account for 43% and 38%, respectively, of the total contribution of 9106 kgcarbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). It is mainly the copper smelter that contributesto acidification of 63% of the total contribution of 279 kg sulphur dioxide equivalents(SO2e). Abiotic resource depletion is largely due to the copper mine, which accountsfor 82% of the total contribution of 3330 kg of copper equivalents (CUe). The improvement analysis is based on a material flow circularity measure (MEM),which is calculated by comparing the use of primary and secondary copper materialin the production. The analysis shows that there are secondary-produced wires on themarket thar can be used to produce the coil set. The conclusion is that secondary produced winding wire can replace primary windingwire at an extra financial cost to apply an open loop between SCC AB and the smelter.It can contribute to a potentially reduced environmental impact and a promoted CE.

Le metal extrême, tiré du heavy metal, demeure souvent pointé du doigt en raison de la musique et des sujets transgressifs le caractérisant et qui, a priori, ne communiquent qu’une violence décousue. Or, ces dernières années, plusieurs musicologues se sont intéressés au potentiel de la narratologie pour l’analyse de la musique populaire; la chanson est alors considérée comme un véritable récit, où les musiciens transmettent leur propre vision du monde. Dans ce mémoire, je propose donc une analyse musicologique et narratologique de quatre chansons dites transgressives tirées du metal extrême, soit « Mad Architect » (Septicflesh), « Her Ghost in the Fog » (Cradle of Filth), « When the Joyful Dead are Dancing » (Unexpect) et « Puritania » (Dimmu Borgir). Ces analyses permettront donc de mieux comprendre la structure narrative et musicale interne, ainsi que les différents codes esthétiques régissant ce répertoire. / Extreme metal, derived from heavy metal, remains often singled out because of the music and subjects viewed as transgressive and which, a priori, communicate a disjointed violence. However, in recent years, several musicologists have been interested in the potiential of narratology for the analysis of popular music; the song is then considered as a true narrative, where musicians communicate their own conception of the world. In this thesis, I propose to perform a musicological and narratological analysis of four songs known as transgressive and derived from extreme metal, namely “Mad Architect” (Septicflesh), “Her Ghost in the Fog” (Cradle of Filth) “When the Joyful Dead are Dancing” (Unexpect) and “Puritania” (Dimmu Borgir). These analyses will enable a better understanding of the internal musical structure and narrative, and the different aesthetic codes governing this repertoire.

Cotton is one of the leading fibers in the textile industry due to its superior mechanical qualities. It accounts for high environmental impacts, especially water consumption and scarcity. Since cotton is a significant raw material for IKEA, it had set a target to source from only sustainable sources such as from the Better Cotton Initiative, and recycled cotton. At the same time, IKEA also has a commitment to transition to a circular business, which includes recycling. This comparative and accounting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyzes virgin (two types - conventional cotton and Better Cotton) yarns, and mixed (virgin plus recycled) cotton yarns from some of the top supplier countries of the company, on a cradle-to-gate perspective. Water quantity and quality impacts are analyzed together with climate change. The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) shows that there is a proportional reduction in impacts of the mixed yarns as recycled cotton percentage is increased, since the impacts of recycled yarns are much lower than virgin yarns. In virgin conventional yarns, the main stages that contributed the most to the impacts were cotton cultivation and spinning. Irrigation used in cotton cultivation accounted for the most impacts in water availability. For water quality, the impacts were mostly coming from electricity use and direct field emissions from cotton cultivation. In addition, this study demonstrated that there were high differences between the impacts in the countries studied. The results also suggested that there were water savings by using Better Cotton compared to conventional cotton yarns. / Bomull är en av de vanligaste fibrerna i textilindustrin på grund av dess överlägsna mekaniska egenskaper. Den orsakar dock hög miljöpåverkan, särskilt vattenförbrukning och -brist. Eftersom bomull är ett viktigt råmaterial för IKEA, har de satt ett mål att endast använda hållbara källor, som från Better Cotton Initiative, och återvunnen bomull. Samtidigt har IKEA också åtagit sig att övergå till en cirkulär affärsmodell som inkluderar återvinning. Denna jämförande studie beaktar livscykelanalys (LCA) och analyserar jungfruligt garn (två typer - konventionell bomull och Better Cotton) och blandat bomullsgarn (jungfru plus återvunna) från några av företagets främsta leverantörsländer ur ett vagga-till-port-perspektiv. Vattenmängder och kvalitetseffekter analyseras tillsammans med klimatförändringar. Livscykelbedömningen (LCIA) visar att det finns en proportionell minskning av effekterna av de blandade garnerna när andelen återvunnen bomull ökar, eftersom effekterna av återvunnet garn är mycket lägre än jungfruliga garner. I konventionellt jungfruligt garn var bomullsodling och spinning de främsta stegen som bidrog mest till effekterna. Bevattning som används vid bomullsodling svarade för de största effekterna på tillgången till vatten. För vattenkvaliteten kom effekterna huvudsakligen från elanvändning och direkta utsläpp från bomullsodling. Dessutom visade denna studie att det fanns stora effektskillnader mellan de studerade länderna. Resultaten antydde också att det fanns vattenbesparingar genom att använda Better Cotton jämfört med konventionella bomullsgarn.