Please try again soon. Rogers, Tony. Life cycle assessment is a "cradle-to-grave" approach for determining the financial and environmental costs of a product over its entire life. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique for assessing the potential environmental aspects and potential aspects associated with a product (or service), by: compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs, evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with those inputs and outputs, The total amount of Direct emissions from BIC factories was 8,689 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). The second component of the razor is the plastic body which is made of a fairly inexpensive plastic called polystyrene. Weissman, Alexander, et al. 2002/03 and 2005/06, to include an assessment of the effects of a range of behavioural assumptions on the life cycle environmental impacts of the reusable nappy types, and to compare these with each other and with modern disposable nappies. The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. Part of this responsible shipping mentality forces them to change their packaging to be able to ship more at a time. This is done on an assembly line by the robotic arm the inserts the razor blade into the small crevices in the plastic body. The total amount of indirect emissions was 89,762 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). The use of disposable razors is unsustainable with our growing population and increased demand. The fewer LMAs placed in the autoclave, the larger the impacts on GHG emissions and global warming on each individual unit. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 rev, 25. Small components such as inks and labels on the packaging and on the sterilization indicator strips are expected to have negligible impacts and were excluded from the analysis. Through an examination of how the raw materials: carbide steel, tungsten steel, and a combination of the plastics: polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide of the razors decompose, and how much waste is accumulated in making the razors, an assessment can be made for the duration of their life cycle. 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. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). 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. Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. 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. What makes for an easy, simple, and affordable mass produced and used product costs more in its long afterlife in the landfill, out of sight of the buyers awareness. The metal is not yet to its final form, as it is still greatly held together by the previously added binders. Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. Define the Life-cycle This is an example of a simple product life-cycle diagram. The life of a typical razor blade is not an easy one. Whereas transportation has a relatively significant GHG impact for the disposable LMAs, by comparison the transportation of reusable LMAs has little impact on GHG emissions, because 40 disposable LMAs must be shipped to provide an equivalent function to 1 reusable LMA. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 156 (2020) 104704. LCA is a standardized, science-based tool for quantifying the impact in order to assess lifetime environmental impact. 2 offers from $9.92. How One Company Keeps Used Razors Out Of Oceans.Green Matters, Green Matters, 25 Sept. 2017, www.greenmatters.com/news/2017/09/25/Z1oInGt/razors-ocean. London 3. your express consent. 748 0 obj <> endobj To start the process of making the blades, tungsten carbide is melted at high temperatures. #3. Disposable razors are created for a short user time, and an easy answer to the growing populations fast paced lifestyles and needs for shaving: they are primarily designed to be simple, economical, and disposable (Safety Razor). All of these equipment-related cases occurred before the routine implementation of sterilization procedures currently used in health care facilities. However, they also affirmed that they strive to make their products with an eco-design approach by using recycled materials or bioplastics in their different products (For You for Everyone Registration Document). The Bic corporation considers their environmental impact and takes steps to reduce as much waste as possible. Since then, around 60 billion razors have been produced, distributed, and sold worldwide. The sheets are then cut out using a process called die stamping, using a tool called a die stamp which is a special, one-of-a-kind precision tool that cuts and forms sheet metal into a desired shape or profile, where the blades are die stamped at a rate of 800-1,200 strokes a minute into the desired shape and size (Hedrick, Die Basics 101: Intro to Stamping.). Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2006;25:8114, 7. Several waste management scenarios were also considered, including 100% landfilling and 100% incineration, because practices are highly location dependent. Disposable razors are designed for consumers that prefer minimum spending . At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. In conclusion, disposable razors are being used and thrown away at a rate that is unsustainable for the finite space on the planet. Upgrading to a new, energy-efficient autoclave machine leads to a nearly equal reduction in life cycle GHG emissions and may be considered particularly in instances in which older equipment is being used. Technical Fact Sheet-Tungsten.Technical Fact Sheet- Tungsten, EPA, Jan. 2014, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/ffrrofactsheet_contaminant_tungsten_january2014_final.pdf. Questions and Answers: CreutzfeldtJakob Disease Infection-Control Practices. Gathering all the data for the LCA is the most difficult part of the task, and normally assumptions have to be made where its impossible to gather all the knowledge required, thus not all the relevant impacts are considered. 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).). Cited Here. Contact Supplier. The cheap price of the razor does not reflect the high cost of its waste and impact on the environment. The carbon footprint reported was separated into two sections which are direct and indirect emissions. LMA Classic Product Specifications, 2011, 10. B|$5 Ans: (i) Significant growth in industry of super premium segment . The metal and plastic components of the cartridges will be assembled, where they will then go to the next station where the blades will be inserted. 13, 14 There are few published life cycle assessment studies of medical items (ref. An LCA is a life cycle assessment which is completed through research, testing and understanding of the environmental impacts a particular item creates through it's resources use/ production/distribution/disposal. Max Soft Disposable Razor For Women - 3 Pcs In A Pack. More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. This is where the razors are portioned into their desired packaging amounts, that will be sent off to consumers. But what really goes into making one of these seemingly mundane disposable razors and what happens to it after its tossed in the trash? BIC is a French manufacturing company that produces a variety of disposable consumer products like pens, lighters and disposable razors. Eckelman, Matthew PhD*; Mosher, Margo; Gonzalez, Andres; Sherman, Jodi MD. This is shown through their commitment to their eco-design process and new recycling programs that are undergoing testing. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. For me, I had a few extra bits of plastic that I snapped off because they . Disposable razors are a commonly used item for most Americans, and over two billion razors are thrown away every year in the United States (Shabecoff). Research and Innovative Technology Administration. This is only the operational energy consumption, but you still have to take into account all the energy used in the design and installation of the machinery. The next step is to temper the steel at a temperature of 482-752F (250- 400C) and pressed into thin sheets (Safety Razor, madehow.com). The high levels of pollution from disposable razor blades alone caused the EPA to claim a national garbage crisis in the late 1980s, and the actual figure of 2 billion razors thrown away every year dates back to the 1990s. qILL@#nO @8 After the parts are manufactured it is time for the final product assembly. Scope of the life cycle assessment for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMAs). Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. BIC Group, 2016, Sustainable Development Report. Thomas, G.P. Terracycle is a company that was created to address the issue of recyclable products that often end up in landfills. When the devices entered use at Yale New Haven Hospital, both the disposable and the reusable LMAs were removed from their original packaging, which was discarded. Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. By far, the biggest impact during the manufacturing of the razors was the 17 spot welds done in each cartridge. The life cycle for disposable razors must first be assessed by the products design. 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). Overall, reusable LMAs were found to have fewer negative environmental effects in nearly all categories, typically contributing <50% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. There are only two components for the BIC disposable razors which are the plastic body and razor blade. The product fails to include proper instructions for its waste management, causing it to be disposed of, as the name suggests. An estimated 1 L of tap water was used to wash and rinse 1 LMA (or 40 L over a lifetime of 40 uses). EPA. Williams S, Henderson K. A survey into the number of times laryngeal masks are used. Another advantage is that the process produces a single score (Eco-Indicator Point) for the all the impacts of the product, not just individual ones for each part. Each time the steam autoclave machine conducts a sterilizing cycle, a large amount of energy is used to heat the steam. At 20 reuse cycles,16 the results indicate an increase in emissions of nearly 20%. Yet, as they are designed to be thrown away after use, a question is raised of their fast accumulating waste and its impact on the environment. A life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to identify the environmental risks of existing and planned products, services and manufacturing processes as well as identify strategic improvement opportunities. BIC says its product beats out other models by 59 percent. (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? Camera visual inspection is performed and This is all to ensure BICs quality standards are being met and ensure a quality product. Information on PPO plastics are difficult to find, as most of the data is about how it is made, and the chemical makeup and stability of the plastic, rather than information on the decomposition rate or waste used in the making of it. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . 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. In this case its the life-cycle of the cartridge-based razor. Our LCA team retains its reputation as the most experienced life cycle staff in North America. 3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The company urges users to mail packages over 15 lbs., in order to reduce the waste of mail as well, yet is not necessary. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). On the Venus Gillette company website, they provide the buyer with a guide for choosing which razor is best by asking: When it comes to choosing a razor, how do you know if a disposable or reusable razor is right for you? (What's the Difference Between Disposable and Reusable Razors for Women? Venus)This question, however, only affects the buyers short usage time, and does not provide any information as to the rest of the razors life-cycle after they are ready for a new razor blade and they: throw away the entire razor and grab a new one as recommended by the manufacturer (Venus). Despite the overall lower impacts of the reusable LMA, there are still several ways that its environmental profile could be improved, as suggested by the results shown in Table 2. This is known as a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) This can be extremely complex because it can involve dozens of separate processes, as well as hundreds of tracked substances. "Tungsten Processing." The metal liquid then goes through a strengthening process called annealing. #4. Zhang TW, Dornfeld DA. Sets Strategy to End 'Staggering' Garbage Crisis.The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Sept. 1988, www.nytimes.com/1988/09/23/us/epa-sets-strategy-to-end-staggering-garbage-crisis.html. Composition Assumptions for Disposable and Reusable Largyngeal Mask Airways (LMAs). Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. 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. The extraction and consumption of resources (including energy), as well as releases to air, water, and soil, are quantified throughout all stages. A life-cycle inventory of cloth and disposable diapers was conducted based on diapering habits in Canada The parameters evaluated were energy consumption, water consumption, raw materials 15 Crop water use and water use efficiency on irrigated cotton farms in Australia S. Tennakoon, S. Milroy Environmental Science 2003 93 How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed? Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/how-is-tungsten-carbide-formed/. The processes that contribute to these emissions differ markedly between the 2 LMA devices. A Comparison Life Cycle Assessment between Razor Blade and Electric Shaver. Dec. 2012. Data Uncertainty. International Sympsium on Sustainable Systems and Technology. Their carbon footprint was reported with the highest offender being air travel for the product, and staff transportation coming from France: accounting for 73% of the companys annual greenhouse gas emissions (Bic). The total amount of direct GHG emissions in 2016 was estimated at 8,689 teqCO2, i.e. Razor blades dull quickly after repeated use, and are recommended to be used only three to ten times, making them a cheap alternative to reusable cartridges. The majority of eutrophication impacts from disposable LMAs are from deposition of nitrogen oxide particulates from electricity generation and waste incineration, and impacts for the reusable LMA are nearly all from wastewater used in the cleaning process. BIC Group, 2016, For You For Everyone Registration Document. Phenylene oxide, or PPO, is another common plastic material used in disposable razors. 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 . Each year in Italy, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are harvested, packed and transported to national and foreign retail outlets. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide). Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(p-phenylene_oxide). Until now, we defined what we want to measure and collect in phase 1. Marinella Levi. Being that it is such a common and quickly replaced product, this is is a major issue in terms of waste. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. Gillette's slogan 'Gillette - the best a man can get' is famous the world over. To aid in solving this issue, I believe consumers should stray away from wasteful disposable razors and be encouraged to go with more sustainable and longer lasting options such as classic safety razors. The tables didnt contain values for welding steel, so it has been assumed that the value is close to welding aluminium which is in the table. E.P.A. Steel Life Cycle.SSAB, www.ssab.com/company/sustainability/sustainable-offering/steel-life-cycle?di=discover21C927E58ECC41198B78D915F7E3E2AF. BIC put out a report detailing how they deal with the waste from their factories. Iatrogenic transmission of the CreutzfeldtJakob disease agent has been reported in >250 patients worldwide, and 6 of these were linked to the use of contaminated equipment, all of which were neurosurgical related. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Task Force on Infection Control. 2006 have considered a process water flow of 10,000 m3/day for a time period of 15 years (system design life) as the function unit used in order to compare the different wastewater treatment processes . The materials used in the production of disposable razors are limited due to the products simplicity however, many of the materials are unsustainable in that they are not biodegradable or easily recyclable, and require heavy energy input to manufacture. Waste is not only a problem when a product is disposed of, but also when it is initially manufactured. On the basis of observation at Yale New Haven Hospital, it takes approximately 10 minutes to conduct all cleaning processes for 1 LMA, which is equivalent to roughly $3 in wages. Wang, Chun Tsin, and Alexander Sutulor. What Is Polystyrene? The LMAs were first rinsed in tap water, scrubbed externally with a Hibiclens sponge and internally with a small scrub brush, and rinsed again. For both environmental and cost considerations, management and operating procedures should be put in place to ensure that reusable LMAs are not discarded prematurely. Highlights The disposable LMA consisted largely of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, and the reusable LMA consisted primarily of silicone. This practice meets American Society of Anesthesiologists' recommendations for infection control for equipment requiring high-level disinfection.14. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Choosing models that use alternate materials is recommended, particularly because the American Medical Association is urging hospitals and health systems to reduce their use of PVC products, especially those containing DEHP.26 The shipment of LMAs by air also greatly increased overall impacts, pointing to a strategy of bulk ordering from local distributors well in advance of use, and avoiding overnight shipment whenever possible. Kelly, John. Innovative and strategic advisor to leading philanthropies, corporates, governments, international institutions and NGOs. Pollution of the oceans from plastics has become an increasingly large issue that researchers are still assessing. 3 in Table 1). 45. Swiss Center for Life Cycle Inventories. The LMA was then dried with a cotton towel. To bring the metal to its final form, it is heated to extremely high temperatures to remove the binders, and to mold the metal particles together, in turn, creating a very strong and durable metal compound (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). Finally, inclusion of the environmental impacts of labor for cleaning (from wages spent on goods and services) only nominally increases the total GHG and water impacts of reusable LMAs. American Medical Association (AMA). 0 8tZ A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Packaging for the Distribution of Italian Fruit and Vegetables. . 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. xTkJ((5:Ome\%{yIlka;K=1 Bic has attempted to lower their direct emissions by having factories world-wide and creating: a Transport Community which connects shipping managers on each continent to raise control for greenhouse gas emissions, optimize shipments and routes, and use only responsible carriers (Bic). 39 ($0.37/Count) FREE delivery Thu, Mar 2 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. The life cycle of plastics Life cycle assessment (LCA) considers the environmental aspects associated with a product over its lifespan. Life Cycle Assessment - definition & methodology. 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. Assessing all steps in that life cycle provides insight into individual stresses and burden shifts from one step to another and enables understanding of both the cumulative environmental impacts and related trade-offs in each area, throughout the lifespan of both a facility and its manufactured products. BIC Comfort 3 Refillable Three-Blade Disposable Razors for Men, Sensitive Skin Razor for a Comfortable Shave, 1 Handle and 12 Cartridges With 3 Blades, 13 Piece Razor Kit. Accessed 28 Nov. 2019. www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/stamping/die-basics-101-intro-to-stamping, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/07/landfill-waste-how-prevent-disposable-razor-plastic-pollution/1943345001/, http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/, www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20091119/PNE/311199986/bic-disposable-razor-1975, www.nytimes.com/1982/04/11/business/how-bic-lost-the-edge-to-gillette.html, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/polyphenylene-oxides, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/ffrrofactsheet_contaminant_tungsten_january2014_final.pdf, www.kai-group.com/global/en/kai-factory/process/razor/, www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/reducing-trichloroethylene-tce-waste-fabricated-metals-sector, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html, www.recyclingtoday.com/article/the-recycling-potential-of-polypropylene/, www.ssab.com/company/sustainability/sustainable-offering/steel-life-cycle?di=discover21C927E58ECC41198B78D915F7E3E2AF, BEHR Oil Based Interior/Exterior Primer and Sealer, California Academy of Sciences Living Roof Life Cycle, UC Davis Social Sciences and Humanities Building, A-Z List for Digital & Electronics Topics. In life cycle assessment, the basis of comparison is called the functional unit. For this report, the functional unit of the disposable and reusable LMAs was taken to be maintenance of airway patency by 40 disposable LMAs or 40 uses of 1 reusable LMA.
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