life cycle assessment of disposable razors

Because of its high stability, PPO is a very widely used plastic for many different household items. After the reusable LMA was washed and dried, it was then placed into a heat seal pouch, made of polypropylene film and paper. Sustainable Development at BIC . 6 Jan. 2011. E-LCA is a time tested assessment technique that evaluates environmental performance throughout the life cycle of a product or from performing a service. To compile a detailed life cycle inventory of the environmental burdens 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. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2010. Finally, the need for manual labor in the cleaning process of reusable LMAs contributed to the costs of these LMAs. 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. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There is also an additional resin called fluorine resin that is applied to the blades, which allows them to freely glide on the skin. Anaesth Intensive Care 2004;32:5304, 4. 0 8tZ This obviously makes the results less accurate, but it can still be used as a general indicator of impact. After that, the metal is pressed down to the desired blade thickness which is around 1mm (Manufacturing Processes). This reflects the equivalence between 40 disposable LMAs and their associated materials, waste, and 40 uses of 1 reusable LMA. Since then, around 60 billion razors have been produced, distributed, and sold worldwide. This is shown through their commitment to their eco-design process and new recycling programs that are undergoing testing. Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Inc., 26 Sept. 2012, www.britannica.com/technology/tungsten-processing#ref82029. 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. Steel Life Cycle.SSAB, www.ssab.com/company/sustainability/sustainable-offering/steel-life-cycle?di=discover21C927E58ECC41198B78D915F7E3E2AF. Life cycle assessment of a disposable and a reusable surgery instrument set for spinal fusion surgeries Leiden A, Cerdas F, Noriega D, Beyerlein J, Herrmann C. Life cycle assessment of a disposable and reusable surgery instrument set for spinal fusion surgeries. The backbone of LCA is the life cycle inventory (LCI), an analysis of material and energy ows resulting from all phases of the product life cycle. One of their most popular products is the disposable razor, which they started to manufacture in 1975. We perform Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Critical Reviews in accordance with ISO 14040/44 for products and services. Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. 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. Questions and Answers: CreutzfeldtJakob Disease Infection-Control Practices. After the plastic body is manufactured it goes through inspections similar to ones the blades go through. 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. The autoclave was typically run with 5 LMAs, although loading varied significantly. Being that it is such a common and quickly replaced product, this is is a major issue in terms of waste. The metal used for the razor blades is called Tungsten Carbide which is used in wear applications, such as shaving (Safety Razor). Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. Criteria for the selection and purchase of medical devices typically include safety for patients and staff, efficacy and ease of use, and purchase and handling prices. Another advantage is that the process produces a single score (Eco-Indicator Point) for the all the impacts of the product, not just individual ones for each part. By not using air travel and transport, BIC greatly reduces their energy usage and carbon footprint at the same time. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. Julabo Gmbh, et al. WC2N 6EZ, Redesigning the razor Life Cycle Assessment. Define the Life-cycle This is an example of a simple product life-cycle diagram. endstream endobj startxref 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. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: The GTG LCIs are added together to give a cradle-to-gate (CTG) life cycle inventory . Reprints will not be available from the authors. Anesth Analg 1993;77:1079, 21. 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 BIC is a French manufacturing company that produces a variety of disposable consumer products like pens, lighters and disposable razors. 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). Nash, Nathaniel C. HOW BIC LOST THE EDGE TO GILLETTE. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Apr. One of the materials used is polypropylene, a thermoplastic addition polymer made from the combination of propylene monomers (Creative Mechanisms Staff, creativemechanisms.com). Tungsten has a high melting point and is used mainly for strong tools unless used for smaller applications when combined with a carbon alloy: Its alloys are employed in rocket-engine nozzles and other aerospace applications (Safety Razors). 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). A life cycle assessment or analysis according to ISO 14040/14044 is an instrument of environmental and sustainability management. In this section we also need to state the assumptions made during the process: Production of razor blades across the industry is fairly standard. On the basis of information provided by the distributing company, the disposable LMA was manufactured in Hangzhou, China, and the reusable LMA was manufactured in Singapore. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). 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).). Then we collected and structured the data in phase 2. The environmental effects of labor are often omitted from life cycle assessment studies, but are included here as part of the sensitivity analysis. Get new journal Tables of Contents sent right to your email inbox, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/cjd/qa_cjd_infection_control.htm, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Laryngeal Mask Airways, Articles in PubMed by Matthew Eckelman, PhD, Articles in Google Scholar by Matthew Eckelman, PhD, Other articles in this journal by Matthew Eckelman, PhD, May 2012 - Environment and Anesthesia Practice, A Comparison of Reusable and Disposable Perioperative Textiles: Sustainability State-of-the-Art 2012, Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Anesthetic Drugs, Environmental and Occupational Considerations of Anesthesia: A Narrative Review and Update, Global Warming Potential of Inhaled Anesthetics: Application to Clinical Use, A Survey of Anesthesiologists' Views of Operating Room Recycling, Privacy Policy (Updated December 15, 2022), International Anesthesia Research Society. There are many detailed stages but the main ones are: extracting and. The total amount of indirect emissions was 89,762 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). Int J Life Cycle Assess 2001;6:7680, 13. LMA Classic Product Specifications, 2011, 10. LCA for product sustainability. Part of this responsible shipping mentality forces them to change their packaging to be able to ship more at a time. 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. 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. Bic Disposable Razor (1975). Plastics News Europe, 19 Nov. 2009, www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20091119/PNE/311199986/bic-disposable-razor-1975. Introduction Paper diapers are roughly divided into two types: those for infants and those for adults. 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. How Does Polystyrene Recycling Work?HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 4 Apr. Overview. LCAs can be used comparatively to assess different product or service design options or to identify environmental . On the basis of such criteria, single-use disposable medical devices are increasingly supplanting reusable devices in the United States (US) and elsewhere.1 Although purchase and maintenance costs for disposable devices are perceived to be less than for reusables, this fails to account for indirect costs to society from the environmental impacts attributable to the entire life cycle of a device. 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. 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. Uncertainties about the correctness of the model. GaBi is a LCA software that allows its users to connect environmental impacts to a product across its lifespan. Biron, Michel. Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). 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. Anesth Analg 2004;99:6267, 17. In 2016, Bic reduced packaging for their Soleil Razor by 40%. The high waste from manufacturing and shipping such a small, and cheap product is one that is negatively impacting the planet. There is uncertainty in several model assumptions. Int Anesthesiol Clin 2010;48:139, 24. The blades are then carefully sharpened to create the razor blades. The cheap price of the razor does not reflect the high cost of its waste and impact on the environment. 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. It all starts with the melting and combining of the desired metal. Our LCA team retains its reputation as the most experienced life cycle staff in North America. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Transportation, 2002, 14. 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. 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. They have teamed up with Gillette to raise awareness about the massive waste of disposable razors by allowing users to mail their old razors in to be recycled. 2019, science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/polystyrene-recycling.htm. Now that we understand the key challenges with the razors, and where the biggest impacts are occurring, we can begin to make informed decisions in the redesign. 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. The purpose of this assessment is to compare two different types of razors: cartridge based vs. double edge safety razor. The reusable LMA was found to have a more favorable environmental profile than the disposable LMA as used at Yale New Haven Hospital. Several waste management scenarios were also considered, including 100% landfilling and 100% incineration, because practices are highly location dependent. Can J Anaesth 2001;48:40912, 22. Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. Experience spanning from the market-leading environment and climate practice of a global top 10 law firm - to leading Europe's largest . Information on PPO plastics are difficult to find, as most of the data is about how it is made, and the chemical makeup and stability of the plastic, rather than information on the decomposition rate or waste used in the making of it. climate change, summer smog, resource depletion, acidification, human health effects, etc. BIC has done their best to deal with waste in an environmentally conscious manner. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. Choosing models that use alternate materials is recommended, particularly because the American Medical Association is urging hospitals and health systems to reduce their use of PVC products, especially those containing DEHP.26 The shipment of LMAs by air also greatly increased overall impacts, pointing to a strategy of bulk ordering from local distributors well in advance of use, and avoiding overnight shipment whenever possible. Cargo planes and other transport aircraft use jet fuel which produces 135,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). The alloy is strong enough to resist moisture for a short time in the buyers shower, yet, in the landfill, it does eventually rust and decompose. The alternatives are objects made of bio compostable plastic,. We can see how the double edge safety razor has a much lower impact due to the low amount of parts and materials used and the fact that the blade can be separated from the rest of the body and recycled (reducing the overall impact of the product). A 20-mL disposable syringe was used during device placement to inflate the cuffs of both types of LMAs to ensure proper fit, and a procedure was then performed. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the impact of products on the environment. 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. 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. 4.Complete the form 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. What makes for an easy, simple, and affordable mass produced and used product costs more in its long afterlife in the landfill, out of sight of the buyers awareness. 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).

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