life cycle assessment of disposable razors

There is always some level of uncertainty in the results and in the methodology; so users shouldnt take the numbers shown as absolute values, but more as a guide to prioritise work. Its aim is a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of products and services. These benefits must be weighed against concerns regarding transmission of infection. American Medical Association (AMA). Another material used is polystyrene. climate change, summer smog, resource depletion, acidification, human health effects, etc. Gillette Plastic Disposable Shaving Kit supermax, for Hotel. BIC has reported their total energy usage and carbon footprint in their factories around the world, this was all however for the year 2016. 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. Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall results. DEHP leaches out upon exposure to heat and lipids, as would be the case in contact with mucous membranes. Materials were matched with appropriate life cycle inventory records from the ecoinvent database.11 Injection molding was assumed for the hard plastic pieces (polycarbonate and ABS plastic) and thermoforming for the softer plastics (silicone, polypropylene, and PVC). J Clin Anesth 1997;9:432, 20. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Task Force on Infection Control. Life-cycle assessment stages Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a modeling tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of products and processes. PPO elements of the disposable razor are hard to determine in years, however, data shows that most plastic items take up to 1,000 years to begin to decompose (LeBlanc). A major flaw in the disposable razors design is in fact its inability to be sustainably and properly disposed, despite what its name suggests. Disposable and reusable LMAs typically differ in material composition, packaging, reuse, and cost. But this is expected from a large brand like Gillette. With the results we supply the basis for strategic decisions for sustainable action. A Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable Razors. Polyphenylene Oxides.Polyphenylene Oxides - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/polyphenylene-oxides. There are 3 key tasks in this step. 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. When designing a product for circularity it is often difficult to know where to begin. This practice meets American Society of Anesthesiologists' recommendations for infection control for equipment requiring high-level disinfection.14. Despite this, a general perception is that reusable LMAs possess a safety profile inferior to that of disposable LMAs, thus contributing to the proliferation of the latter. This document is an update and merger of two previous EPA documents on LCA ("Life Cycle Assessment: Inventory Guidelines and Principles," EPA/600/R-92/245, and "LCA101" from the LCAccess, website . These containers, mainly wooden pallets and spools, are subject to European legislat In their study of Life cycle assessment of wastewater treatment technologies treating petroleum process waters, Vlaopolous et al. Since BICs products do not go to a single location it is impossible to give an exact number for BICs energy usage in transportation. Until now, we defined what we want to measure and collect in phase 1. In this paper, this will be exactly what we will discuss, from what materials go into making a disposable razor and how they are made, to what happens to it after its tossed out, and all the energy and waste that is used and expelled throughout its lifecycle. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts.ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. How One Facility Completely Eliminated the Use of TCE Schick Razor Blade Manufacturing in Knoxville, Tennessee. 2017. In the late 1990s, disposable LMAs became available. Overcash M. Comparison of reusable and disposable medical textiles. 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). Here's How to Keep Your Razors from Contributing to Landfill Waste. USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 7 Aug. 2019, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/07/landfill-waste-how-prevent-disposable-razor-plastic-pollution/1943345001/. When you take your blades in to the scrap metal center, choose the steel recycling bin. 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. LCA's are completed particularly in relation to how to develop a sustainable world where less waste and more reuse is implemented. Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. After the parts are manufactured it is time for the final product assembly. Sustainable Development at BIC . 6 Jan. 2011. The polypropylene is sorted during recycling using a float test that separates it from other materials based on its ability to float due to its weight, then it is often melted down and reused in other product manufacturing. There is uncertainty in several model assumptions. Product Ecology (PR) Consultants. Ison E, Miller A. The fewer LMAs placed in the autoclave, the larger the impacts on GHG emissions and global warming on each individual unit. hb```X ea i:=3*?a_.k7#uq-u[JRP erle@@)`EkP;~ cdC58xiv06@Jup E The carbon alloy allows for the metal to be strong enough to be exposed to high levels of moisture without corroding, yet brittle enough to be made into thin blades for a multiple blade razor (Safety Razor). 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 . After the products are packaged, there has to be a way for them to get to the end consumer. 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. The total amount of direct GHG emissions in 2016 was estimated at 8,689 teqCO2, i.e. Pollution of the oceans from plastics has become an increasingly large issue that researchers are still assessing. The metal is then quenched in water to bring it to -76 to -112 degrees Fahrenheit to harden the material (Safety Razor). EPA. It all starts with the melting and combining of the desired metal. Steel Life Cycle.SSAB, www.ssab.com/company/sustainability/sustainable-offering/steel-life-cycle?di=discover21C927E58ECC41198B78D915F7E3E2AF. The final product is then gathered and prepared to go through the final step which is the packaging of razors. Conversely, impacts can be reduced by autoclaving more LMAs at once or with other equipment with similar decontamination requirements. BIC has done their best to deal with waste in an environmentally conscious manner. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). The Potential of Polypropylene.Recycling Today, Recycling Today, 17 July 2019, www.recyclingtoday.com/article/the-recycling-potential-of-polypropylene/. Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment.The Great Recovery, www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. 5.Interpret and analyse the results. 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. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. This reflects the equivalence between 40 disposable LMAs and their associated materials, waste, and 40 uses of 1 reusable LMA. Anesth Analg 1993;77:1079, 21. Nash, Nathaniel C. HOW BIC LOST THE EDGE TO GILLETTE. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Apr. Current LMA procurement decisions are typically based on perceived costs. Quantifying the Environmental Impacts of Labor. Williams S, Henderson K. A survey into the number of times laryngeal masks are used. The metal is not yet to its final form, as it is still greatly held together by the previously added binders. For waste management, switching from 100% incineration to 100% landfilling typically reduced impacts across all categories by 5%10%, with the national average scenario results decreasing in between. 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.9 Data collection was specific to Yale New Haven Hospital, including device transportation, cleaning procedures and labor, energy requirements, and disposal. During a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental impacts are evaluated throughout the entire life cycle of a product (production, use and disposal or recovery).This also includes the upstream and downstream processes associated with production (e.g., the production of . Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. The disposable LMA consisted largely of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, and the reusable LMA consisted primarily of silicone. 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. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. Not all form of impacts are valued the same, so the ones with the largest impact should be tackled first in order to produce the maximum overall improvement. However, we can discuss the energy usage of different modes of transportation. Rogers, Tony. The LMAs were first rinsed in tap water, scrubbed externally with a Hibiclens sponge and internally with a small scrub brush, and rinsed again. BIC is voicing their concern about the environmental impact that their large production goals can have. SimaPro is our flagship product: life cycle assessment software that gives sustainability experts, product designers and decision-makers the power to gain insight into the environmental performance of products and services, to define hotspots and to drive positive change. Reusable LMAs were collected in a dirty device bin on the anesthesia cart and then reprocessed by the anesthesia technicians. Sinha R, Sunder R. Retiring reusable laryngeal mask airways after 40: an anaesthetist's dilemma. In this post I havent shown the whole process, but there are downloadable links to my full Eco-Indicator results, and to the template form if youd like to carry out an assessment yourself. It is used to assist companies, consumers, and policy-makers in greening their practices and decisions. Kaplan, Desire. use/disposable and multiple-use/washable surgical gowns. Sensitivity and simple life cycle cost analyses were conducted to aid in interpretation of the results. 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. There is no public data entailing the details of this plastics recyclability. endstream endobj 752 0 obj <>stream The environmental effects of labor are often omitted from life cycle assessment studies, but are included here as part of the sensitivity analysis. 85 percent of the energy came from electricity, 14 percent came from gas, and the rest came from fuel oil (For You For Everyone Registration Document). The tungsten carbide is then ground into an extremely fine powder in a wet mill process, where metal binders and other metals such as cobalt may be added to increase the metals strength and durability and to help hold the powder together when it is shaped. :396?Qkt)e. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). 45. a 4.1% (Bic). 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. 1. Your message has been successfully sent to your colleague. Main methodological choices . A Comparison Life Cycle Assessment between Razor Blade and Electric Shaver. Dec. 2012. These are the reasons why I will carry out an Eco-Indicator Assessment instead of a full LCA. Subramaniar Trading Company. Biron, Michel. The product doesnt contain any material labels, so the materials have been assumed to be low alloy steel for the body, PP for the plastic parts of the body, EPDM rubber for the grip and an acrylic polymer coating for the lubricating band. Data Uncertainty. (i)What changes occurring in non-disposable Razor category? The advantage of using this method compared to a more comprehensive LCA method is that its much simpler to carry out and to gather the required information because the data regarding the most common materials and processes has been collected in advance. Anaesthesia 2000;55:7001, 18. The high waste from manufacturing and shipping such a small, and cheap product is one that is negatively impacting the planet. your express consent. Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. Of course the 2.6 billion razors were not, all the same, however, we can still give a ballpark estimate of how many tonnes of plastic/metal waste is being produced every year. 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). Recycling of Polypropylene (PP). AZoCleantech.com, 25 June 2012, www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=240. 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. 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. 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). Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). By not using air travel and transport, BIC greatly reduces their energy usage and carbon footprint at the same time. After the reusable LMA was washed and dried, it was then placed into a heat seal pouch, made of polypropylene film and paper. xTkJ((5:Ome\%{yIlka;K=1 The unit cost of disposable LMAs is 20% higher at approximately $9.60 per unit. The following document provides an introductory overview of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and describes the general uses and major components of LCA. Can J Anaesth 2001;48:40912, 22. 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. (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? 0 Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. Shavers. BICWorld, www.bicworld.com/en/our-products/shavers. Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation. Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation | Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, www.bts.gov/content/energy-consumption-mode-transportation. Each time the steam autoclave machine conducts a sterilizing cycle, a large amount of energy is used to heat the steam. Life cycle assessment software I used GaBi 6 software, produced by PE International. Address correspondence to Jodi Sherman, MD, Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP3, New Haven, CT 06520. This obviously makes the results less accurate, but it can still be used as a general indicator of impact. Powers, Matt, and Amanda M. Can You Recycle Disposable Razors? Earth911.Com, 30 July 2019, earth911.com/living-well-being/health/can-you-recycle-disposable-razors/. Die Basics 101: Intro to Stamping. The Fabricators, 18 July 2018, www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/stamping/die-basics-101-intro-to-stamping. LCA for product sustainability. 2019, science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/polystyrene-recycling.htm. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . BIC is a French manufacturing company that produces a variety of disposable consumer products like pens, lighters and disposable razors. RSA 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. During the research, I could not find how much energy BIC injection molding machines use, but I did find the energy usage of a common injection molding machine called the Babyplast. Wat LI, Brimacombe JR, Gee S. Laryngeal mask airway longevity and pilot-balloon failure. I could however not find any details about the energy consumption of the machines used in the assembly process. Most of those razors just end up in a landfill because most countries are not recycling them. disposable paper diaper; material recycling; closed-loop recycling; life cycle assessment (LCA) 1. The more capital-intensive option of increasing the energy efficiency of the autoclave machines by 10% decreases GHG emissions by 8%. Marvel Product Razor Lady Body Shaver Disposable Razore. 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. Cited Here. Additionally, the PVC-dominated material composition of the disposable LMA and associated packaging added significantly to its impacts. 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. Flying staff to meetings, shipping, and distributing the product is the highest offender for the planet. 3. All that is needed is the insertion of the razor blade into the plastic body. This is where most of the complexity of an LCA is involved. Sherman JD, Ryan S. Ecological responsibility in anesthesia practice. LCA is a standardized, science-based tool for quantifying the impact in order to assess lifetime environmental impact. The main causes of the reusable LMA's environmental impacts are the steam used in the autoclave sterilizing machine and, to a lesser extent, the wastewater generated from washing the LMAs. Innovative and strategic advisor to leading philanthropies, corporates, governments, international institutions and NGOs. 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. 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. 3. This means, of the 2 billion razors disposed of annually within the United States, each razor will be on the planet longer than the people who used them. The Nation's Freight: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In the case of the disposable razor however, it is fairly simple due to its nature. Then we collected and structured the data in phase 2. During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. The plastic, however stable for the user, remains stable long after it is thrown away as well. Because the human health impacts of the disposable LMAs are dominated by plastics, increasing the amount of PVC by 10% leads to a significant (>5%) increase in cancer and noncancer effects. Each year in Italy, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are harvested, packed and transported to national and foreign retail outlets. Features Downloads. During production, two components have to be created which are the blade and the plastic body. Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide). Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(p-phenylene_oxide). 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. The largest source of GHG emissions for the disposable LMAs (23%) is the production and polymerization of PVC, the main material constituent. Finally, the assessment will be carried out on the new design to assess if it has a lower impact than the other options analysed. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: 1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations 2.Define the life-cycle 3.Quantify the materials and processes 4.Complete the form 5.Interpret and analyse the results Each manufacturing plant or node in the supply chain is referred to as agate-to-gate (GTG) life cycle inventory. Please try after some time. The autoclave was typically run with 5 LMAs, although loading varied significantly. 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. 2 offers from $9.92. LMA North America. How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed? Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/how-is-tungsten-carbide-formed/. Siddle, Dave. The authors declare no conflict of interest. A comparative cradle to grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to determine and analyze the environmental impacts of using disposable acrylic speculums versus using reusable stainless-steel speculums in a women's university health clinic where around 5,000 pelvic exams are conducted on a yearly basis. They have also reduced shipping time, by only sending the blades from Greece to Mexico to optimize the tools and products available in each location, instead of having all the materials shipped to each factory. BIC reported that every year around 2.6 billion of their razors are chosen by consumers every year (Shaver's). 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 life cycle assessment software package SimaPro 7.3.2 was used to conduct our analysis.10 The majority of inventory data were drawn from the ecoinvent v2.2 life cycle inventory database.11 Impacts were assessed using the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability v4.02 impact assessment method,12 which encompasses both environmental concerns (such as climate change, acid rain and smog formation, water use, and ozone depletion) and human-health-related impacts (such as cancer and noncancer ailments and emission of criteria air pollutants). 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). What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal? AZoM.com, 2 Aug. 2009, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4827. Sensitivity and simple life cycle cost analyses were conducted to aid in interpretation of the results. 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).

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