life cycle assessment of disposable razorslife cycle assessment of disposable razors

Anaesthesia 2007;62:3814, 5. van Zundert AAJ, Fonck K, Al-Shaikh B, Mortier E. Comparison of the LMA-Classic with the new disposable soft seal laryngeal mask in spontaneously breathing adult patients. Research about tungsten is ongoing and includes health effects and risks, degradation processes and an inventory of its use in the defense industry as a substitute for lead-based munitions (EPA). In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: With the amount of waste accumulated from the factories and the bulk of the razors ending up in landfills and oceans, a low price of $1 removes the buyer from how high the cost on the environment a disposable razor is. The metal used for the razor blades is called Tungsten Carbide which is used in wear applications, such as shaving (Safety Razor). Can J Anaesth 2001;48:40912, 22. This makes it an easy and quick method to start the analysis of a product and aid the designer when creating alternative concepts which are more environmentally friendly, because they can clearly identify what areas need improvement and which ones work well already. This points to the need for effective inventory control, which is also critical for the reusable devices because there needs to be a sufficient number clean and on hand while another batch is undergoing cleaning, sterilization, and cooling. Cargo planes and other transport aircraft use jet fuel which produces 135,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). Define the Life-cycle This is an example of a simple product life-cycle diagram. Each manufacturing plant or node in the supply chain is referred to as agate-to-gate (GTG) life cycle inventory. Anaesthesia 2000;55:7001, 18. For You For Everyone: Registration Document.Bic World, Bic, 2016, www.bicworld.com/sites/default/files/2017-03/BIC_DRF2016_EN.pdf. Atlanta, 2012. 1982, www.nytimes.com/1982/04/11/business/how-bic-lost-the-edge-to-gillette.html. Pollution of the oceans from plastics has become an increasingly large issue that researchers are still assessing. In this case its the life-cycle of the cartridge-based razor. Reusable LMAs were collected in a dirty device bin on the anesthesia cart and then reprocessed by the anesthesia technicians. Polystyrene is a naturally transparent thermoplastic that is available as both a typical solid plastic as well in the form of a rigid foam material (Rodgers, Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS).). This is the fourth installment in a series of blogs in which weexplore how to design a product for circularity. On the basis of such criteria, single-use disposable medical devices are increasingly supplanting reusable devices in the United States (US) and elsewhere.1 Although purchase and maintenance costs for disposable devices are perceived to be less than for reusables, this fails to account for indirect costs to society from the environmental impacts attributable to the entire life cycle of a device. It is resistant to fats and almost all organic solvents which helps it hold up in the damp and warm conditions of a bathroom and shower (Polypropylene. Wikipedia.org). Convenience is a potential advantage for disposable LMAs, and facilities that use reusable LMAs must ensure that a variety of sizes are always available when needed. These benefits must be weighed against concerns regarding transmission of infection. The metal that can be used in the cartridge is also cut out during this stage. The body of both razors had similar impact as their weights were also quite similar. Once the plastic has cooled, the pieces are released from the moulds. Growing awareness of the negative impacts from the practice of health care on the environment and public health calls for the routine inclusion of life cycle criteria into the decision-making process of device selection. Life Cycle Approach to Plastic Pollution - Life Cycle Initiative Our news to your inbox Click to subscribe to LC Net [email protected] About Us Our Activities & Tools Reports & Training News & Events Get Involved Life Cycle Approach to Plastic Pollution Activities Life Cycle Assessment in High-Impact sectors Ecoinvent 2.2. And then there's the water. Contamination problems with reuse of laryngeal mask airways and laryngoscopes. This is done on an assembly line by the robotic arm the inserts the razor blade into the small crevices in the plastic body. Innovative and strategic advisor to leading philanthropies, corporates, governments, international institutions and NGOs. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) covers all relevant inputs from the environment (e.g., ores and crude oil, water, land use) as well as emissions into air, water and soil (e.g., carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides). Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide). Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(p-phenylene_oxide). The alloy is strong enough to resist moisture for a short time in the buyers shower, yet, in the landfill, it does eventually rust and decompose. Cad M, Webb T, Bjorksten A. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 156 (2020) 104704. Composition Assumptions for Disposable and Reusable Largyngeal Mask Airways (LMAs). The EPA has now stopped tracking the: impact of disposable razors on the environment and has no update on the figure (Olsen). Growing awareness of the negative impacts from the practice of health care on the environment and public health calls for the routine inclusion of life cycle criteria into the decision-making process of device selection. Overview. However, the viability of the disposable razor is always thrown into question because of the sheer amount of resources that it expends. Such an analysis is commonly performed using life cycle assessment. The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. Phase 3: Life Cycle Impact Assessment. 3. Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. The GTG LCIs are added together to give a cradle-to-gate (CTG) life cycle inventory . For example, LCA results can tell us if one product is environmentally preferable to another . In BIC factories they pride themselves in producing a quality product, so the blades go through a series of highly precise visual inspections with cameras which help with rejecting blades that do not meet BIC standards (Case Studies) After that they go through visual inspection is done be BIC employees to reject any blades that the cameras were not rejected by the inspection camera system, the blades are then send off to be coated and burned. The LCA is broken into four stages: Defining the goal and scope how much of a product's lifecycle will be addressed, the reasons for carrying out the assessment, the intended audience, and the intended end-use [] Plastics are cleaned and pelletized to be recycled into new products, such as picnic tables and park benches. They have teamed up with Gillette to raise awareness about the massive waste of disposable razors by allowing users to mail their old razors in to be recycled. Certain practices would further reduce the environmental impacts of reusable LMAs, such as increasing the number of devices autoclaved in a single cycle to 10 (25% GHG emissions) and improving the energy efficiency of the autoclaving machines by 10% (8% GHG emissions). If all 2.6 billion of those razors each weight 8.8 grams, then the total amount of waste produced would be around 25,220 tonnes. The high waste from manufacturing and shipping such a small, and cheap product is one that is negatively impacting the planet. Differences in environmental impacts between devices may present a compelling consideration in their selection. In this case its much harder for me to carry out an LCA on a Gillette razor than if Gillette did the LCA themselves, as they would have all the correct info required first-hand (reducing the number of assumptions needing to be used). Criteria air pollutants arise for the disposable LMA primarily from the production of ethylene (a polymer precursor) and the combustion of natural gas throughout the system, and for the reusable LMA from the combustion of fossil fuels to produce steam and electricity. Despite its ability to be recycled, it often ends up in the landfill as many people dont know how to properly recycle it, people are too lazy to recycle, or the plastics arent labeled properly (Polypropylene. Wikipedia). Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. Applying this method of assessment is complex and difficult and translating the theory into a . Data Uncertainty. The alternatives are objects made of bio compostable plastic,. Goal, scope and background The industrial packages sector has great importance for the transport sector in Europe. A combination of transportation methods is used depending on where the product needs to go. Each year in Italy, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are harvested, packed and transported to national and foreign retail outlets. So, while this solution is not an easy fix, as it would require buyers to save their own waste, it does provide an alternative to the disposable razor waste crisis. Now that we understand the key challenges with the razors, and where the biggest impacts are occurring, we can begin to make informed decisions in the redesign. The autoclave was typically run with 5 LMAs, although loading varied significantly. Previous studies have examined the relative environmental profiles of reusables and disposables with regard to medical textiles7 and anesthetic drug trays.8 The present study uses life cycle assessment to evaluate the life cycle impacts of disposable and reusable LMAs across several categories of environmental and human health impacts. Tungsten is a natural metal deposit that is found in metamorphic, and granitic igneous rocks, primarily in China, Russia, South Korea, South America, and the Rocky Mountains in the United States. Life cycle assessment, according to ISO 14040/44, is conducted in four steps [29,30,31]: (1) goal and scope definition, (2) life cycle inventory, (3) life cycle impact assessment, and (4) interpretation. 3.Quantify the materials and processes They also reported how they dealt with their non-hazardous waste 76 percent was recycled, 11 percent incineration with energy recovery, 10 percent was sent to land disposal, and the remaining 3 percent was sent off for a different treatment (For You for Everyone Registration Document). The majority of life cycle human health impacts of disposable LMAs are caused by PVC use in packaging and the device itself. The blades, which are made from a carbide steel made using tungsten carbide, the handle, which is made from a combination of plastics such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide (PPO), and the cartridge, which is made up of these plastics and sometimes the carbide steel as well (Safety Razor, madehow.com). After the parts are manufactured it is time for the final product assembly. Two Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodologies were employed using SimaPro software 51,52 to calculate the environmental impacts of manufacturing both the plastic and compostable coffee . Overall, while the materials for disposable razors are few, and the products basic design makes it appear simplistic, the products lifecycle is far from simple. E.P.A. Disposable BIC razors are hollow and made using injection molding, but making the razors hollow is only possible because of the fluid nature of polystyrene (The Bic Razor, Still the Sharpest of the Bunch.). Olsen, Alexandra. The effect of alternate transport modes was quite small for the reusable LMA but quite significant for the disposable LMAs, leading to a large increase in GHG emissions in particular from air freight. Chain Management by Life Cycle Assessment (CMLCA) software has been used to conduct the LCA and Ecoinvent 2.01 has been used for life cycle inventory data. LCA for product sustainability. In my research, I was not able to find specifics about where BIC sources their materials, I believe that this is due to them being a global company. 1. The use of disposable razors is unsustainable with our growing population and increased demand. Yet, tungsten has been found to deposit particles into the soil that causes some contamination, making it a recent concern to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Lippiatt BC, Boyles AS. . The product has several innovative elements, due to the implementation of eco-design principles, such as: (1) introduction of biopolymers (namely polylactic acid (PLA) and Mater-bi), (2) relevant . Comparative environmental and human health (HH) impacts for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMA), Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) impact assessment method. Zhang TW, Dornfeld DA. hb```X ea i:=3*?a_.k7#uq-u[JRP erle@@)`EkP;~ cdC58xiv06@Jup E Alternate assumptions were used to test model sensitivity and to create bounds to aid interpretation of the results (Table 2). These included alternative routes and modes of transport from San Diego to New Haven, changes in autoclave loading practices and efficiency, and varied amounts of PVC in the disposable LMA. 761 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[748 22]/Info 747 0 R/Length 72/Prev 421064/Root 749 0 R/Size 770/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream The differences in environmental impacts between these devices strongly favor reusable devices. endstream endobj 749 0 obj <>/Metadata 40 0 R/Pages 746 0 R/StructTreeRoot 63 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 750 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 746 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 751 0 obj <>stream Sinha R, Sunder R. Retiring reusable laryngeal mask airways after 40: an anaesthetist's dilemma. The blades do eventually dissipate within the landfill, yet, it is not cost-free, as the tungsten waste can be ultimately harmful to the environment. Where material types were unknown, proxies were assumed from relevant literature,2 although more detailed material information from suppliers would permit a more robust analysis. %PDF-1.5 % Swiss Center for Life Cycle Inventories. We purchase the product in a store, use the product for removing unwanted body and facial hair until it eventually dulls, and then we toss it in the bathroom trash, unaware of where it goes or where it came from. The Bic corporation considers their environmental impact and takes steps to reduce as much waste as possible. qILL@#nO @8 After the plastic body is manufactured it goes through inspections similar to ones the blades go through. When designing a product for circularity it is often difficult to know where to begin. The plastic and steel elements of the razor can be recycled, yet, because they are so lightweight and small it makes it hard to separate in the trash and unable to be recycled normally. use/disposable and multiple-use/washable surgical gowns. The original LMA was a reusable device (Intavent International SA, Henley-on-Thames, UK). Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. Production of razor blades across the industry is fairly standard. Kelly, John. From mining and extracting the natural tungsten metal, to making the metal alloy and manufacturing just the blade, waste is released. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS - CLEAN EDGE, NON DISPOSABLE RAZOR Q1. Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Inc., 26 Sept. 2012, www.britannica.com/technology/tungsten-processing#ref82029. Where regulations permit, disposal of LMA-related waste as regular municipal waste, as opposed to biohazardous waste, should also reduce the adverse health effects stemming from medical waste incineration. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall results. Polypropylene is recyclable with the resin code of 5, which is its numbered identification code that is used to identify what resins plastic products are made of, and indicate how they are recycled. Safety Razor. How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. 6,474. It takes a lifetime perspective LCA takes into consideration all the steps that lead from raw material through manufacture, distribution and usage to final disposal. Gillette Mach3 Men's Disposable Razor for Sensitive Skin - Best Cartridge Razor for Sensitive Skin. Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS). Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS), 5 Nov. 2015, https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/polystyrene-ps-plastic. The total amount of Direct emissions from BIC factories was 8,689 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). Disposable and reusable LMAs typically differ in material composition, packaging, reuse, and cost. A complete life cycle cost analysis would complement the life cycle assessment results shown here; however, a simple analysis reveals that, assuming full utilization, a $200 reusable LMA costs $5 per use, plus $3 per cleaning for a unit cost of $8, excluding utility and hospital overhead costs. Tungsten Carbide. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 17 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/tungsten-carbide. The long and harmful life-cycle of disposable razors is not reflected to the buyer browsing aisles of fully stocked razor shelves. Shabecoff, Philip. From San Diego, both LMAs were assumed to be transported 4700 km by truck to New Haven, CT (70% of shipments in the US are made by truck).13. In the case of the disposable razor however, it is fairly simple due to its nature. Chicago: American Medical Association, 2006, 27. disposable paper diaper; material recycling; closed-loop recycling; life cycle assessment (LCA) 1. With such a fast accumulating waste and slow decomposition rate, there must be changes and incentive for companies to rethink the disposable razor. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. Marvel Product Razor Lady Body Shaver Disposable Razore. An estimated 1 L of tap water was used to wash and rinse 1 LMA (or 40 L over a lifetime of 40 uses). Life Cycle Assessment - definition & methodology. It has been assumed that the only part recycled at the end of life is the packaging. One of their most popular products is the disposable razor, which they started to manufacture in 1975. Safety Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Released from PVC Medical Devices. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Manufacturer specifications indicate 20 kWh of electricity use for a 5-minute cycle at 135C. The study found that: Life cycle assessment software I used GaBi 6 software, produced by PE International. This LCA is specific for surgical gowns used in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota. London However, by looking at just this one company, there is a sense of the massive amount of direct and indirect emissions from just the making of razors that are thrown away so quickly after use, with an increase annually of users. A Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable Razors. Contrary to common expectation, hair is actually pretty hard. 1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations Weissman, Alexander, et al. LCA is the most common tool for quantifying the environmental effects associated with a product, process, or service's entire life (Baumann and Tillman 2004).LCA was performed in accordance with the international standards of the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 . B|$5 The US Environmental Protection Agency's Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts (TRACI) life cycle impact assessment method was used to model environmental impacts of greenhouse gases and other pollutant emissions. All of these software packages and models are in widespread use by life cycle assessment practitioners in the US and internationally. What IS Life Cycle Assessment? Safety Razor.How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. The differences in environmental impacts between these devices may present a compelling consideration in device selection when concern for infection transmission is not a factor. The alloy must allow for easy manufacturing due to the high demand of disposable razors and enough strength to last through transportation and shelf holding. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies DEHP as a probable carcinogen, and as a possible endocrine disrupter.24 The FDA issued an advisory in 2002 recommending steps be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to DEHP in certain populations.25 There is enough evidence of reproductive and developmental toxicant effects from DEHP for the FDA to recommend alternatives for patients deemed at high risk, namely infants, toddlers, and pregnant and lactating women. But what really goes into making one of these seemingly mundane disposable razors and what happens to it after its tossed in the trash? The environmental impacts of the 2 LMAs were estimated using SimaPro life cycle assessment software and the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability impact assessment method. The biggest impact during the cartridge-based razor life-cycle is manufacturing the cartridge as this is the part which is hardest to make. After the products make their way to consumers and serve their purpose, the waste must be dealt with. It all starts with the melting and combining of the desired metal. #4. PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. Shavers. BICWorld, www.bicworld.com/en/our-products/shavers. A life cycle assessment or analysis according to ISO 14040/14044 is an instrument of environmental and sustainability management. What Is Polystyrene? a 4.1% (Bic). You Asked, We Answered. Chronicle, 12 June 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/what-is-tungsten-carbide-you-asked-we-answered/. The full life cycle environmental impacts can be challenging to model, because modern production "pathways" can involve numerous interacting technologies, each of which can consume materials and energy that are themselves products of complex production processes. 2 offers from $9.92. LCA's are completed particularly in relation to how to develop a sustainable world where less waste and more reuse is implemented. BIC has done their best to deal with waste in an environmentally conscious manner. Introduction Paper diapers are roughly divided into two types: those for infants and those for adults. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. 3. The major problem with recycling this plastic however, is that during the heating process, the plastic degrades in quality making it less valuable (What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal?, AZoM.com). This is shown through their commitment to their eco-design process and new recycling programs that are undergoing testing. Europe, Plastic News. Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. The plastic, however stable for the user, remains stable long after it is thrown away as well. may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed `""(w 2. The number of BIC razors that are used by consumers is astounding. A new incentive must come for companies to be more sustainable with resources and create products that can still be cheap for the buyer, while also not taking a high cost on the environment. The studies have not found it to be harmful to drinking water, or public safety, however, it is an ongoing research of soil data that continues. The metal is then heated and then cooled slowly to remove any internal stress, which makes it tougher, this process is called annealing (Safety Razor). Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. 5.Interpret and analyse the results. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). Phoenix: IEEE, 2008, 23. We are proud that it is among the leading professional LCA software . 4. The largest difference in environmental impacts is seen in the impact category of carcinogenesis, in which reusable LMAs cause 5% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. All of these equipment-related cases occurred before the routine implementation of sterilization procedures currently used in health care facilities. Several clinical trials comparing function and ease of placement demonstrated no significant difference between disposable and reusable versions,25 allowing hospitals to base purchase decisions on economic considerations alone. Rogers, Tony. Its an extremely strong and durable metal compound, making it perfect for the use of razor blades (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?; Tungsten Carbide. Wikipedia.org). Features Downloads. Since BICs products do not go to a single location it is impossible to give an exact number for BICs energy usage in transportation.

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