Design Life-Cycle

Sidney Turner

Professor Cogdell 

DES040A 

10 March 2026

Shark FlexStyle Waste and Pollution 

Beauty companies have increasingly promoted eco-friendly initiatives in response to growing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their products. The Shark FlexStyle is a trending hair tool that displays sustainability claims and ESG initiatives. However, after putting this product through a life cycle assessment,  consumers can see the copious amounts of waste generated to create this product. Although SharkNinja claims to prioritize a sustainable focus through reducing emissions and increasing recycling measures, the life-cycle for one of SharkNinja’s best-selling products, the Shark FlexStyle, says otherwise. The analysis displays plastic waste, energy consumption, e-waste, and transportation emissions throughout the life cycle, ultimately challenging SharkNinja’s claim. 

The pollution begins when extracting the Shark FlexStyle’s materials. The FlexStyle uses lots of petroleum-based plastics, electronic components, and metals that demand the extraction of fossil fuels as well as other raw materials. There is, “excessive use of petroleum derivatives in cosmetics… had negative environmental impacts” (Cubas et al.). The mining and processing of these electronic components and metals calls for high energy use that leads to the creation of toxic waste. Obtaining these materials produces emissions just from the extraction along with toxic waste and fossil fuel depletion far before the product’s assembly begins. The FlexStyle heavily depends on petroleum-based materials that are more harmful to the environment than initially thought. Instead, their extraction initiates the pollution of this product before it has even been assembled. This reveals Shark Ninja’s real environmental impact just by their choice of materials, and their manufacturing adds on. 

The Shark FlexStyle’s manufacturing requires a significant amount of water and energy that produce waste and pollution as supported by Sofia Sandhu who says, “Traditional semiconductor manufacturing is highly water and energy intensive” (Sandhu et al). The electronic assembly and semiconductor production requires water, electricity, and natural gas that generate wastewater and toxic byproducts. Wastewater goes beyond ordinary water as it contains acids, metals, chemical residues, and contaminants generated from the assembly of electronics. The factories producing the FlexStyle require high amounts of water, electricity, and natural gas. The mass production of the FlexStyle demands higher use of energy, thus causing greenhouse gas emissions and more overall pollution. Consequently, just the manufacturing creates these pollutants long before the product's usage actually begins in the hands of a customer. Once the FlexStyle has been fully manufactured, it is packaged and transported to the consumers, once again increasing their environmental impact. 

The transportation and distribution of the FlexStyle produce copious amounts of packaging waste and CO2 emissions. SharkNinja heavily relies on plastic packaging to ensure the protection of the FlexStyle during transportation since, “most cosmetics use plastic packaging, primarily sourced from new, virgin plastics” (Sisto et al). SharkNinja uses great amounts of plastic wrapping and inserts and non-recyclable materials that make it difficult for consumers to recycle properly. Consequently, the consumer simply throws all the packaging away for their own efficiency instead of recycling each material correctly. There are low recycling rates reported for their packaging, contributing to the growing air and land pollution in landfills. An example of this is shown in Sophie Smith’s research that states, “114 billion pieces of single-use packaging are thrown away rather than recycled” (Smith). Once packaged, the products are shipped by planes, ships, and trucks, increasing the amount of fossil fuels used and carbon dioxide emissions. Since the FlexStyle is a high-demand product, these transportation emissions are multiplied across miles. Even after the product reaches the consumer, the FlexStyle manages to create a further environmental impact during use.

The Shark FlexStyle’s maintenance and use require daily energy consumption. In order to use the product, it requires electricity to power it which indirectly emits greenhouse gases. Performing this over time repeatedly will increase the product's electricity usage. Even if the FlexStyle is only used on a weekly basis and/ or  seems like a relatively small occurrence, the energy actually builds up across time of regular use which adds to the products overall waste and pollution. The FlexStyle is usually used alongside other hair products, and the combination of both can lead to the possible emission of chemicals into indoor air as proven by Lucy Notarantonio who claims, “a 10–20-minute heat-based hair routine can release more than 10 billion tiny particles” (Notarantonio).  Over time, the consumption of hair products used alongside the FlexStyle generates environmental waste. Although we do not directly see visible waste, there is still airborne pollution present without the knowledge of the consumer. By the time the Shark FlexStyle reaches the end of its usage, its disposal process displays new environmental impacts such as e-waste.

The Shark FlexStyle’s inefficient disposal system contributes to the continuous growing problem of electronic waste which, “has been accelerated in the world as never before” (Priyashantha et al). As briefly stated in the packaging section, the FlexStyle is difficult to properly dispose of because it is made with a mixture of materials from plastics to complex electronic components that must be disassembled before disposal. E-waste materials contain metals, plastic, and chemical residue that have the potential to cause more environmental harm. The improper disposal of e-waste can release harmful substances into the air and water. The improper measures taken to inform consumers on how to correctly recycle the FlexStyle leads to more landfill waste, polluting land. The chemical residue and unreliable recycling measures can be a risk to both the environment and our health. The amount of waste produced in each phase of the Shark FlexStyle’s life cycle reveals the falsity of the company’s sustainability claims and instead displays their real environmental impact.

Through thorough examination on the life cycle of the Shark FlexStyle, the assessment reveals the true environmental impact despite the company’s sustainability claims. Beginning from the mining and processing of their materials, to the high-energy manufacturing process, the transportation emitting pollution, daily electricity use, to the eventual disposition of e-waste reveals the immense amount of energy and waste used/ produced in each stage even though SharkNinja promotes emission reduction, increased recycling measures, and overall sustainability. Furthermore, consumers should be wary of the products they are purchasing as many have a heavily wasteful impact on the environment even if the product is marketed as “environmentally sustainable”. 

Works Cited

Cubas, Anelise Leal Vieira. “Plastics and Microplastic in the Cosmetic Industry: Aggregating Sustainable Actions Aimed at Alignment and Interaction with UN Sustainable Development Goals.” Polymers, vol. 14, no. 21, 28 Oct. 2022, p. 4576, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657586/,https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214576. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026. 

Haykal, Diala, et al. “Sustainability in Cosmetic Dermatology: Moving toward an Ecologically Responsible Future.” Dermatology and Therapy, vol. 15, no. 10, 23 July 2025, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12454804/,https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-025-01488-x. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026. 

Notarantonio, Lucy. “Doing Your Hair May Expose You to as Much Pollution as Standing in Traffic.” Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025, www.newsweek.com/hair-care-pollution-chemicals-nanoparticles-2117106. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Priyashantha, Alviti Kankanamalage Hasith, et al. “E-Waste Scenario in South-Asia: An Emerging Risk to Environment and Public Health.” Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology, vol. 37, no. 3, 4 Aug. 2022, p. e2022022, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9582420/, https://doi.org/10.5620/eaht.2022022. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026. 

Sandhu, Sofia, et al. “Semiconductor Manufacturing Wastewater Challenges and the Potential Solutions via Printed Electronics.” IScience, vol. 28, no. 10, 15 Sept. 2025, p. 113576, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225018371,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113576. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026

SharkNinja Inc. Innovating for Positive Impact. SharkNinja Inc., 2023 https://newsroom.sharkninja.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SharkNinja-ESG-Report-2023.pdf. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

“Planet Positive - SharkNinja.” Sharkninja.com, 2024, www.sharkninja.com/about-us/commitments/planet-positive.html?srsltid=AfmBOopeVO4rcLDoK7W9KCXC7V4wmK05xJuLN-_BoVxge2VGbL8bNKsR. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026. 

SharkNinja’s 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report . Shark Ninja Inc., 2024. https://assets.sharkninja.com/image/upload/v1752766356/corporate/SharkNinja-2024-ESG-Report_tdwaey.pdf. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026. 

Sisto, Cassandra, et al. “Beauty and the Packaging Beast.” Fashion Studies, 2024, www.fashionstudies.ca/beauty-and-the-packaging-beast. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Smith, Sophie. “Billions of Beauty Packaging Goes Unrecycled Every Year - TheIndustry.beauty.” TheIndustry.beauty, 20 June 2024, theindustry.beauty/billions-of-beauty-packaging-goes-unrecycled-every-year/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026. 

Tsz Lam Jiang

Professor Cogdell

DES 040A A04

March 13, 2026

Energy Across the Life Cycle of Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is proven useful for understanding every stage of a process or product's manufacturing. Under this perspective, the focus is shifted from the product's point of use to the full chain of extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, recycling, and disposal that enable that use. As further discussed, an energy-focused LCA can be particularly valuable and important in the case of Shark FlexStyle because beauty appliances tend to be assessed solely based on how much electricity they use when plugged in. Yet energy is already used in the extraction of petroleum for plastics, the refining of metals, the production of molded and electronic parts, the assembly of the device, and its transportation through a global supply chain before the FlexStyle is delivered to its users. Although the Shark FlexStyle hair dryer's total energy consumption is predominantly located in the product usage phase, the embodied energy life cycle assessment of the product reveals that there is substantial primary energy consumption found in the raw material extraction and manufacturing processes as well, suggesting that efforts to create more sustainable designs should address both the operational efficiency and upstream energy systems of the product.

The acquisition of raw materials is where the first major energy consumption appears. All of the components, including plastics, metals, wiring, and electronics, that are required for the engineering of a hair dryer-styler like the Shark FlexStyle begin at this energy-intensive extraction and processing stage. Particularly, plastics are essential because a small appliance's interior and exterior components are typically made of polymers. And according to the International Energy Agency, petrochemicals are one of the main factors contributing to the long-term growth of oil demand. It is expected that by 2030, petrochemicals will account for a third of global oil demand growth and nearly half by 2050 (International Energy Agency, The Future of Petrochemicals). This is notable because the plastic components of the FlexStyle start in the extraction and petrochemical conversion of fossil fuels rather than on the production lines.

Metals have high energy costs as well. According to the International Energy Agency's Iron and Steel Technology Roadmap, the iron and steel industry accounts for approximately 8% of the world's final energy demand, demonstrating how energy-intensive metal production can be even before a final consumer product is assembled. Notably, the wiring and motor system of the appliance probably contain copper, which must also be mined, concentrated, smelted, and refined before it can be used in a final product.

The exact masses or ratios of plastic, copper, aluminum, steel, or heating materials are not listed in any of the Shark FlexStyle's public statements regarding materials or manufacturer disclosure. This suggests that it is impossible to confirm FlexStyle's exact raw material inventory using public resources. Often seen, although they may publish performance claims, marketing claims, and safety information, manufacturers typically do not release their inventory data, which is necessary for a cradle-to-grave analysis. Therefore, the most convincing approach is probably to identify every possible material categories through similar hair dryers or the known structure of other small electric household appliances.

An additional layer of energy demand is introduced by manufacturing. The manufacturing process for FlexStyle most likely consists of plastic injection molding, metal part fabrication, heater and motor assembly, electrical integration, testing, and packaging. Depending on the type of machine and production conditions, injection molding can consume a significant amount of energy. According to Thiriez and Gutowski, the average energy consumption of hydraulic machines is 3.39 MJ/kg, that of hybrid machines is 1.67 MJ/kg, and that of all-electric machines is 1.46 MJ/kg. Furthermore, Hesser et al. found that the total specific energy consumption of injection molding varies between 1.6 and 3.5 MJ/kg for different materials and scales. Even though these calculations may not directly apply to FlexStyle, they still demonstrate that energy are integrated within the product before shipping and use.

Moving down the line, the energy involved in transportation and distribution is likely smaller than that of the use phase. According to SharkNinja's 2024 Annual Report, the company does not produce its own goods and instead depends on third-party suppliers, mostly in China. It also collaborates with providers in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia. This indicates that before the device reaches its customers in the US or elsewhere, it probably goes through a transnational supply chain. However, I was unable to locate a shipping route, warehouse chain, retailer distribution pathway, or transport mode inventory that was specifically for FlexStyle.

The use phage is probably where all the energy burden is concentrated through the life cycle. Shark FlexStyle is publicly listed in the HD400 series instruction manuals at 1300 watts, which is within the high-power range for a typical household hair dryer (Shark FlexStyle HD400 Instruction Manual). From their study on household appliance load profiles, Issi and Kaplan found that the observed hair dryer in their sample had a weekly average power consumption of 1263.77 W during use, which is very close to the FlexStyle’s claimed rating (Issi and Kaplan). Furthermore, unlike extraction and manufacturing which are basically one-time costs, operational electricity represents a recurring energy demand because it is frequently used over a multi-year lifespan. Specifically, the annual consumption of a 1300-watt device used for ten minutes three times a week would be approximately 33.8 kWh, or roughly 338 kWh over ten years. To sum up, frequent high-wattage use is probably the primary energy driver in the FlexStyle's life cycle, though it still depends on the user's behavior.

In fact, according to Nikolić et al.'s life cycle assessment on a household hair dryer's entire life cycle, the use phase did hold the largest share of the total eco-indicator (Nikolić et al.). The same study also discovered that the production phase has the largest environmental impact when the use phase is excluded for comparison. Consequently, the lifetime total is dominated by use, whereas the upstream burden is dominated by production. However, Nikolić et al. used their own assumptions regarding lifetime energy use, redesign, and disposal conditions, and the dryer they examined was an 800-watt model instead of the 1300-watt FlexStyle. Therefore, it is best utilized as a framework for comparison instead of direct proof.

Although the recycling process may reduce the need for new raw materials in future production, the energy already present in the product is not eliminated. According to the EPA, recycling electronics requires sorting, disassembling, mechanically separating, and recovering valuable materials like copper, glass, and aluminum so that they can be put back into the supply chain (EPA, "Electronics Basic Information, Research, and Initiatives"). However, mixed-material design places limitations on this stage. Compact consumer appliances combine electronics, metals, plastics, and heating components in ways that make recycling more difficult. And according to the Waste Reduction Model, electronics recycling is modeled as an open-loop process, meaning recovered materials are not always recycled back into equivalent new electronics (EPA, Documentation for Greenhouse Gas Emission and Energy Factors Used in the Waste Reduction Model). And because I was unable to find a pubic document on SharkNinja's take-back system, recycling can be considered as a possible energy-saving strategy, but it cannot be reliably measured for this specific product.

Lastly, waste management is the phase where unrecovered embodied energy is essentially lost. If not recycled, reused, or refurbished, a product will eventually end up in landfills or combustion pathways. According to the EPA, these are commonly seen for electronics that are not recovered through recycling systems (EPA, Documentation for Greenhouse Gas Emission and Energy Factors Used in the Waste Reduction Model). However, there doesn't seem to be any public information regarding the FlexStyle's actual disposal results, landfill rates, refurbishment rates, or repair frequency.

Overall, the Shark FlexStyle demonstrates why an energy-oriented life cycle assessment needs to consider both operational and embodied energy. The device's most noticeable energy consumption is the 1300 watts it uses to generate that heated airflow while the product is being used. Additionally, this is likely to become the primary lifetime energy burden of FlexStyle or household hair dryers in general with repeated use over time. Furthermore, it's critical to acknowledge that the product's energy story begins much earlier with factory processing, international shipping, metal refining, and petrochemical inputs.

The majority of businesses do not make their inventory or shipping information publicly available, which makes LCAs difficult. These restrictions highlight areas that require further development to advance consumer-product sustainability. Therefore, a more sustainable future for appliances like the Shark FlexStyle will require lowering operating energy consumption and increasing corporate transparency regarding the energy embodied in materials, manufacturing, and disposal.

Annotated Bibliography

Browne, Michael, et al. “Life Cycle Assessment in the Supply Chain: A Review and Case Study.” Transport Reviews, vol. 25, no. 6, Nov. 2005, pp. 761–82. Taylor and Francis+NEJM, https://doi.org/10.1080/01441640500360993.

Cooper, Daniel R., and Timothy G. Gutowski. “The Environmental Impacts of Reuse: A Review.” Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 21, no. 1, 2017, pp. 38–56. Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12388.

Cristea, Anca, et al. “Trade and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from International Freight Transport.” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, vol. 65, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 153–73. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2012.06.002.

Dixit, Manish Kumar, et al. “Identification of Parameters for Embodied Energy Measurement: A Literature Review.” Energy and Buildings, vol. 42, no. 8, Aug. 2010, pp. 1238–47. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.02.016.

EPA. Documentation for Greenhouse Gas Emission and Energy Factors Used in the Waste Reduction Model (WARM). United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2019, www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-06/documents/warm_v15_electronics.pdf. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

EPA. “Electronics Basic Information, Research, and Initiatives.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/electronics-batteries-management/electronics-basic-information-research-and-initiatives. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Hesser, Franziska, et al. “Injection Moulding Unit Process for LCA: Energy Intensity of Manufacturing Different Materials at Different Scales.” Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, vol. 36, no. 5, Mar. 2017, pp. 338–46. SAGE Journals, https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684416674565.

International Energy Agency. Iron and Steel Technology Roadmap: Towards More Sustainable Steelmaking. IEA, 2020, www.iea.org/reports/iron-and-steel-technology-roadmap. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

International Energy Agency. The Future of Petrochemicals. IEA, 2018, www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Issi, Fatih, and Orhan Kaplan. “The Determination of Load Profiles and Power Consumptions of Home Appliances.” Energies, vol. 11, no. 3, Mar. 2018, p. 607. www.mdpi.com, https://doi.org/10.3390/en11030607.

Lappalainen, Vesa A. “Little Appliances: Big Power Appetites.” Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting, edited by Paolo Bertoldi, Springer International Publishing, 2022, pp. 41–55. Springer Link, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79124-7_4.

Madan, Jatinder, et al. “Characterizing Energy Consumption of the Injection Molding Process.” asmedigitalcollection.asme.org, https://doi.org/10.1115/MSEC2013-1222. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

Nikolić, Danijela, et al. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF THE HAIR DRYER WITH ECO-It SOFTWARE. 31st International Conference Ecological Truth & Environmental Research (EcoTer’24), 2024. scidar.kg.ac.rs, https://scidar.kg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/20991.

Patents. https://www.sharkninja.com/patents.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

Pervaiz, Salman, et al. “Role of Energy Consumption, Cutting Tool and Workpiece Materials towards Environmentally Conscious Machining: A Comprehensive Review.” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, vol. 234, no. 3, Feb. 2020, pp. 335–54. SAGE Journals, https://doi.org/10.1177/0954405419875344.

Reh, Lothar. “Process Engineering in Circular Economy.” Particuology, Measurement Technology for Particulate System, vol. 11, no. 2, Apr. 2013, pp. 119–33. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2012.11.001.

Scott, timothy C., and Lemuel T. Curran. “Laboratory Fixture for Heat Transfer Using a Hair Drier.” 2025, 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. peer.asee.org, https://peer.asee.org/laboratory-fixture-for-heat-transfer-using-a-hair-drier.

Shark FlexStyle HD400 Instruction Manual. ManualsLib, www.manualslib.com/manual/2974823/Shark-Flexstyle-Hd400.html. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

SharkNinja. In Pursuit of the Extraordinary: 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. SharkNinja, 2024, www.sharkninja.com.

SharkNinja. Modern Slavery and Transparency in Supply Chains Statement for Fiscal Year 2024. SharkNinja, 2025, www.sharkninja.com.

SharkNinja. Global Supplier Code of Conduct. SharkNinja, 2024, www.sharkninja.com.

Thiriez, A., and T. Gutowski. “An Environmental Analysis of Injection Molding.” Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, 2006., 2006, pp. 195–200. IEEE Xplore, https://doi.org/10.1109/ISEE.2006.1650060.

Villagran 1 

Renato Villagran 

Professor Cogdell 

DES 040A 04 

11 March 2026 

The Controversial Self-Declaration of SharkNinja’s Sustainability 

The life-cycle analysis examines the environmental impact of a product across its entire lifespan, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. This helps us determine whether companies’ sustainability claims align with the actual environmental impact of the products. The FlexStyle produced by SharkNinja is marketed as an innovative and multifunctional hair styling system created with the intent to simplify personal care. However, when its materials and production process are examined through a life-cycle analysis, a different picture emerges. SharkNinja appeals to consumers as a functional and convenient brand, able to maintain a sustainable process for sourcing and making their products, when in reality, it performs about the same as other big-name brands. By analyzing how the flex style sources materials such as metals, plastics and brush materials such as nylon and boar hair, it becomes apparent that its environmental impacts are similar to those of other mass-produced consumer appliances. 

The very first stage of the FlexStyle life-cycle involves the extraction and processing of raw metals used in electronic components. Small appliances require metals such as copper and aluminum. These materials must be mined, refined, and

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transported before they can be integrated into finished products. According to research by Jeremiah Johnson and T. E. Graedel, modern consumer products often rely on multi-step global flows of metal resources that are largely hidden from consumers. Their work on the hidden trade of metals highlights how large quantities of metals move through international manufacturing systems embedded with everyday products (Johnson & Graedel, 2008). As a result, even small appliances contribute significantly to resource extraction and environmental degradation. 

Additionally, many home appliance companies, such as SharkNinja, rely heavily on third-party manufacturers from Asia in order to produce their products. Supply chain analysis shows that SharkNinja appliances are manufactured through factories in countries such as Taiwan, where large-scale production facilities assemble components and produce plastic housings and electronics (Nieh, 2026). Outsourcing manufacturing can greatly reduce costs and increase efficiency, but it also raises concerns about environmental and labor standards due to the fact that regions with weaker environmental regulations may generate higher levels of industrial waste pollution or resource overuse during production. And although SharkNinja publicly states that they monitor their supply chain, they primarily address labor practices rather than environmental impact and ethical sourcing. (SharkNinja, 2024). However, globalized production networks create challenges in maintaining consistent environmental standards due to companies' massive scale of production, requiring them to meet the demands of large quantities, leading to industrial waste and emissions, which then accumulate in countries where we see many manufacturing entities.

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The second major environmental factor in FlexStyle’s life cycle is the production of plastics used in the devices. Flexstyle is composed of one of the most common plastics used in consumer products, which is polypropylene (PP), due to its lightweight, durable, and inexpensive manufacturing characteristics. Research on PP production highlights various environmental challenges associated with the material. Amazon Alsabri et al. explain that producing PP plastics requires significant fossil fuel input and energy consumption, which directly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and because PP is derived from chemicals, its production contributes to resource depletion as well as environmental pollution. Additional research shows that roughly 16% of the world's polluting plastics are PP plastics. And while PP can be recycled, recycling systems are not always efficient enough to capture such large volumes of plastic waste. Life-cycle studies of plastic Waste Management show that many Plastics ultimately end up in landfills or incineration facilities (Goh et al., 2025). 

Lastly, additional materials in the product life cycle include nylon fibers and boar brush bristles. FlexStyles include multiple interchangeable attachments used for curling, drying, smoothing, and volumizing hair (SharkNinja Support, 2026). Many of the attachments use bristles made from synthetic materials, such as nylon, or natural fibers, like boar hair. Nylon is synthetically produced through a chemical process that uses fossil fuels, and its production requires lots of energy and produces emissions. Additionally, nylon is durable but also very difficult to biodegrade, meaning it can stay in the environment long after the product is discarded. Natural brush material such as boar hair have their own environmental implications. Global trade and brush-making materials show that animal hair is sourced from livestock industries and traded

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internationally for personal care tools and industrial brushes. (Icon Group International, 2026). Although boy hair isn't synthetically made, livestock use up plenty of land, water resources, food for sustenance. These result in an environmental footprint that impacts animal Agriculture and global trade Networks. Nylon and boar hair both affect the 

environment in different ways; however, they both have long-lasting negative impacts on the environment, nonetheless. 

Examining the shark Flex style through a life cycle analysis reveals environmental complexities behind a simple consumer appliance. From the extraction of metals used, to the production of PP plastics, and the sourcing of nylon and boar hair, each stage of the product's life cycle carries environmental impacts. Globalized manufacturing factories and outsourced production facilities complicate the supply chain further and potentially increase waste generation and reduce oversight in regions with weaker environmental regulations. After having reviewed this, we see that SharkNinja, being an “innovative” and “efficient” solution for everyday needs, the materials and effects of acquiring those materials heavily impact the environment. Ultimately affirms that although SharkNinja appears to consumers as environmentally friendly and sustainable, it does as much harm as many other brands do.

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Bibliography 

Amzan Alsabri, Furqan Tahir, Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, Environmental impacts of polypropylene (PP) production and prospects of its recycling in the GCC region, Materials Today: Proceedings, V olume 56, Part 4, 2022 

Gilchrist, BP, Tumer, IY , Stone, RB, Gao, Q, & Haapala, KR. "Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Innovative and Common Products." Proceedings of the ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 5: 6th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems; 17th Design for Manufacturing and the Life Cycle Conference. 12–15Aug. 2012 

Johnson, Jeremiah, Graedel, T. E. Journal of Industrial Ecology, The “Hidden” Trade of Metals in the United States, 22 December 2008 

Nieh, Stanley. “Where Are Ninja Products Made? A Seller’s Guide to Finding Suppliers [2026 Update].” NicheSources, 27 Jan. 2026, 

nichesources.com/where-are-ninja-products-made.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com. 

Sharkninja Modern Slavery / Transparency in Supply Chains Act, 1 Jan. 2024, assets.sharkninja.com/image/upload/v1749487211/corporate/SharkNinja_2023_Moder Slavery_Statement_Share.pdf.

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Goh, Soo, et al. “Life Cycle Assessment of Plastic Waste End-of-Life Scenarios in South and South East Asia.” ScienceDirect, 1 June 2025, 

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X25001655. 

Support.Sharkninja.Ca,support.sharkninja.ca/en-CA/article/HD400-Series-Shark-FlexSt yle-How-to-Use-Each-tt achment-ca. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026. 

“The World Market for Pig, Hog, or Boar Bristles and Hair, Badger and Other Brush-Making Hair, and Waste of Such Bristles or Hair: A 2027 Global Trade Perspective.” Market Research, Icon Group International, 7 Jan. 2026, www.marketresearch.com/Icon-Group-International-Inc-v609/Pig-Hog-Boar-Bristles-Hai 43529417/.