Handmade Ubtan Soap

1. Ingredients and Sourcing

• Natural Ingredients: Ubtan soap often includes natural ingredients like turmeric, chickpea flour, and sandalwood. These ingredients are usually sourced from local farms or producers, which reduces transportation emissions. According to a study by B. K. Tiwari et al., natural and locally sourced ingredients generally have a lower environmental impact compared to synthetic counterparts (source).
• Organic Farming: If the ingredients are organic, the environmental benefits are even greater. Organic farming avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can contribute to soil degradation and water pollution. Research indicates that organic farming can lead to lower carbon emissions due to reduced energy use and improved soil health (source).

2. Production Process

• Handmade Production: Handmade soaps often involve less energy-intensive processes compared to industrial manufacturing. The lack of large-scale machinery and automated processes in handmade soap production results in lower energy consumption and emissions (source).
• No Synthetic Chemicals: Handmade Ubtan Soap avoids synthetic chemicals and artificial preservatives, which are typically produced in energy-intensive processes and contribute to higher carbon footprints (source).

3. Packaging

• Minimal Packaging: Many handmade soaps use minimal or eco-friendly packaging, reducing waste and the carbon footprint associated with packaging production and disposal. Eco-friendly packaging often comes from recycled or biodegradable materials (source).

4. Local Production and Distribution

• Local Production: Handmade soaps are often produced locally, which cuts down on transportation-related carbon emissions. According to a study by P. K. Wong et al., reducing transportation distances can significantly lower the overall carbon footprint of a product (source).
• Smaller Batch Sizes: Producing smaller batches of soap generally requires less energy and resources compared to mass production, contributing to a lower carbon footprint (source).

Summary

The sustainability and low carbon footprint of Handmade Ubtan Soap stem from its natural, locally-sourced ingredients, energy-efficient production methods, minimal packaging, and reduced transportation needs. These factors collectively contribute to a smaller environmental impact compared to conventional, mass-produced soaps.

1. Ingredients and Raw Materials

• Collect Data: Obtain the carbon footprint of each ingredient (e.g., turmeric, chickpea flour, sandalwood) from reliable databases or scientific studies.
• Estimate Quantities: Determine the quantity of each ingredient used per batch of soap.
• Calculate Footprint: Multiply the quantity of each ingredient by its carbon footprint per unit.

For example, if 100 grams of turmeric have a carbon footprint of 0.5 kg CO₂ (hypothetical value), and 10 grams are used in the soap: Carbon footprint of turmeric=0.5 kg CO₂×10 g100 g=0.05 kg CO₂\text{Carbon footprint of turmeric} = 0.5 \text{ kg CO₂} \times \frac{10 \text{ g}}{100 \text{ g}} = 0.05 \text{ kg CO₂}Carbon footprint of turmeric=0.5 kg CO₂×100 g10 g​=0.05 kg CO₂

2. Production Process

• Energy Use: Determine the energy consumption of the production process. This includes electricity or fuel used in making the soap.
• Carbon Emissions from Energy: Convert energy consumption into CO₂ emissions using emission factors (e.g., kg CO₂ per kWh of electricity).

Example: If the soap production uses 2 kWh of electricity and the emission factor is 0.5 kg CO₂ per kWh: $$\text{Carbon footprint from electricity}=2\text{ kWh}\times 0.5\text{ kg CO₂/kWh}=1\text{ kg CO₂}$$

3. Packaging

• Material Type: Identify the type and amount of packaging material used.
• Emission Factors: Use emission factors for the packaging material (e.g., kg CO₂ per kg of packaging material).

Example: If the packaging material is 0.1 kg with an emission factor of 1 kg CO₂ per kg: $$\text{Carbon footprint of packaging}=0.1\text{ kg}\times 1\text{ kg CO₂/kg}=0.1\text{ kg CO₂}$$

4. Transportation

• Distance and Mode: Determine the distance traveled and the mode of transportation (e.g., truck, ship).
• Emission Factors: Use emission factors for the transportation mode to estimate the carbon footprint.

Example: If the soap is transported 100 km by truck with an emission factor of 0.1 kg CO₂ per km: $$\text{Carbon footprint of transportation}=100\text{ km}\times 0.1\text{ kg CO₂/km}=10\text{ kg CO₂}$$

5. Total Carbon Footprint

Add up the emissions from each stage: $$\text{Total Carbon Footprint}=\text{Ingredient Footprint}+\text{Production Footprint}+\text{Packaging Footprint}+\text{Transportation Footprint}$$

Example Calculation

Assuming the following:

• Ingredient footprint: 0.2 kg CO₂
• Production footprint: 1 kg CO₂
• Packaging footprint: 0.1 kg CO₂
• Transportation footprint: 10 kg CO₂

$$\text{Total Carbon Footprint}=0.2\text{ kg CO₂}+1\text{ kg CO₂}+0.1\text{ kg CO₂}+10\text{ kg CO₂}=11.3\text{ kg CO₂}$$