Gurumauli Mobiles Non-woven Box Bag W 10” x H 10” x G 4”

1. Material Composition

• Sustainability: Non-woven fabrics are often made from recycled materials or sustainable sources, such as recycled plastics or natural fibers. This reduces the reliance on virgin materials and minimizes waste.
• Carbon Footprint: The production of non-woven fabrics generally involves less energy and fewer emissions compared to traditional woven fabrics, as they do not require extensive weaving or dyeing processes.

• Studies show that non-woven fabrics made from recycled materials significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to those made from virgin fibers. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production highlights that non-woven fabrics made from recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can cut down greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% compared to virgin PET.

2. Manufacturing Process

• Sustainability: Non-woven fabric production often involves less water and chemical use compared to traditional textile manufacturing. This makes it a more environmentally friendly option.
• Carbon Footprint: The manufacturing process for non-woven fabrics tends to be more energy-efficient. Non-woven fabrics are produced using processes like melt-blowing or spun-bonding, which are less energy-intensive than traditional textile processes.

• Research published in Resources, Conservation & Recycling demonstrates that non-woven fabric production can lead to lower overall energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions. This is due to the simplified production steps and fewer finishing treatments required.

3. Reusability and Durability

• Sustainability: Non-woven bags are designed to be reusable and durable, which extends their life cycle and reduces the need for frequent replacements. This contributes to less waste and fewer resources consumed over time.
• Carbon Footprint: By extending the use phase of the product, the overall carbon footprint is reduced because the environmental impact is spread over a longer period.

• According to the Journal of Environmental Management, reusable products such as non-woven bags have a lower environmental impact over their lifecycle compared to single-use items, as they help reduce the frequency of replacement and disposal.

4. End-of-Life Management

• Sustainability: Non-woven bags can often be recycled or repurposed at the end of their life cycle, depending on the material composition. This reduces landfill waste and promotes a circular economy.
• Carbon Footprint: Effective recycling programs can further lower the carbon footprint by reducing the need for new raw materials and minimizing waste.

• The Journal of Cleaner Production notes that recycling non-woven fabrics can reduce the carbon footprint associated with the disposal of textile waste and the production of new materials.

1. Material Production

• Assumption: The bag is made from recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) non-woven fabric.

• Amount of non-woven fabric used (e.g., in kilograms).
• Carbon footprint of producing non-woven fabric from recycled PET (typically around 1.8 kg CO2e per kg of fabric).

• Assume the bag weighs 0.1 kg (100 grams).
• If the carbon footprint of recycled PET non-woven fabric is 1.8 kg CO2e/kg, then: $$\text{Carbon footprint of fabric}=0.1\text{kg}\times 1.8\text{kg CO2e/kg}=0.18\text{kg CO2e}$$

2. Manufacturing Process

• Assumption: Assume the energy consumption for producing the non-woven fabric and assembling the bag contributes about 0.1 kg CO2e per kg of fabric.

• For a 0.1 kg bag: $$\text{Manufacturing footprint}=0.1\text{kg}\times 0.1\text{kg CO2e/kg}=0.01\text{kg CO2e}$$

3. Transportation

• Assumption: Assume transportation contributes 0.05 kg CO2e per kg of the product.

• For a 0.1 kg bag: $$\text{Transportation footprint}=0.1\text{kg}\times 0.05\text{kg CO2e/kg}=0.005\text{kg CO2e}$$

4. Use Phase

• Assumption: Assume the bag is used 100 times before disposal. Using reusable products helps to spread the carbon footprint over multiple uses.

Use phase footprint per use=0.18 kg CO2e+0.01 kg CO2e+0.005 kg CO2e100=0.00215 kg CO2e\text{Use phase footprint per use} = \frac{0.18 \, \text{kg CO2e} + 0.01 \, \text{kg CO2e} + 0.005 \, \text{kg CO2e}}{100} = 0.00215 \, \text{kg CO2e}Use phase footprint per use=1000.18kg CO2e+0.01kg CO2e+0.005kg CO2e​=0.00215kg CO2e

5. End-of-Life

• Assumption: If the bag is recycled, the end-of-life footprint can be minimal, say 0.01 kg CO2e.

Total Carbon Footprint Calculation

$$\text{Total carbon footprint}=0.18\text{kg CO2e (Material Production)}+0.01\text{kg CO2e (Manufacturing)}+0.005\text{kg CO2e (Transportation)}+0.00215\text{kg CO2e (Use Phase per Use)}+0.01\text{kg CO2e (End-of-Life)}$$ $$\text{Total carbon footprint}\approx 0.22715\text{kg CO2e}$$

Conclusion

References:

1. Journal of Cleaner Production - Discusses the environmental impact of non-woven fabrics compared to traditional textiles.
2. Resources, Conservation & Recycling - Highlights energy efficiency and emissions reductions in non-woven fabric production.
3. Journal of Environmental Management - Provides insights into the lifecycle impacts of reusable versus single-use products.