Cold Processed Exfoliating Orange Soap

Sustainable Ingredients

• Pure Oils:
  • Vegetable Oils: These are often derived from renewable sources like coconut, olive, or palm oil (from sustainable sources). Sustainable cultivation practices minimize deforestation and habitat destruction.
  • Kokum Butter:
    • Source: Kokum butter is derived from the seeds of the Garcinia indica tree, which grows in the Western Ghats of India, a region with rich biodiversity.
    • Sustainability: The tree is not cut down during the harvesting of fruit, promoting sustainable use of forest resources.
• Orange Peel and Spices:
  • Waste Utilization: Using orange peel, a by-product of juice production, helps reduce waste.
  • Local Sourcing: Spices and orange peel are often locally sourced, reducing transportation emissions.

2. Low Carbon Footprint

• Energy Efficiency:
  • Cold Process Method: Many artisanal soaps are made using the cold process method, which requires less energy than industrial soap-making processes.
• Biodegradability:
  • Natural Ingredients: The soap is made from natural ingredients, which are biodegradable and do not contribute to water pollution.
• Minimal Packaging:
  • Eco-friendly Packaging: Many sustainable soaps use minimal or biodegradable packaging, reducing waste and the carbon footprint associated with packaging production and disposal.

3. Scientific Explanation

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
  • A life cycle assessment can quantify the environmental impacts of soap production. Using natural, renewable ingredients and energy-efficient processes can significantly lower the overall carbon footprint.
• Carbon Sequestration:
  • Vegetable Sources: The plants used for oils and spices can sequester carbon dioxide during their growth, offsetting some emissions from production and transportation.

  • 1. Raw Materials

    Vegetable Oils

    • Average Carbon Footprint: Approximately 1.7 kg CO2e per kg of oil .
    • Assumption: 200g of oil per bar of soap.
    • Calculation: 0.2 kg × 1.7 kg CO2e/kg = 0.34 kg CO2e.

    Kokum Butter

    • Average Carbon Footprint: Estimated at 2.0 kg CO2e per kg, assuming similar values to other plant butters .
    • Assumption: 50g of kokum butter per bar of soap.
    • Calculation: 0.05 kg × 2.0 kg CO2e/kg = 0.1 kg CO2e.

    Orange Peel and Spices

    • Average Carbon Footprint: Approximately 0.5 kg CO2e per kg for processing and transportation .
    • Assumption: 50g of orange peel and spices per bar of soap.
    • Calculation: 0.05 kg × 0.5 kg CO2e/kg = 0.025 kg CO2e.

    2. Production

    • Cold Process Energy Use: Approximately 0.1 kg CO2e per bar, considering electricity and minimal heating .

    3. Packaging

    • Biodegradable Packaging: About 0.05 kg CO2e per bar, considering recycled and minimal materials .

    4. Transportation

    • Local Sourcing: Assuming transportation within a 100 km radius at 0.1 kg CO2e per kg for local delivery .
    • Calculation: 0.35 kg × 0.1 kg CO2e/kg = 0.035 kg CO2e.

    5. Total Carbon Footprint Calculation

    Adding up the contributions from each section:
    • Raw Materials: 0.34 + 0.1 + 0.025 = 0.465 kg CO2e
    • Production: 0.1 kg CO2e
    • Packaging: 0.05 kg CO2e
    • Transportation: 0.035 kg CO2e
    Total Carbon Footprint per Bar of Soap: $0.465+0.1+0.05+0.035=0.65\text{kg CO2e}$

    Notes

    • Assumptions: The calculations above are based on average values and assumptions that can vary with different production practices and locations.
    • Data Limitations: Exact carbon footprint values would require detailed data from specific suppliers and manufacturers.
    • Impact of Scaling: Larger-scale production may lead to efficiency improvements and a reduced per-unit carbon footprint.

4. References & Scientific Support

• Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Research supports the environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture practices, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved soil health .
• Biodegradable Products: Studies have shown that natural ingredients in personal care products contribute to better biodegradability and less environmental impact .
• Local Sourcing Benefits: Sourcing raw materials locally is associated with reduced carbon emissions due to shorter transportation distances .
• Vegetable oils average carbon footprint: Estimation based on general industry data.
• Kokum butter carbon footprint: Estimated using values for similar plant butters.
• Orange peel and spices footprint: Based on processing and transportation studies.
• Cold process energy use: Data derived from energy consumption studies in small-scale soap production.
• Biodegradable packaging footprint: Based on packaging lifecycle analyses.
• Local sourcing transportation emissions: Based on typical local delivery emissions factors.