life cycle assessment of disposable razors life cycle assessment of disposable razors

BIC has repeatedly come under fire because of the environmental impact their disposable razors have, due to the sheer amount of their disposable products are used every year. This is the fourth installment in a series of blogs in which weexplore how to design a product for circularity. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. This obviously makes the results less accurate, but it can still be used as a general indicator of impact. There could be hundreds of different sources for their materials. My next blog post will show some design recommendations using sketches and 3D-printed prototypes. The metal is then quenched in water to bring it to -76 to -112 degrees Fahrenheit to harden the material (Safety Razor). The autoclave was typically run with 5 LMAs, although loading varied significantly. 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 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a modeling tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of products and processes. The body of both razors had similar impact as their weights were also quite similar. 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. Zhang TW, Dornfeld DA. What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal? AZoM.com, 2 Aug. 2009, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4827. 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. The buyer online is not exposed to the long lasting waste of the razors after they are thrown out. What Is Tungsten Carbide?" Contamination problems with reuse of laryngeal mask airways and laryngoscopes. I could however not find any details about the energy consumption of the machines used in the assembly process. 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. Soulias M, Martin L, Garnier N, Juniot A, Aho L, Freysz M. Disposable vs reusable laryngeal mask airway: a cost-minimization analysis. BIC may be doing as much as possible to lessen the impact of the production of disposable razors, but due to the massive production it will because unsustainable, because of the energy input, material consumptions, and unrecyclable nature of disposable razors. 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. 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. The product fails to include proper instructions for its waste management, causing it to be disposed of, as the name suggests. Dbendorf, Switzerland, 2011, 12. 11 / Piece. 1. 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. Comparison of disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways in spontaneously ventilating adult patients. Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002, 26. The cartridge-based razor had a slightly higher impact due to the rubber parts which cant be separated from the plastic body. Anesthesia & Analgesia114(5):1067-1072, May 2012. Reprints will not be available from the authors. 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 which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. Camera visual inspection is performed and This is all to ensure BICs quality standards are being met and ensure a quality product. Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. The company reported that with their hazardous waste in 2016 11 percent was recycled, 49 percent incinerated with energy recovery, 8 percent sent to land disposal, and 32 percent was sent off to be treated in another way (For You for Everyone Registration Document). 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. Some error has occurred while processing your request. 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. We performed a life cycle assessment of 2 analogous LMAs, the disposable LMA Unique and the reusable LMA Classic, according to internationally accepted standard life cycle assessment methods (ISO 14040: 2006). 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). In 2016, Bic reduced packaging for their Soleil Razor by 40%. Can J Anaesth 2001;48:40912, 22. Paper diapers for infants, which are highly convenient as they do not require laundering like cloth diapers, are essential for daily life in Japan. . In this paper, many details about the life cycle stages were not included. An updated lifecycle assessment for disposable and reusable nappies Report that looks at the effect of disposable and reusable nappies on global warming and other environmental impacts. Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. Lippiatt BC, Boyles AS. 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 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. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Transportation, 2002, 14. 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. Terracycle is a company that was created to address the issue of recyclable products that often end up in landfills. Experience spanning from the market-leading environment and climate practice of a global top 10 law firm - to leading Europe's largest . 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. 2. Gillette's slogan 'Gillette - the best a man can get' is famous the world over. These are the reasons why I will carry out an Eco-Indicator Assessment instead of a full LCA. 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. 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 . Kelly, John. 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). A life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for analyzing the environmental impacts and resources used throughout a product's life, from raw materials extraction to production, and extending through product use and disposal. 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. LCA can be used to compare alternative products, processes or services; compare alternative life cycles for a certain product . . 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. hb```X ea i:=3*?a_.k7#uq-u[JRP erle@@)`EkP;~ cdC58xiv06@Jup E "Tungsten Processing." Eshwar Shop. 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%). 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. For You for Everyone Registration Document. Production of razor blades across the industry is fairly standard. Staff, Creative Mechanisms. By raising awareness and creating locations where one can drop off used razors for recycling, perhaps a change can come. Scope of the life cycle assessment for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMAs). Uncertainties about the correctness of the model. It all starts with the melting and combining of the desired metal. 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. 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. Most of those razors just end up in a landfill because most countries are not recycling them. Olsen, Alexandra. Phoenix: IEEE, 2008, 23. This LCA is specific for surgical gowns used in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota. Subramaniar Trading Company. However, the viability of the disposable razor is always thrown into question because of the sheer amount of resources that it expends. 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 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) Hazard Summary. Until now, we defined what we want to measure and collect in phase 1. The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. 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. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. 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. Sensitivity and simple life cycle cost analyses were conducted to aid in interpretation of the results. Anaesthesia 2000;55:7001, 18. Figueredo E. Changes in the intracuff pressure of the laryngeal masks airway caused by repeated use. The total amount of direct GHG emissions in 2016 was estimated at 8,689 teqCO2, i.e. 3. When designing a product for circularity it is often difficult to know where to begin. The total amount of Direct emissions from BIC factories was 8,689 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). 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). Safety Razor.How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. This is based on our Life Cycle Inventory flows from phase 2. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. Bic Disposable Razor (1975). Plastics News Europe, 19 Nov. 2009, www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20091119/PNE/311199986/bic-disposable-razor-1975. 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. Steel Life Cycle.SSAB, www.ssab.com/company/sustainability/sustainable-offering/steel-life-cycle?di=discover21C927E58ECC41198B78D915F7E3E2AF. A life cycle assessment or analysis according to ISO 14040/14044 is an instrument of environmental and sustainability management. With the results we supply the basis for strategic decisions for sustainable action. 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. 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. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). After the products make their way to consumers and serve their purpose, the waste must be dealt with. These results suggest that the reusable LMA Classic has fewer life cycle impacts in comparison with the disposable LMA Unique at Yale New Haven Hospital, across several categories of concern. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. Contact Supplier. Marine cargo ships use a fuel called heavy fuel oil which produces around 145,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). mmw*vA|5v*3n9IUt){e%!HN6@` xcr@pz*Fbiq%1!TJ-CF*1OS|UZU\vQL7M?m'b-,r~S}Y&/{#U6U)S|%q[RB !3j~tj$h>5qtsJ./j?;eosyy*"Z`'wG"M6]O}UKqw[LzY9e B,s&C4++_tI~& Me*lNU"Uigq\u7{:&VNC'rT]FB5jOa.%N%1*stBC]%y&RDs"#&iUX&?8sh:wJo ZjbO|KFmfC{:oX~'b> 5.Interpret and analyse the results. 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. LCA for product sustainability. Each year in Italy, millions of tons of fruits and vegetables are harvested, packed and transported to national and foreign retail outlets. climate change, summer smog, resource depletion, acidification, human health effects, etc. 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. 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.. International Sympsium on Sustainable Systems and Technology. 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. The Nation's Freight: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. LMA North America. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. All of these software packages and models are in widespread use by life cycle assessment practitioners in the US and internationally. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2006;25:8114, 7. 769 0 obj <>stream The carbon footprint reported was separated into two sections which are direct and indirect emissions. 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 plastic, however stable for the user, remains stable long after it is thrown away as well. According to studies done by the EPA, tungsten steel was originally tested as a stable metal in soil that does not dissolve easily in water (EPA). American Medical Association (AMA). This is where most of the complexity of an LCA is involved. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). 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). How Does Polystyrene Recycling Work?HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 4 Apr. 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. 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). You Asked, We Answered. Chronicle, 12 June 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/what-is-tungsten-carbide-you-asked-we-answered/. SimaPro 7.3.2. Goodman EJ, Haas AJ. 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. It is used in razor manufacturing mainly due to its high heat and water resistance, making it ideal for the conditions the product is used in. 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). In this section we also need to state the assumptions made during the process: One of their most popular products is the disposable razor, which they started to manufacture in 1975. may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed 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. 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. Here, Great Recovery Intern Sebastian de Cabo Portugal discusses Life Cycle Assessments. Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall results. 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. 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. 2011, Packaging Technology and Science. 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. Int J Life Cycle Assess 2001;6:7680, 13. After the products are packaged, there has to be a way for them to get to the end consumer. Comparison of the single use and reusable intubating laryngeal mask airway. 3. What IS Life Cycle Assessment? Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . Marinella Levi. This was a cradle-to-grave study that included inputs and outputs for the manufacture, transport, use, and waste phases of the LMAs. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. 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). LCA is a standardized, science-based tool for quantifying the impact in order to assess lifetime environmental impact. These few simple materials go through processes of heating, cooling, moulding, cutting, and sharpening throughout their manufacturing process to eventually become the handle, razor blades, and blade cartridge, that will then be assembled to become a disposable razor. Williams S, Henderson K. A survey into the number of times laryngeal masks are used. After reaching the end of their useful lives, both LMAs and their respective packages entered waste management, which was modeled using US average statistics on recycling/composting, landfilling, and incineration.15 Although some incineration facilities also produce electricity, this credit is not included here. 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. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts. ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. 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. This liquid material is then injected into moulds, or extruded through moulds, where it will cool and take the form of the desired cartridge and handle shape. Manufacturers can do this solely by machine or by human eye/hand plus machine for extra quality assurance. The biggest impact during the cartridge-based razor life-cycle is manufacturing the cartridge as this is the part which is hardest to make.