Zip-Lock Bags (pack of 20)

Material Composition Assumptions

The analysis assumes a standard pack containing twenty individual storage bags with zip-lock closures. The primary material component consists of low-density polyethylene film representing approximately 98% of the total mass, estimated at 60 grams for the complete package. Water-based printing inks and dyes account for less than 1% by weight, totaling roughly 0.5 grams for product labeling and branding elements.

The zip closure mechanism incorporates minimal plastic slider components, contributing approximately 1% of the overall product weight at 0.5 grams total. All polyethylene content derives from petroleum-based feedstock processed through conventional crude oil refining operations. Individual bag weight averages 3 grams, with the complete package weighing approximately 62.5 grams including all components and basic cardboard packaging materials.

Manufacturing Geography

Primary production occurs in China, where extensive petrochemical infrastructure supports large-scale polyethylene film manufacturing operations. The regional grid intensity of 555 gCO2/kWh significantly influences the carbon footprint of energy-intensive polymer processing activities. Chinese facilities benefit from integrated supply chains connecting crude oil refineries directly to polymer production plants and downstream film extrusion operations.

Manufacturing concentration in this region results from established petrochemical clusters, lower labor costs, and proximity to both raw material sources and major consumer markets. The high carbon intensity of the electrical grid amplifies emissions from energy-intensive processes including steam cracking, polymerization, and film production equipment operation.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2/kWh	38	Baseline
United States (Texas)	395 gCO2/kWh	33	-13%
Germany	485 gCO2/kWh	36	-5%
Saudi Arabia	415 gCO2/kWh	34	-11%
India	715 gCO2/kWh	44	+16%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Facility-specific electricity consumption data in kWh per kilogram of finished product, including renewable energy certificates or power purchase agreements that demonstrate lower grid intensity usage.

2. Detailed polyethylene resin sourcing documentation showing the specific petrochemical facility origin, including any bio-based or recycled content percentages with third-party verification.

3. Transportation logistics records documenting actual shipping distances and modes from resin supplier to manufacturing facility and from factory to distribution centers.

4. Process energy consumption measurements for film extrusion, printing, and packaging operations, including natural gas usage for heating and any on-site energy generation systems.

5. End-of-life management programs demonstrating controlled disposal or recycling partnerships that reduce landfill disposal impacts compared to baseline assumptions.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-grave emissions for a complete package containing twenty individual zip-lock storage bags with standard residential disposal assumptions.

• Scope 3 emissions dominate the carbon footprint due to upstream petrochemical processing and polyethylene resin production accounting for the majority of total lifecycle impacts.

• The functional unit encompasses one retail package as typically purchased by consumers, including primary product and minimal cardboard packaging materials.

• Excludes emissions from consumer transportation to retail locations and potential reuse scenarios that could reduce per-use environmental impacts.

• Data gaps include variability in bag thickness specifications, regional differences in disposal infrastructure, and potential methane emissions from landfill decomposition processes.

• Manufacturing efficiency improvements and renewable energy adoption in petrochemical facilities could significantly reduce future carbon intensity estimates.