Kamal Food Plaza Non woven Mini Parcel Bag W 9” x H 6” x G 6”

Sustainability Factors

1. Material Selection:
   • Non-Woven Fabric: The Eco Sweets Mini Parcel Bag is made from non-woven fabric, which is often composed of polypropylene. Polypropylene is known for being lightweight, durable, and recyclable. The production process of non-woven fabrics is less resource-intensive compared to traditional woven fabrics, requiring less energy and water.
   • Recyclability: Polypropylene non-woven bags are recyclable, which reduces their environmental impact at the end of their lifecycle. Recycling polypropylene helps in conserving natural resources and reduces the need for virgin material production.
2. Manufacturing Process:
   • Low Energy Consumption: The production of non-woven polypropylene fabric is generally less energy-intensive than the production of woven fabrics. The process involves bonding fibers together using heat and pressure, which is more efficient and has a lower carbon footprint.
   • Less Waste: The manufacturing process of non-woven fabrics generates less waste compared to woven fabric production, as it eliminates the need for spinning and weaving, reducing material loss.
3. Longevity and Reusability:
   • Durability: Non-woven bags are designed to be strong and durable, allowing them to be reused multiple times. This reduces the need for single-use plastic bags, which contribute significantly to environmental pollution.
   • Reusability: The ability to reuse the bags multiple times extends their lifecycle, decreasing the overall demand for new bags and minimizing waste generation.
4. End-of-Life Management:
   • Biodegradability: Some non-woven bags are made from biodegradable materials, which can break down naturally without leaving harmful residues. Even if not biodegradable, the recyclable nature of polypropylene supports circular economy practices.

Low Carbon Footprint Factors

1. Lightweight Material:
   • Transportation Efficiency: The lightweight nature of non-woven polypropylene bags means that they require less fuel for transportation compared to heavier alternatives. This leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions during distribution.
2. Efficient Production:
   • Lower Emissions: The production of non-woven fabrics involves fewer steps and less energy consumption, resulting in lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional fabric production methods.
3. Resource Efficiency:
   • Less Raw Material Use: Non-woven fabric production uses fewer raw materials, contributing to a lower carbon footprint. The efficient use of materials reduces the environmental impact associated with extracting and processing raw materials.

Scientific Explanation and References

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): According to studies on the life cycle assessment of non-woven polypropylene bags, the overall environmental impact is lower compared to single-use plastic and traditional woven bags. LCAs consider factors such as raw material extraction, production, transportation, usage, and end-of-life disposal.
• Recycling Benefits: Recycling polypropylene significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling one ton of polypropylene saves approximately 1.66 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

1. Material Production

• Non-woven Fabric: These bags are typically made from polypropylene or polyester. The production of polypropylene has an average carbon footprint of about 2.1 kg CO2 per kg of material (EPA, 2022).

• Assumption: Let's assume the mini parcel bag weighs 50 grams (0.05 kg).

• Carbon footprint for material production = Weight of material × Carbon footprint per kg
• = 0.05 kg × 2.1 kg CO2/kg
• = 0.105 kg CO2

2. Manufacturing Process

• Typical Energy Use: The energy required to manufacture non-woven bags is approximately 1.2 kWh per kg of material (European Commission, 2014).

• Carbon Intensity: Average carbon intensity for electricity is about 0.5 kg CO2 per kWh (EPA, 2022).

• Energy footprint = Energy consumption × Carbon intensity
• = 1.2 kWh × 0.5 kg CO2/kWh
• = 0.6 kg CO2 per kg of material
• For 0.05 kg of material: 0.6 kg CO2/kg × 0.05 kg = 0.03 kg CO2

3. Transportation

• Assumption: Assume transportation of the bags involves 100 km using a truck, and the truck emits approximately 0.1 kg CO2 per ton-km (European Commission, 2011).

• For a truck transporting 1 ton (1000 kg) of bags: 0.1 kg CO2 × 100 km = 10 kg CO2
• For 0.05 kg of bags: (10 kg CO2 / 1000 kg) × 0.05 kg = 0.0005 kg CO2 (0.5 g CO2)

4. Usage and Disposal

• Assumption: Non-woven bags are typically used for multiple trips. Assume an average of 100 uses, which means the footprint per use is lower.

• Disposal Method: Non-woven bags are often recycled or disposed of. If they are disposed of in a landfill, they can emit minimal additional carbon compared to their production and transportation footprint.

• Assume negligible additional carbon footprint for disposal if recycled properly.

Total Carbon Footprint Calculation

• Material production: 0.105 kg CO2
• Manufacturing process: 0.03 kg CO2
• Transportation: 0.0005 kg CO2

• Total carbon footprint = 0.105 kg + 0.03 kg + 0.0005 kg
• = 0.1355 kg CO2 (135.5 grams CO2)

1. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet." Available at: EPA.gov
2. Kucukvar, M., et al. "A comprehensive life cycle assessment of USA consumer products and identification of circular economy hotspots." Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019. Available at: ScienceDirect
3. European Bioplastics. "Environmental benefits of biodegradable plastics." Available at: European Bioplastics