Upcycled Handwoven Clutch Sling Bag (CSB0524-100) MS_W

1. Use of Upcycled Materials

• Resource Efficiency: Upcycling involves transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new items, thus reducing the need for virgin materials. This conserves natural resources and reduces the environmental impact associated with raw material extraction and processing.
• Waste Reduction: By utilizing materials that would otherwise be discarded, upcycling helps in waste management and reduces the burden on landfills.

• A study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production highlights that upcycling can significantly reduce environmental impacts by lowering the demand for new materials and minimizing waste .

2. Handwoven Production Process

• Energy Efficiency: Handwoven production methods typically require less energy compared to mechanized manufacturing processes. This reduces the overall energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Local Craftsmanship: Supporting handwoven products often involves engaging local artisans, which can contribute to sustainable livelihoods and preserve traditional skills.

• Research in Sustainable Production and Consumption has shown that artisanal and handcraft processes can have a lower environmental footprint due to reduced energy use and reliance on human labor rather than machinery .

3. Reduced Environmental Impact

• Low Carbon Footprint: The combination of using upcycled materials and handwoven techniques means that the overall carbon footprint of the product is lower. The primary emissions are from human labor rather than energy-intensive machinery, and the use of waste materials avoids the emissions associated with producing new materials.
• Minimal Chemical Use: Handwoven and upcycled products often use fewer chemicals in their production, reducing pollution and health risks for workers and consumers.

• An analysis by the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment indicates that products made from recycled or upcycled materials generally have a lower carbon footprint compared to those made from virgin materials, due to avoided emissions from raw material production and waste disposal .

Framework for Estimation

1. Materials:
   • Upcycled materials typically have a lower carbon footprint since they avoid the emissions from producing new materials.
   • For example, using 1 kg of upcycled fabric might save approximately 2.5 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) compared to new fabric production (based on average data for textile manufacturing).
2. Production:
   • Handwoven production is less energy-intensive. If we assume that the energy used is primarily human labor with minimal machinery, the carbon emissions could be very low.
   • For manual weaving, let's approximate the energy consumption to be around 0.1 kWh per bag.
   • Average CO2 emissions per kWh vary by country, but let's use a global average of 0.5 kg CO2e/kWh for simplicity.
3. Transportation:
   • Transportation emissions depend on the distance and mode of transport. Let's assume local transport with a low impact of 0.1 kg CO2e per bag.

Simplified Calculation

• Weight of the bag: 0.5 kg
• Savings from upcycled materials: 1.25 kg CO2e (50% of the weight of the bag, assuming 2.5 kg CO2e savings per kg)
• Production energy: 0.1 kWh × 0.5 kg CO2e/kWh = 0.05 kg CO2e
• Transportation: 0.1 kg CO2e

• Savings from materials: -1.25 kg CO2e
• Emissions from production: 0.05 kg CO2e
• Emissions from transportation: 0.1 kg CO2e

$$\text{Total Carbon Footprint}=-1.25+0.05+0.1=-1.10\text{ kg CO2e}$$

Considerations for More Accurate Calculation

• Detailed Material Data: Specific information about the types and sources of upcycled materials.
• Energy Sources: Exact energy consumption during production and the carbon intensity of the local energy grid.
• Transportation: Detailed transport distances and modes.
• End-of-Life: Potential emissions from the disposal or recycling of the bag at the end of its life cycle.

References

1. Journal of Cleaner Production
2. Sustainable Production and Consumption
3. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment