REUSABLE HAND GLOVES (COST: RS.80/PIECE)

1. Material Composition and Durability

• Materials Used: Reusable hand gloves are often made from materials like nitrile, latex, or silicone. These materials are chosen for their durability, which means the gloves can withstand multiple uses before they need to be replaced. This contrasts with single-use gloves, which are disposed of after one use, contributing to more waste and higher carbon emissions from production and disposal processes.
• Durability: The longer lifespan of reusable gloves means fewer resources are required to produce new gloves. This reduces the overall environmental impact, as fewer raw materials are extracted, processed, and transported.

2. Reduction in Waste

• Waste Reduction: Reusable gloves significantly reduce the amount of waste generated. Single-use gloves contribute to a large amount of plastic waste, which not only ends up in landfills but also requires energy-intensive processes for disposal. By using reusable gloves, the frequency of disposal is reduced, leading to less waste and a lower environmental footprint.
• Circular Economy: The use of reusable products like gloves supports a circular economy, where products are designed to be reused, repaired, or recycled, minimizing waste and resource consumption.

3. Energy Efficiency in Production

• Manufacturing Process: The production of reusable gloves is generally more energy-efficient compared to single-use gloves. This is because the manufacturing process for durable goods is optimized for longevity, requiring fewer production cycles to meet demand. As a result, the energy consumed per use is significantly lower.
• Carbon Footprint of Production: The carbon footprint of producing a single reusable glove is higher than that of a single-use glove. However, when spread over the lifespan of the glove, the carbon footprint per use is much lower. This efficiency reduces the overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with the product.

4. Lower Resource Consumption

• Raw Material Usage: The production of reusable gloves typically requires higher-quality raw materials, but in smaller quantities over time, as they are not replaced as frequently as single-use gloves. This leads to a lower demand for raw materials and a corresponding decrease in the environmental impact associated with resource extraction and processing.

5. Transportation and Distribution

• Reduced Transportation Impact: Since reusable gloves are purchased less frequently, the overall transportation needs are reduced. Fewer shipments are required to distribute the same number of uses, which lowers the carbon emissions associated with transportation.

Scientific References & Justification:

1. Lifecycle Assessment Studies: Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) of reusable versus disposable products consistently show that reusable items have a lower environmental impact over their entire lifecycle, particularly in terms of energy use, waste generation, and carbon emissions. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology highlights the advantages of reusable products, emphasizing their lower impact when considering the full lifecycle from production to disposal .

2. Waste Management and Carbon Footprint: Research from the Journal of Cleaner Production shows that products with longer lifespans, such as reusable gloves, contribute to a reduction in waste and carbon footprint, especially when considering the cumulative environmental impact over time .

3. Energy Efficiency: Studies on the energy efficiency of manufacturing processes, such as those detailed in Applied Energy, indicate that the production of durable goods like reusable gloves requires less energy over time compared to single-use items due to the reduced need for frequent production and transportation .

   Steps to Calculate the Carbon Footprint:

   1. Material Extraction and Production:

      • Identify Materials: Determine the types of materials used in the gloves (e.g., nitrile, latex, or silicone).
      • Emission Factors for Materials: Use emission factors for these materials, which are usually measured in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per kg of material. For example:
        • Nitrile: Approximately 3.9 kg CO₂e per kg of nitrile produced.
        • Latex: Approximately 2.1 kg CO₂e per kg of natural latex produced.
        • Silicone: Approximately 3.3 kg CO₂e per kg of silicone produced.

   2. Manufacturing Process:

      • Energy Consumption: Estimate the energy consumed during the manufacturing process. This includes the energy required for machinery, heating, and transportation within the factory.
      • Energy Emission Factors: Multiply the energy consumption by the relevant emission factor for the energy source (e.g., electricity, natural gas). For example, the average emission factor for electricity might be around 0.5 kg CO₂e per kWh, depending on the region.

   3. Transportation:

      • Distance and Mode of Transport: Estimate the distance the product travels from the factory to the retailer and finally to the consumer. Consider the mode of transportation (e.g., truck, ship, or air).
      • Transportation Emission Factors: Use emission factors for the specific modes of transportation. For example, road transport might have an emission factor of 0.2 kg CO₂e per ton-kilometer.

   4. Usage Phase:

      • Number of Uses: Estimate the number of times the gloves can be used before they are discarded. This will affect the per-use carbon footprint.
      • Cleaning and Maintenance: If the gloves require cleaning, estimate the energy and water consumption for cleaning and the associated carbon emissions.

   5. End-of-Life Disposal:

      • Disposal Method: Determine how the gloves are disposed of (e.g., landfill, incineration, recycling).
      • Emission Factors for Disposal: Use emission factors for the disposal method. For example, landfilling of synthetic materials like nitrile or silicone may release approximately 0.06 kg CO₂e per kg of material.

   Example Calculation:

   Assuming the following hypothetical data for a pair of nitrile reusable hand gloves:

   • Weight: 0.1 kg (100 grams)
   • Material: Nitrile
   • Emission Factor for Nitrile: 3.9 kg CO₂e per kg
   • Energy Consumption for Manufacturing: 1 kWh (with an emission factor of 0.5 kg CO₂e per kWh)
   • Transportation Distance: 1,000 km by truck (with an emission factor of 0.2 kg CO₂e per ton-kilometer)
   • Number of Uses: 100 uses
   • Disposal Method: Landfill

   1. Material Production:

   • Carbon footprint from material: $0.1 , text{kg} times 3.9 , text{kg CO}_2text{e/kg} = 0.39 , text{kg CO}_2text{e}$

   2. Manufacturing:

   • Carbon footprint from energy use: $1 , text{kWh} times 0.5 , text{kg CO}_2text{e/kWh} = 0.5 , text{kg CO}_2text{e}$

   3. Transportation:

   • Carbon footprint from transportation: $0.1 , text{kg} times 1000 , text{km} times 0.2 , text{kg CO}_2text{e/ton-km} = 0.02 , text{kg CO}_2text{e}$

   4. End-of-Life Disposal:

   • Carbon footprint from disposal: $0.1 , text{kg} times 0.06 , text{kg CO}_2text{e/kg} = 0.006 , text{kg CO}_2text{e}$

   Total Carbon Footprint for Production, Use, and Disposal:

   • Total Carbon Footprint: $0.39 + 0.5 + 0.02 + 0.006 = 0.916 , text{kg CO}_2text{e}$

   Per-Use Carbon Footprint:

   • Carbon Footprint per Use: $frac{0.916 , text{kg CO}_2text{e}}{100 , text{uses}} = 0.00916 , text{kg CO}_2text{e per use}$

   Conclusion:

   The carbon footprint per use of a pair of reusable nitrile gloves is approximately 0.00916 kg CO₂e. This is a rough estimate and can vary based on the specific materials, manufacturing processes, and usage patterns. This calculation demonstrates the importance of reusability, as the more times the gloves are used, the lower the carbon footprint per use becomes.