Scientific Sustainability Report: Sandal Handwash

1. Product Overview

Sandal Handwash is a liquid hand-cleansing formulation containing mild surfactants, sandalwood fragrance, moisturizers, and purified water. Its sustainability performance is influenced by ingredient sourcing (especially surfactants), manufacturing energy use, packaging materials, and wastewater impact.

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2. Ingredient Sustainability Assessment

Surfactants (SLES/SLS or plant-based alternatives)

• SLES/SLS are petroleum-derived but highly biodegradable (>95% in 28 days).

• Plant-based alternatives (coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside) have a lower carbon footprint and improved biodegradability.

Sandalwood Fragrance

• Natural sandalwood oil has a high ecological sensitivity due to over-harvesting of Santalum species.

• Sustainable alternatives include lab-grown or IFRA-certified synthetic sandalwood aroma molecules with lower biodiversity impact.

Moisturizers (Glycerin, Aloe Extracts)

• Plant-derived glycerin is biodegradable and non-toxic.

• Botanical extracts have minimal environmental burden.

Water

• Forms 60–70% of the formulation; minimal environmental risk.

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3. Packaging Sustainability

• PET/HDPE bottles are recyclable but contribute to plastic waste.

• Switching to 30–50% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic lowers emissions by 40–60%.

• Refill pouch options can further reduce plastic intensity.

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4. Environmental Impact Summary

• Carbon Footprint: Moderate (major contributors are surfactants + packaging).

• Biodegradability: High—SLES/SLS degrade rapidly in wastewater treatment.

• Water Impact: Low toxicity when diluted post-use.

• Waste Generation: Packaging is the primary environmental burden.

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5. Scientific Carbon Footprint Calculation

Assumptions for a 250 ml Sandal Handwash Bottle

• Surfactants (SLES/SLS): 12% of formula

• Emission factor for SLES: 3.1 kg CO₂e/kg

• Packaging: PET bottle weighs 22 g (0.022 kg)

• PET emission factor: 2.15 kg CO₂e/kg

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Step 1 — Carbon Emissions from Surfactants

Surfactant quantity:
250 ml × 12% = 30 ml (≈ 30 g ≈ 0.03 kg)

Carbon footprint from surfactants:
0.03 kg × 3.1 kg CO₂e/kg = 0.093 kg CO₂e

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Step 2 — Carbon Emissions from PET Packaging

0.022 kg × 2.15 kg CO₂e/kg = 0.0473 kg CO₂e

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Step 3 — Total Carbon Footprint

Total CO₂e = Surfactants (0.093) + Packaging (0.0473)
= 0.1403 kg CO₂e per 250 ml bottle

Final Carbon Footprint:

≈ 0.14 kg CO₂e per bottle

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6. Sustainability Recommendations

• Replace SLES/SLS with plant-based surfactants to reduce CO₂ emissions by ~25–35%.

• Use PCR plastic or refill pouches to reduce plastic footprint.

• Replace natural sandalwood oil with sustainably certified substitutes to reduce biodiversity impact.

• Improve pump design to reduce plastic mass by 10–15%.

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References

1. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – Surfactants Biodegradability Data

2. Plastics Europe – Life Cycle Inventory of PET Packaging

3. IFRA Standards for Fragrance Ingredients

4. IPCC Emission Factors for Raw Material Production

5. UNEP Guidelines on Sustainable Personal Care Formulations