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.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Magro Machado, Karina, "Life Cycle Analysis of Cosmetic Products -- Assessing Environmental Sustainability and Potential Impacts" (2025). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1559.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1559
Included in
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Fashion Business Commons, Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons