21 offers from $5.20. Anesthesia & Analgesia114(5):1067-1072, May 2012. PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. Die Basics 101: Intro to Stamping. The Fabricators, 18 July 2018, www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/stamping/die-basics-101-intro-to-stamping. The product fails to include proper instructions for its waste management, causing it to be disposed of, as the name suggests. The long and harmful life-cycle of disposable razors is not reflected to the buyer browsing aisles of fully stocked razor shelves. After getting the sharpened blade they are coated with a thin film to allows them to not lose sharpness after only a few shaves (Manufacturing Processes). 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. Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Disposable Bioreactors - BioProcess InternationalBioProcess International Upstream Processing Bioprocessing begins upstream, most often with culturing of animal or microbial cells in a range of vessel types (such as bags or stirred tanks) using different controlled feeding, aerating, and process strategies. BIC said that around 98 percent of its intercompany product transfer was done by transportation methods that were not related to air-freight (For You For Everyone Registration Document). Main methodological choices . Eckelman, Matthew PhD*; Mosher, Margo; Gonzalez, Andres; Sherman, Jodi MD. Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). 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 3. 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). may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? The following document provides an introductory overview of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and describes the general uses and major components of LCA. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) Hazard Summary. Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. 0 International Sympsium on Sustainable Systems and Technology. Direct emissions refer to any emissions that resulted from the burning of fossil fuels and Indirect emissions refer to any emissions that resulted from the generation of electricity. Highly effective in driving partnerships, public policies and projects that accelerate the shift towards a sustainable built environment. 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). To begin the process of creating the razor blades, tungsten carbide, which is the metal that the blades and other optional components are made of, must first be manufactured. A major flaw in the disposable razors design is in fact its inability to be sustainably and properly disposed, despite what its name suggests. The carbon footprint reported was separated into two sections which are direct and indirect emissions. Please try again soon. use/disposable and multiple-use/washable surgical gowns. Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. The blades and lubricating strip were too light to be measured with our equipment so their weights were rounded to 1g. climate change, summer smog, resource depletion, acidification, human health effects, etc. Contact Supplier. Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. For You for Everyone Registration Document. At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. Once in the landfill, it usually takes around 20-30 years to breakdown. After the reusable LMA was washed and dried, it was then placed into a heat seal pouch, made of polypropylene film and paper. 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. LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. EPA. For both environmental and cost considerations, management and operating procedures should be put in place to ensure that reusable LMAs are not discarded prematurely. 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. It is cheap and highly versatile, and can either be hard plastic material, or a soft foam material, making it one of the most common plastic materials manufactured and used (What Is Polystyrene? BIC has done their best to deal with waste in an environmentally conscious manner. The data collected through LCA helps organizations make conscious decisions that affect the environment. Overall, reusable LMAs were found to have fewer negative environmental effects in nearly all categories, typically contributing <50% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. The mixed plastics used in most of the razor take hundreds of years to break down in landfill, and the blades, while the metal is recyclable if separated from the rest of the product, poses a safety hazard for both the consumer and the employees who handle recyclables. The metal is then quenched in water to bring it to -76 to -112 degrees Fahrenheit to harden the material (Safety Razor). Amersfoort, The Netherlands: Product Ecology (PR) Consultants, 2011, 11. We perform Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Critical Reviews in accordance with ISO 14040/44 for products and services. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS - CLEAN EDGE, NON DISPOSABLE RAZOR Q1. Finally, the razors are packaged in cardboard and plastic, and shipped out to stores and markets globally for customers to purchase and use. Anesth Analg 2012;114:105566, 8. The majority (77%) of life cycle CO2e emissions for the reusable LMA is from natural gas production and combustion to produce steam for the autoclave machine. 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 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. To start the process of making the blades, tungsten carbide is melted at high temperatures. 3.7.Product Life Cycle Analysis . Introduction Paper diapers are roughly divided into two types: those for infants and those for adults. Safety Razor. How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. Research and Innovative Technology Administration. Each time the steam autoclave machine conducts a sterilizing cycle, a large amount of energy is used to heat the steam. One of the materials used is polypropylene, a thermoplastic addition polymer made from the combination of propylene monomers (Creative Mechanisms Staff, creativemechanisms.com). An exact number for the energy use for BIC was not obtained. This manuscript was handled by: Steven L. Shafer, MD. Anesth Analg 1993;77:1079, 21. Polycarbonate production (14%), transportation via truck (15%), thermoforming (13%), and waste disposal (11%) cause the majority of the remaining emissions. Anesth Analg 2004;99:6267, 17. 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. Until now, we defined what we want to measure and collect in phase 1. Because of its high stability, PPO is a very widely used plastic for many different household items. 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. 8 John Adam Street Health care facilities can decrease their environmental impacts by using reusable LMAs, to a lesser extent by selecting disposable LMA models that are not made of certain plastics, and by ordering in bulk from local distributors. BIC is a French manufacturing company that produces a variety of disposable consumer products like pens, lighters and disposable razors. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology to assess the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life - from raw material extraction, manufacture and use, to end-of-life disposal, recycling or reuse. In this section we also need to state the assumptions made during the process: Flying staff to meetings, shipping, and distributing the product is the highest offender for the planet. Zhang TW, Dornfeld DA. 3. Finally, the need for manual labor in the cleaning process of reusable LMAs contributed to the costs of these LMAs. There are 3 key tasks in this step. Individually autoclaving the reusable LMA (because of stock shortages, for example) increased life cycle GHG emissions by >400%, whereas loading with 10 LMAs per cycle decreased emissions by nearly 25%. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). The steps in LCA are (1) goal and scope definition, (2) life cycle inventory analysis (LCI), (3) life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and (4) interpretation of the results. Alternate assumptions were used to test model sensitivity and to create bounds to aid interpretation of the results (Table 2). Contribution: This author helped design the study and prepare the manuscript. 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, 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. The plastic, however stable for the user, remains stable long after it is thrown away as well. 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 high waste from manufacturing and shipping such a small, and cheap product is one that is negatively impacting the planet. Siddle, Dave. Anaesthesia 2000;55:7001, 18. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. The 1% of the material that is recycled however, goes through a 5 step recycling process which is collecting, sorting, cleaning, reprocessing, and producing new products. 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. Wages are then spent on food, entertainment, transport, and other economic activities that themselves have environmental impacts. 2. A new incentive must come for companies to be more sustainable with resources and create products that can still be cheap for the buyer, while also not taking a high cost on the environment. The 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. 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. GaBi is a LCA software that allows its users to connect environmental impacts to a product across its lifespan. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. 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. 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. Bic Disposable Razor (1975). Plastics News Europe, 19 Nov. 2009, www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20091119/PNE/311199986/bic-disposable-razor-1975. Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide). Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(p-phenylene_oxide). Erosion time for the blades was difficult to find, yet tungsten steel does erode faster than the plastic elements to the disposable razor due to the carbon alloys brittle makeup. a 4.1% (Bic). The biggest impact during the cartridge-based razor life-cycle is manufacturing the cartridge as this is the part which is hardest to make. The natural half life of a large stock of reusable laryngeal mask airways at a teaching hospital. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . The specific type or blend of plastic for BIC razors is used is called polystyrene (Europe). 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:. Tungsten Carbide. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 17 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/tungsten-carbide. The use of LCA to introduce life-cycle thinking into decision-making for the purchase of medical devices in the NHS. 3 in Table 1). 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. The buyer online is not exposed to the long lasting waste of the razors after they are thrown out. Paper diapers for infants, which are highly convenient as they do not require laundering like cloth diapers, are essential for daily life in Japan. 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. Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall results. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). 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.. The number of BIC razors that are used by consumers is astounding. "Tungsten Processing." To go from raw materials to final product involves many steps and heavy energy input. The LMA was then dried with a cotton towel. 5.Interpret and analyse the results. The plastic handle and head of the disposable razor consists of a hybrid of polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide, also known as PPO. More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 156 (2020) 104704. During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. The life cycle for disposable razors must first be assessed by the products design. 2011, Packaging Technology and Science. The use of disposable razors is unsustainable with our growing population and increased demand. From the *Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA; School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine/YaleNew Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT. Funding: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine. 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. Poly(Phenylene Oxide). The Polymer Science Learning Center, www.pslc.ws/macrog/ppo.htm. All of these equipment-related cases occurred before the routine implementation of sterilization procedures currently used in health care facilities. Packaging is an . Nash, Nathaniel C. HOW BIC LOST THE EDGE TO GILLETTE. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Apr. Everything You Need To Know About Polypropylene (PP) Plastic. Everything You Need To Know About Polypropylene (PP) Plastic, https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/all-about-polypropylene-pp-plastic. The cheap price of the razor does not reflect the high cost of its waste and impact on the environment. The indirect emissions were mostly from the electricity use in the factories. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Manufacturer specifications indicate 20 kWh of electricity use for a 5-minute cycle at 135C. Disposable razors are designed for consumers that prefer minimum spending . 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. It is used to assist companies, consumers, and policy-makers in greening their practices and decisions. In this case its the life-cycle of the cartridge-based razor. 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. Saudi J Anaesth 2008;2:58. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). 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. There are some solutions and new recycling ideas, yet, the reduction of waste for disposable razors is still far off. It has a low density and is quite flexible and heat resistant, therefore making it an easily moulded and extruded material. #3. 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. In this paper, many details about the life cycle stages were not included. 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. This is where most of the complexity of an LCA is involved. DEHP leaches out upon exposure to heat and lipids, as would be the case in contact with mucous membranes. Sinha R, Sunder R. Retiring reusable laryngeal mask airways after 40: an anaesthetist's dilemma. 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). : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts. ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Sustainable Development Report. After the end of their recommended lifetime, reusable LMAs were also placed in municipal solid waste containers. 39 ($0.37/Count) FREE delivery Thu, Mar 2 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. Despite manufacturer-recommended cleaning processes, and various modifications thereof, proteinaceous material may remain on reusable LMAs.27 Of particular concern, these residues may expose patients to prions causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, CreutzfeldtJakob disease. xTkJ((5:Ome\%{yIlka;K=1 Siddle, Dave. . The newest effort to recycle disposable razors is being done in France by BIC, but the company has said that they do not plan on unveiling a recycling program anywhere else yet (Powers). If the reusable LMA is discarded prematurely, e.g., after 20 uses,16 the unit cost increases to $13 per unit, but decreases to $5.50 if the lifetime can be extended to 80 uses. What Is Tungsten Carbide?" Recycling of Polypropylene (PP). AZoCleantech.com, 25 June 2012, www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=240. In this life cycle breakdown, I will be discussing what materials go into the making of disposable razors and what processes the materials go through in the operation of making a disposable razor. The metal is not yet to its final form, as it is still greatly held together by the previously added binders. 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%).