Lemongrass & Eucalyptus handmade soap

1. Use of Natural Ingredients

• Sustainability Justification: The soap is made from natural ingredients like lemongrass and eucalyptus essential oils, which are biodegradable and do not contribute to environmental pollution. These ingredients are typically grown with minimal use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, reducing their environmental impact.
• Carbon Footprint: The carbon footprint is lower because natural ingredients generally require less energy-intensive processes for extraction and refinement compared to synthetic chemicals. The cultivation of these plants can also sequester carbon dioxide, contributing positively to the carbon balance.

2. Handmade Production Process

• Sustainability Justification: Handmade soap production is often done on a smaller scale, using traditional methods that avoid the high energy consumption of industrial manufacturing processes. This reduces the overall environmental impact and supports local economies.
• Carbon Footprint: The energy usage in handmade soap production is typically lower, as it does not involve large-scale machinery or transportation logistics associated with mass production. This results in a reduced carbon footprint.

3. Minimal Packaging

• Sustainability Justification: Handmade soaps like the Lemongrass & Eucalyptus variant often use minimal or eco-friendly packaging, such as recyclable paper or biodegradable materials. This reduces the waste generated and the environmental impact.
• Carbon Footprint: Minimal packaging leads to a lower carbon footprint as it reduces the resources needed for packaging production, transportation, and waste management. Less energy is required for both manufacturing and disposal processes.

4. Local Sourcing of Ingredients

• Sustainability Justification: If the ingredients are locally sourced, this reduces the need for long-distance transportation, which is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. Local sourcing also supports sustainable agricultural practices.
• Carbon Footprint: Shorter transportation distances for locally sourced ingredients result in lower carbon emissions. Additionally, local sourcing often implies more sustainable agricultural practices, further contributing to a lower carbon footprint.

5. Absence of Synthetic Chemicals

• Sustainability Justification: The absence of synthetic chemicals in the soap means that there is no release of harmful substances into the environment during its use or disposal. This protects water sources and soil from contamination, promoting environmental health.
• Carbon Footprint: The production of synthetic chemicals often involves energy-intensive processes, contributing to a higher carbon footprint. By avoiding these, the Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Handmade Soap maintains a lower carbon footprint.

1. Raw Material Sourcing

• Ingredients: Lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, base oils (like coconut or olive oil), lye (sodium hydroxide), water.
• Carbon Emission Factors:
  • Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Oil: Typically low, assuming small-scale or organic farming.
  • Base Oils: Dependent on the type of oil used. For instance, coconut oil has a carbon footprint of approximately 1.51 kg CO2e per kg.
  • Lye: The production of sodium hydroxide is energy-intensive, contributing roughly 2.7 kg CO2e per kg.
• Example Calculation:
  • Assume 50 g of lemongrass oil and eucalyptus oil combined, with a carbon footprint of approximately 0.4 kg CO2e per kg (organic farming).
  • Base oil: 200 g coconut oil → 0.2 kg × 1.51 kg CO2e = 0.302 kg CO2e.
  • Lye: 50 g → 0.05 kg × 2.7 kg CO2e = 0.135 kg CO2e.
• Total Raw Materials: 0.02 kg CO2e (oils) + 0.302 kg CO2e (base oil) + 0.135 kg CO2e (lye) = 0.457 kg CO2e.

2. Production Process

• Energy Use: Handmade soap production is energy-efficient.
• Carbon Emission: Estimating based on small-scale production (e.g., heating and mixing) might contribute around 0.1 kg CO2e per bar.

3. Transportation

• Local Sourcing: If the ingredients are sourced locally, transportation emissions are minimal.
• Carbon Emission: Assuming local transport, an estimate might be 0.02 kg CO2e per bar.

4. Packaging

• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Using recycled or biodegradable materials reduces emissions.
• Carbon Emission: Eco-friendly packaging might contribute around 0.05 kg CO2e per bar.

5. Disposal

• Biodegradable Product: Since the soap is biodegradable, end-of-life emissions are negligible.
• Carbon Emission: Considered negligible.

Total Carbon Footprint Estimate

• Raw Materials: 0.457 kg CO2e
• Production Process: 0.1 kg CO2e
• Transportation: 0.02 kg CO2e
• Packaging: 0.05 kg CO2e
• Disposal: ~0 kg CO2e

References & Scientific Explanation:

1. Biodegradability and Environmental Impact of Natural Ingredients: Studies have shown that natural oils and plant-based ingredients degrade more efficiently in the environment compared to synthetic chemicals. This means less energy is required to break them down, and they contribute less to pollution .
2. Energy Consumption in Production Processes: Research comparing the energy consumption of small-scale handmade soap production versus industrial soap production has found that handmade processes use significantly less energy, primarily due to the lack of large machinery and industrial-scale operations .
3. Carbon Sequestration in Plant Cultivation: The cultivation of plants like lemongrass and eucalyptus for essential oils can sequester carbon dioxide, as these plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis. This process offsets some of the carbon emissions associated with their growth and processing .