life cycle assessment of disposable razors

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a framework for assessing the environmental impacts of product systems and decisions. Park Ridge, IL: American Society of Anesthesiologists, 1999, 15. The Potential of Polypropylene.Recycling Today, Recycling Today, 17 July 2019, www.recyclingtoday.com/article/the-recycling-potential-of-polypropylene/. 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. However, the viability of the disposable razor is always thrown into question because of the sheer amount of resources that it expends. The buyer online is not exposed to the long lasting waste of the razors after they are thrown out. 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. After the parts are manufactured it is time for the final product assembly. The metal is heated to a temperature of 1967-2048 degrees Fahrenheit and tungsten carbide has a specific heat of 0.226 BTU/lb/Fahrenheit (Safety razor). There are 3 key tasks in this step. BIC put out a report detailing how they deal with the waste from their factories. 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. LMA North America. Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. Teoh W, Lim Y. 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 . In the late 1990s, disposable LMAs became available. The Ramboll Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) found that, assuming realistic usage over a year, the energy consumption involved in the use phase of reusable plastic and traditional crockery, during in-store or out-sourced washing and drying, outweighed the environmental impact of single-use paper dishes. Life Cycle Approach to Plastic Pollution - Life Cycle Initiative Our news to your inbox Click to subscribe to LC Net info@lifecycleinitiative.org 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 Atlanta, 2012. 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. The long and harmful life-cycle of disposable razors is not reflected to the buyer browsing aisles of fully stocked razor shelves. Once extracted, the tungsten is then shipped to a desired location for it to be manufactured into the metal compound. J Clin Anesth 1997;9:432, 20. Contrary to common expectation, hair is actually pretty hard. Their disposable nature causes them to be put into landfills faster than it takes them to be made, packaged, and shipped. Gillette Mach3 Men's Disposable Razor for Sensitive Skin - Best Cartridge Razor for Sensitive Skin. What Is Polystyrene? (ii)Access paramount's competitive position? 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). Goal, scope and background The industrial packages sector has great importance for the transport sector in Europe. At an average of 10 reuse cycles, GHG impacts increase by >50%, and this is the break-even point at which the GHG emissions from reusable and disposable LMAs are essentially equal. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Wolters Kluwer Health Policy H-135.945: Encouraging Alternatives to PVC/DEHP Products in Health. In this section we also need to state the assumptions made during the process: 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. Premature disposal of reusable LMAs has significant environmental impacts (as well as costs, discussed below). LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. Bic Disposable Razor (1975). Plastics News Europe, 19 Nov. 2009, www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20091119/PNE/311199986/bic-disposable-razor-1975. a 4.1% (Bic). 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. Each manufacturing plant or node in the supply chain is referred to as agate-to-gate (GTG) life cycle inventory. Conversely, impacts can be reduced by autoclaving more LMAs at once or with other equipment with similar decontamination requirements. Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. I found information about the whole blade manufacturing process, but could not find details about energy consumption in every step of the process. Figure: Life Cycle Assessment steps: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment and interpretation (Sala et al., 2016) In the goal and scope phase, the aims of the study are defined, namely the intended application, the reasons for carrying out the study and the intended audience. 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. What does a business area's assessment of agreements, income, and value implicate? Finally, the razors are packaged in cardboard and plastic, and shipped out to stores and markets globally for customers to purchase and use. This is based on our Life Cycle Inventory flows from phase 2. Ans: (i) Significant growth in industry of super premium segment . In conclusion, disposable razors are being used and thrown away at a rate that is unsustainable for the finite space on the planet. :396?Qkt)e. Reusable LMAs were collected in a dirty device bin on the anesthesia cart and then reprocessed by the anesthesia technicians. 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. 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. After that the blades go through a blade edging process, which consists of the blade strips first being coarsely ground by whetstone, second being ground at an angle with a finer whetstone, and then having the tip of the blades ground (Manufacturing Processes). The LMA was then dried with a cotton towel. 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). Our LCA team retains its reputation as the most experienced life cycle staff in North America. Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide). Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(p-phenylene_oxide). Manufacturer specifications indicate 20 kWh of electricity use for a 5-minute cycle at 135C. BIC says its product beats out other models by 59 percent. For example, LCA results can tell us if one product is environmentally preferable to another . Recommendations for Infection Control for the Practice of Anesthesiology. 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. 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). Due to the nature of the disposable razor, they are usually just thrown in the trash and sent off to a landfill. Staff, RT. Disposable razors are made up of three components: a hollowed plastic handle, the razor blade, and the plastic head of the razor that holds the blade (Safety Razor). 2019, science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/polystyrene-recycling.htm. Terracycle is a company that was created to address the issue of recyclable products that often end up in landfills. McGain F, McAlister S, McGavin A, Story D. The financial and environmental costs of reusable and single-use plastic anaesthetic drug trays. Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. After the end of their recommended lifetime, reusable LMAs were also placed in municipal solid waste containers. Holes are then punched into the metal and the tapelike sheets of razors are then put in a roll (Manufacturing Processes). A life-cycle assessment or LCA is a 'cradle to grave' analysis of the impact of a manufactured product on the environment. Applying this method of assessment is complex and difficult and translating the theory into a . 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. There are land, air, and water-based transportation methods. A Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable Razors. In addition to traditional criteria for the selection and purchase of medical devices that include safety, efficacy, and cost, 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 product selection process. Life cycle analysis takes into account the following categories: Energy consumption Water consumption Air emissions (including carbon dioxide and other global warming gases) Water emissions Generation of solid waste A 2005 analysis published by U.K. The Bic USAs company website provides information about the making of the razors in the factories, regarding their inspection and factory standards, yet there is no mention for the environmental impact of the disposal. 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). 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. 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 Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK Ref: ISBN 1844324273, LIT 2080 PDF, 1.83 MB, 203 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.. Contact Supplier. There are three main materials used in the plastic handle and the cartridge of the disposable razor. PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. 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. We are proud that it is among the leading professional LCA software . The fewer LMAs placed in the autoclave, the larger the impacts on GHG emissions and global warming on each individual unit. 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. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The processes that contribute to these emissions differ markedly between the 2 LMA devices. In addition, the impact categories of eutrophication (growth of microorganisms due to excess nutrients) and terrestrial ecotoxicity reflect the impacts on other species and ecosystems and have implications for public health. Overview. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). The Great Recovery was a project by the RSA working with Innovate UK which ran between 2012 and 2016. 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. %PDF-1.5 % The most important sources of impacts for the disposable LMA were the production of polymers, packaging, and waste management, whereas for the reusable LMA, washing and sterilization dominated for most impact categories. Eckelman, Matthew PhD*; Mosher, Margo; Gonzalez, Andres; Sherman, Jodi MD. This short course will give you an introduction to life cycle assessment (LCA) methods and how to apply them in real-life situations.. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a rapidly evolving tool used to determine impacts of products or systems over a range of environmental and resource issues. However, the LCA is not an exact science and has its limitations: Rogers, Tony. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment. The Great Recovery, http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. 3.7.Product Life Cycle Analysis . f'C58NQ}i:]1 $Nh@b8H|iWILGgj{J27]Xp0N@h+ !` >q 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. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For example, the designer might think that the manufacturing stage would be the most impactful, when in reality for some products its the raw material extraction or its use phase. Anyone can send in razors of any kind, and the plastic and cardboard packaging as well. 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. This practice meets American Society of Anesthesiologists' recommendations for infection control for equipment requiring high-level disinfection.14. 2. Considering human health concerns, the majority (60%) of impacts for the disposable LMA is due to the production of polymers, PVC in particular, with emissions from incineration contributing another 15%. Cargo planes and other transport aircraft use jet fuel which produces 135,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). Anesth Analg 1998;87:921, 3. A SYSTEMATIC METHODOLOGY FOR ACCURATE DESIGN-STAGE ESTIMATION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR INJECTION MOLDED PARTS. 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. 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. The total energy consumption of the Babyplast in its four-step molding cycle of setup, fill, cool, and reset was approximately 4.5 kilowatts (Weissman et.al). Gillette Plastic Disposable Shaving Kit supermax, for Hotel. 2.Define the life-cycle The LMAs were first rinsed in tap water, scrubbed externally with a Hibiclens sponge and internally with a small scrub brush, and rinsed again. Europe, Plastic News. 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 Impact Assessment is the estimation of indicators of the environmental pressures in terms of e.g. 2. Decision makers have typically favored disposable LMAs because the purchase price is perceived to be less for a comparable quantity of disposable LMAs, in comparison with 1 reusable LMA with its associated labor costs for in-house reprocessing.6. 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. 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. The scope of our analysis, as is shown in Figure 1, includes extraction of material and energy resources, manufacturing, packaging and transport from the manufacturing site to the distribution center and the hospital, reprocessing, and eventual disposal. Polycarbonate production (14%), transportation via truck (15%), thermoforming (13%), and waste disposal (11%) cause the majority of the remaining emissions. The following document provides an introductory overview of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and describes the general uses and major components of LCA. hbbd``b`z$k@D The high waste from manufacturing and shipping such a small, and cheap product is one that is negatively impacting the planet. Here we present a life cycle assessment of 2 laryngeal mask airways (LMAs), a one-time-use disposable Unique LMA and a 40-time-use reusable Classic LMA. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Saudi J Anaesth 2008;2:58. Next, the razors will be tested for flaws, strength, and razor hardness and sharpness (Safety Razor, madehow.com). At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. `""(w To go from raw materials to final product involves many steps and heavy energy input. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was introduced into clinical use in the late 1980s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the US in 1991. Some error has occurred while processing your request. This is because of the complexity of the life cycle, from the acquisition of materials to the management of a product at the end of its life. Each razor can last up to 12 gentle shaves. The life cycle impacts of the disposable and reusable LMA options are shown in Figure 2 for all impact categories, on the basis of data from Yale New Haven Hospital. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). RSA These impacts are quantified here in terms of energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using general factors for US labor.22. 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. Our team of experts has many years of experience in the ecological evaluation of products and services. The razors are mainly made of plastic, so they will be decomposing at a very slow rate in the landfill. The original LMA was a reusable device (Intavent International SA, Henley-on-Thames, UK). 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. climate change, summer smog, resource depletion, acidification, human health effects, etc. 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/. Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002, 26. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS - CLEAN EDGE, NON DISPOSABLE RAZOR Q1. Overall, reusable LMAs were found to have fewer negative environmental effects in nearly all categories, typically contributing <50% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. Max Soft Disposable Razor For Women - 3 Pcs In A Pack. 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. 3 in Table 1). BIC Group, 2016, Sustainable Development Report. Facilities that select reusable devices should implement inventory and operating procedures that ensure that devices are reused to the greatest possible extent. To begin the process of making tungsten carbide, the tungsten must first be extracted. A major flaw in the disposable razors design is in fact its inability to be sustainably and properly disposed, despite what its name suggests. This study assumed no difference between the devices in terms of clinical efficacy or time for placement.4 Disposable LMAs were discarded in regular municipal solid waste bins after use. American Medical Association (AMA). In this case it was very difficult to see what materials the product contained and exactly how it was manufactured (as the big manufacturing companies wouldnt disclose this information), so some of the data had to be assumed. 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. Sensitivity and simple life cycle cost analyses were conducted to aid in interpretation of the results. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). The designed short user-time of disposable razors, causes their life cycle to be spent mostly in the landfill where they will remain for hundreds of years due to non-biodegradable plastic, however, recycling the plastic and steel is possible if sent to specific recycling facilities, which could reduce the life cycle and negative impact on the environment. From:. The 2 LMA options are nearly equivalent in terms of eutrophication impacts, but with different contributions. They have estimated that they expend around 11.77 gigajoules of energy per ton of their products that they produce (For You For Everyone Registration Document) The BIC report also categorized the energy where they obtained the energy. Once Terracycle has collected the waste, it is: broken down and separated by material. 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. Define the Life-cycle This is an example of a simple product life-cycle diagram. 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. However, given the environmental toll to such a fast accumulating, and non-biodegradable product, waste management must be more considered by both the manufacturers and the buyers. The Bic corporation considers their environmental impact and takes steps to reduce as much waste as possible. Goodman EJ, Haas AJ. Disposable Razors in Bulk, Bulk Razors with Knife Caps, Individually Packaged Disposable Razors Bulk, Suitable for Hotels, Shelters, Homeless People, Nursing Homes, Charities, Churches (60) 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (9) $22.39 $ 22. Safety Razor. How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. Then we collected and structured the data in phase 2. Wages are then spent on food, entertainment, transport, and other economic activities that themselves have environmental impacts. 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). 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, Each year in Italy, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are harvested, packed and transported to national and foreign retail outlets. 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. Siddle, Dave. Terracycle. Recycling of Polypropylene (PP). AZoCleantech.com, 25 June 2012, www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=240. An LCA is an accounting of the inputs and outputs for a product system, beginning with extraction of raw materials from the earth and continuing through all of the steps of transportation, manufacturing, product fabrication, product use, and end-of-life, which may include reuse, recycling . The EPA has said in their 2014 report: Currently, little information is available about the fate and transport of tungsten in the environment and its effects on human health. a Centers for Disease Control. Anesthesiology 2003;99:1066, 6. After the plastic body is manufactured it goes through inspections similar to ones the blades go through. Lippiatt BC, Boyles AS. 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 total amount of Direct emissions from BIC factories was 8,689 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). The unit cost of disposable LMAs is 20% higher at approximately $9.60 per unit. After that, the metal is pressed down to the desired blade thickness which is around 1mm (Manufacturing Processes). 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).). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the impact of products on the environment. It is a thermoplastic that exhibits high heat resistance, dimensional stability, and accuracy and is often combined with other plastics, such as polystyrene, due to various problems in its processing (Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide, Wikipedia.org). In addition, although this life cycle assessment study did not analyze health impacts during use of an LMA, intraoperative exposure to diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is of some concern. Research and Innovative Technology Administration. With the results we supply the basis for strategic decisions for sustainable action. However, of the 2 billion razors disposed of annually, about 32% end up in the ocean (Kaplan). The largest sources of both cancer and noncancer impacts for the reusable LMA are from emissions from waste management (35%), the mining and production of metals to build wastewater treatment infrastructure (25%), and the bleaching of packaging paper and the card insert (20%). A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Packaging for the Distribution of Italian Fruit and Vegetables. Bic did have an increase in non-hazardous waste due to: expansion work or renovation of buildings or development of new products and manufacturing equipment (For You For Everyone: Registration Document, Bic) For carbon footprint assessments for large companies, they are assessed on direct (scope 1) emissions and indirect (scope 2) emissions of greenhouse gases.

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