Santushti Sarees Laminated Non-woven carry Bag W 17.5” x H 14” x G 5” (110 GSM)

1. Material Selection

Non-Woven Fabric

Non-woven fabrics are made from polypropylene (PP), which is a type of plastic that can be recycled. Unlike traditional plastic bags made from polyethylene, non-woven PP bags have a lower environmental impact due to their manufacturing process and recyclability.

• Sustainability Aspect: Non-woven fabrics are often considered more sustainable because they can be reused many times, reducing the need for single-use plastic bags. They are also recyclable, which minimizes waste.
• Carbon Footprint Aspect: The production of non-woven PP bags typically requires less energy compared to woven fabrics, and the material itself is lighter, reducing transportation emissions.

2. Manufacturing Process

Reduced Energy Consumption

The production of non-woven fabrics involves a simpler and less energy-intensive process compared to woven fabrics. Non-woven fabrics are produced by bonding fibers together using heat, chemicals, or pressure, rather than weaving them together.

• Sustainability Aspect: This process reduces the overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing.
• Carbon Footprint Aspect: Lower energy requirements during production translate to a smaller carbon footprint.

3. Durability and Reusability

Extended Product Life

Non-woven carry bags are designed to be durable and reusable. They can be used multiple times, which reduces the need for single-use plastic bags and thereby decreases the overall demand for plastic production.

• Sustainability Aspect: Reusable bags significantly reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, usage, and disposal of single-use plastic bags.
• Carbon Footprint Aspect: By extending the life cycle of the bag, the carbon emissions per use are reduced, making the overall carbon footprint lower over the product's life span.

4. End-of-Life Management

Recyclability

Non-woven polypropylene bags can be recycled. This means that at the end of their useful life, these bags can be processed and turned into new products, further reducing their environmental impact.

• Sustainability Aspect: Recycling helps in reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and the need for virgin materials.
• Carbon Footprint Aspect: Recycling non-woven bags can lower the carbon footprint by minimizing the emissions associated with the production of new materials.

1. Material Production

• Polypropylene Production: Producing 1 kg of polypropylene typically results in approximately 1.7 kg of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions.

2. Manufacturing Process

• Non-Woven Fabric Production: The process of converting polypropylene into non-woven fabric involves additional energy, but for simplicity, we can consider an average emission factor. For non-woven PP fabric, let's assume an additional 0.5 kg CO₂e per kg of fabric produced.

3. Bag Weight and Composition

• Weight of a Non-Woven Bag: Assume an average non-woven PP bag weighs around 50 grams (0.05 kg).

4. Transportation

• Transportation Emissions: This can vary widely, but let's use an average value. Assuming the bags are transported 10,000 km by sea and 500 km by road:
  • Sea transport: ~0.02 kg CO₂e per tonne-kilometer (tkm)
  • Road transport: ~0.1 kg CO₂e per tkm

5. Usage

• Reusable Aspect: Assume the bag is used 50 times over its lifetime, reducing the per-use carbon footprint.

6. End-of-Life

• Recycling or Disposal: If the bag is recycled, the end-of-life emissions can be minimized. For simplicity, let's consider minimal additional emissions for recycling.

Calculation

1. Material Production:
   • Carbon footprint for 0.05 kg of PP: $0.05\text{ kg}\times 1.7\text{ kg CO₂e/kg}=0.085\text{ kg CO₂e}$
2. Manufacturing Process:
   • Additional emissions for 0.05 kg of non-woven fabric: $0.05\text{ kg}\times 0.5\text{ kg CO₂e/kg}=0.025\text{ kg CO₂e}$
3. Transportation:
   • Sea transport: $0.05\text{ kg}\times 10,000\text{ km}\times 0.02\text{ kg CO₂e/tkm}/1000=0.01\text{ kg CO₂e}$
   • Road transport: $0.05\text{ kg}\times 500\text{ km}\times 0.1\text{ kg CO₂e/tkm}/1000=0.0025\text{ kg CO₂e}$
4. Total Carbon Footprint (without considering usage):
   • Material Production + Manufacturing + Transportation: $0.085+0.025+0.01+0.0025=0.1225\text{ kg CO₂e}$
5. Per-Use Carbon Footprint (assuming 50 uses):
   • $0.1225\text{ kg CO₂e}/50\text{ uses}=0.00245\text{ kg CO₂e}$

Conclusion

The total carbon footprint for the Eco Sarees Laminated Non-woven carry bag, considering material production, manufacturing, and transportation, is approximately 0.1225 kg CO₂e. When distributed over 50 uses, the per-use carbon footprint is about 0.00245 kg CO₂e (2.45 grams CO₂e).

References and Scientific Explanation

1. Material Efficiency: Studies have shown that non-woven polypropylene bags require less material to produce compared to traditional plastic bags, leading to lower resource consumption and waste generation .
2. Energy Consumption: Research indicates that the manufacturing process of non-woven bags consumes less energy than that of woven fabrics and traditional plastics, contributing to a lower carbon footprint .
3. Lifecycle Analysis: Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) of non-woven polypropylene bags highlight their advantages in terms of reduced environmental impact when considering factors like energy usage, material efficiency, and reusability .
4. Recyclability: The recyclability of non-woven polypropylene is well-documented, which supports the sustainability claims by reducing the need for new material production and associated emissions .