Reusable Polypropylene Bag

Reusable polypropylene bags are durable carrying containers made from spun or woven polypropylene fibers, designed for repeated use as an alternative to single-use plastic bags. These bags achieve environmental benefits only when used multiple times, with breakeven points ranging from four uses in efficient waste management systems to nearly one hundred uses in less optimized disposal scenarios.

Material Composition Assumptions

The default composition assumes a standard reusable shopping bag weighing approximately 100 grams:

• Polypropylene non-woven fabric: 85 grams (85%)
• Semi-rigid inserts and handles: 10 grams (10%)
• Binding materials and reinforcements: 5 grams (5%)

The polypropylene component uses spunbonded or thermally bonded non-woven construction techniques that create a fabric-like material from continuous polymer filaments. Handle construction typically incorporates the same base polypropylene material in a woven or braided configuration for enhanced strength.

Manufacturing Geography

Primary manufacturing occurs in China, which produces approximately 60% of global polypropylene bags due to established polymer processing infrastructure and proximity to petrochemical feedstock sources. The Chinese electrical grid operates at 574 gCO2/kWh, contributing significantly to manufacturing emissions during the energy-intensive polymer melting and forming processes. Vietnamese and Indian facilities represent growing secondary manufacturing regions, while some specialized products are manufactured closer to end markets in Europe and North America to reduce transportation emissions.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	574 gCO2/kWh	28	Baseline
Vietnam	645 gCO2/kWh	31	+11%
India	708 gCO2/kWh	33	+18%
Germany	338 gCO2/kWh	22	-21%
Costa Rica	52 gCO2/kWh	16	-43%

Provenance Override Guidance

Suppliers can submit the following data types to override the default CCI score:

1. Verified polypropylene resin carbon footprint data including feedstock origin and production methods
2. Manufacturing facility energy consumption records with local grid intensity documentation
3. Transportation distance and modal split data from polymer production through final distribution
4. Detailed material composition data including any recycled content percentages
5. Production efficiency metrics including yield rates and waste generation during manufacturing

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions for one standard reusable polypropylene bag excluding use phase and end-of-life impacts
• Scope 3 dominates the emissions profile due to fossil fuel extraction and polymer synthesis processes occurring upstream of manufacturing
• The functional unit assumes a bag capable of carrying 10 kilograms through at least 50 use cycles under normal consumer conditions
• Consumer washing and maintenance emissions are included in Scope 2 based on average frequency assumptions
• The assessment excludes potential carbon benefits from avoided single-use bag production, focusing only on the inherent product emissions
• Regional waste management systems significantly affect the relative environmental performance but do not alter the manufacturing emissions captured in this score