Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Earth and Environmental Studies

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Pankaj Lal

Committee Member

Clement Alo

Committee Member

Yang Deng

Abstract

The cosmetic industry has a significant environmental footprint due to its reliance on water, energy, petrochemical-derived ingredients, and plastic-based packaging. This study performs a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of three cosmetic products: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush, and Gillette Foamy Regular Shave Cream. The analysis was conducted using OpenLCA software and free databases, modeling each product across raw materials, packaging, manufacturing, transportation, use and end-of-life phases. The results showed that the shave cream had the highest environmental burden to three out of the four categories, especially in consumption and carbon emission, due to its intensive use phase. The blush showed lower water and energy use, but higher toxicity primarily linked to titanium dioxide (TiO2). The lotion presented moderate impacts across categories but a significant water print. Raw material sourcing, manufacturing, and packaging process emerged as the most impactful stages across the lotion and blush. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that electricity, water, and key raw materials strongly influence environmental outcomes. This study underscores the need to integrate life cycle analyses to product design and manufacturing. It also demonstrates that accessible tools can help companies make meaningful decisions related to sustainability, offering a practical framework for companies and researchers who aim to reduce the environmental impact of this sector.

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