Printed Gold Shine Laminated Non Woven Box Bag W 13.5” x H 15” x G 4”

1. Materials Used

Non-Woven Fabric: The bag is made from non-woven fabric, often derived from recycled materials or sustainably sourced fibers. Non-woven fabrics are produced through a process that doesn’t require extensive water use or chemical treatments, reducing environmental impact compared to traditional textiles. Eco Printing: The printing process on the bag is eco-friendly, using inks and dyes that are less harmful to the environment. These inks often have lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reducing air pollution.

2. Manufacturing Process

Energy Efficiency: The production of non-woven fabric generally requires less energy compared to traditional fabric production methods. The non-woven fabric is produced through processes like melt-blowing or needle-punching, which are more energy-efficient. Reduced Waste: The production of non-woven fabrics produces minimal waste. The fabric is created from fibers that are bonded together, leaving little to no by-products. Durability and Reusability: Non-woven bags are designed to be durable and reusable, reducing the need for single-use plastic bags. This longevity helps in minimizing the overall environmental impact per use.

3. Carbon Footprint

Low Embodied Energy: The non-woven fabric typically has lower embodied energy compared to conventional fabrics because of its simpler production process. Lower embodied energy translates to a smaller carbon footprint. Recycling and Reusability: Non-woven bags are often recyclable and can be reused multiple times, which reduces the need for producing new bags and thus lowers the overall carbon footprint. The ability to use and recycle the bags multiple times extends their lifecycle and reduces the frequency of disposal. Efficient Transportation: Non-woven bags are usually lightweight and compact, which optimizes transportation efficiency. This reduced weight helps in lowering the carbon emissions associated with shipping.

Scientific Justification

1. Reduced Resource Consumption: The production of non-woven fabrics requires fewer resources compared to traditional woven fabrics. According to the International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology, non-woven fabrics have a lower environmental impact due to their less resource-intensive production process. 2. Lower Carbon Emissions: Studies in the Journal of Cleaner Production indicate that non-woven fabric production has lower carbon emissions compared to woven fabrics due to the reduced need for energy and water in the manufacturing process. 3. Eco-Friendly Printing: The use of eco-friendly inks and dyes in the printing process contributes to a lower carbon footprint. According to research published in Environmental Science & Technology, eco-friendly inks have significantly lower environmental impact compared to traditional inks.

1. Data Collection

a. Material Inputs:

• Type of Non-Woven Fabric: Identify the type of non-woven fabric used (e.g., polypropylene).
• Amount of Material: Measure the quantity of fabric used for one bag.

b. Manufacturing Process:

• Energy Consumption: Determine the energy consumed during the production of the non-woven fabric and the bag.
• Emissions: Obtain data on greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use (e.g., from electricity, gas).

c. Transportation:

• Distance: Estimate the distance traveled during the transportation of raw materials and finished products.
• Transport Mode: Identify the mode of transportation (e.g., truck, ship).

d. End-of-Life:

• Recycling/Disposal: Assess the end-of-life scenario, including recycling rates or disposal methods.

2. Estimation Approach

a. Material Carbon Footprint: Calculate the carbon footprint of the non-woven fabric: $\text{Carbon Footprint (Fabric)}=\text{Mass of Fabric}\times \text{Emission Factor (Fabric Production)}$ For example, if the emission factor for polypropylene non-woven fabric production is approximately 3 kg CO₂e per kg of fabric, and you use 0.1 kg of fabric per bag: $\text{Carbon Footprint (Fabric)}=0.1\text{kg}\times 3\text{kg CO₂e/kg}=0.3\text{kg CO₂e}$ b. Manufacturing Carbon Footprint: Estimate the emissions from the manufacturing process: $\text{Carbon Footprint (Manufacturing)}=\text{Energy Used}\times \text{Emission Factor (Energy)}$ For example, if manufacturing consumes 0.05 kWh of electricity per bag, and the emission factor for electricity is 0.233 kg CO₂e per kWh: $\text{Carbon Footprint (Manufacturing)}=0.05\text{kWh}\times 0.233\text{kg CO₂e/kWh}=0.0115\text{kg CO₂e}$ c. Transportation Carbon Footprint: Estimate the emissions associated with transportation: $\text{Carbon Footprint (Transportation)}=\text{Distance}\times \text{Emission Factor (Transport Mode)}$ For example, if transportation uses 0.02 kg CO₂e per km and the distance is 100 km: $\text{Carbon Footprint (Transportation)}=100\text{km}\times 0.02\text{kg CO₂e/km}=2\text{kg CO₂e}$ d. End-of-Life Carbon Footprint: Estimate the impact of recycling or disposal. If 50% of the bags are recycled with a recycling emission factor of 0.1 kg CO₂e per bag: $\text{Carbon Footprint (End-of-Life)}=0.5\times 0.1\text{kg CO₂e}=0.05\text{kg CO₂e}$

3. Total Carbon Footprint Calculation

Sum up the contributions from each stage: $\text{Total Carbon Footprint}=\text{Fabric}+\text{Manufacturing}+\text{Transportation}+\text{End-of-Life}$ Using the example values: $\text{Total Carbon Footprint}=0.3\text{kg CO₂e}+0.0115\text{kg CO₂e}+2\text{kg CO₂e}+0.05\text{kg CO₂e}=2.3615\text{kg CO₂e}$

References

1. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology - Discusses the environmental benefits of non-woven fabrics.
2. Journal of Cleaner Production - Analyzes the carbon footprint of non-woven fabric production.
3. Environmental Science & Technology - Provides insights into the environmental impacts of various printing technologies.