Finally, the razors are packaged in cardboard and plastic, and shipped out to stores and markets globally for customers to purchase and use. Health care facilities can decrease their environmental impacts by using reusable LMAs, by selecting disposable LMA models that are not made of certain plastics, and by ordering in bulk from local distributors. (i)What changes occurring in non-disposable Razor category? Comparative environmental and human health (HH) impacts for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMA), Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) impact assessment method. Comparison of disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways in spontaneously ventilating adult patients. Olsen, Alexandra. Product Ecology (PR) Consultants. How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed? Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/how-is-tungsten-carbide-formed/. 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). These included alternative routes and modes of transport from San Diego to New Haven, changes in autoclave loading practices and efficiency, and varied amounts of PVC in the disposable LMA. There is no public data entailing the details of this plastics recyclability. Applying this method of assessment is complex and difficult and translating the theory into a . The sheets are then cut out using a process called die stamping, using a tool called a die stamp which is a special, one-of-a-kind precision tool that cuts and forms sheet metal into a desired shape or profile, where the blades are die stamped at a rate of 800-1,200 strokes a minute into the desired shape and size (Hedrick, Die Basics 101: Intro to Stamping.). The fewer LMAs placed in the autoclave, the larger the impacts on GHG emissions and global warming on each individual unit. At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. The Fate of the Disposable Razor.Industrial Equipment News (IEN), 7 Aug. 2019, www.ien.com/product-development/news/21081402/the-fate-of-the-disposable-razor. It has been assumed that the packaging contains cardboard, even though it has been made from other natural fibres like bamboo, as there is no info on those materials in the Eco-Indicator tables. The use of LCA to introduce life-cycle thinking into decision-making for the purchase of medical devices in the NHS. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. E.P.A. Goodman EJ, Haas AJ. #4. Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. Where material types were unknown, proxies were assumed from relevant literature,2 although more detailed material information from suppliers would permit a more robust analysis. 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. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). The number of BIC razors that are used by consumers is astounding. This is shown through their commitment to their eco-design process and new recycling programs that are undergoing testing. 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). After that, the metal is pressed down to the desired blade thickness which is around 1mm (Manufacturing Processes). WC2N 6EZ, Redesigning the razor Life Cycle Assessment. Poly(Phenylene Oxide). The Polymer Science Learning Center, www.pslc.ws/macrog/ppo.htm. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . Manufacturers can do this solely by machine or by human eye/hand plus machine for extra quality assurance. Sensitivity and simple life cycle cost analyses were conducted to aid in interpretation of the results. 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. At 20 reuse cycles,16 the results indicate an increase in emissions of nearly 20%. 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. BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). 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. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. American Medical Association (AMA). Weissman, Alexander, et al. These impacts are quantified here in terms of energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using general factors for US labor.22. 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. 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. 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. 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. The reusable LMA was found to have a more favorable environmental profile than the disposable LMA as used at Yale New Haven Hospital. On the basis of manufacturer information and density testing, the materials used in the 2 LMAs were identified and their compositions measured using a microgram scale (Table 1). 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. Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. 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. 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. 13, 14 There are few published life cycle assessment studies of medical items (ref. Features Downloads. Uncertainties about the correctness of the model. 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. The majority of life cycle human health impacts of disposable LMAs are caused by PVC use in packaging and the device itself. Comparison of the single use and reusable intubating laryngeal mask airway. Reusable LMAs were collected in a dirty device bin on the anesthesia cart and then reprocessed by the anesthesia technicians. Gillette Mach3 Men's Disposable Razor for Sensitive Skin - Best Cartridge Razor for Sensitive Skin. Data is temporarily unavailable. No such cases have been reported since 1976.a There is no reported case of iatrogenic infection of any type linked to a reusable LMA. endstream endobj startxref 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. To make the handle and cartridges, these various plastics are heated together and melted together along with optional colorants and various filler materials. The data collected through LCA helps organizations make conscious decisions that affect the environment. xTkJ((5:Ome\%{yIlka;K=1 However, of the 2 billion razors disposed of annually, about 32% end up in the ocean (Kaplan). BIC has noted however that they strive to be as efficient with materials used when it comes to their packaging. 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. The LMA, within the heat seal pouch, was then placed in the steam autoclave sterilizing machine (Castle/Getinge MC 3522). The disposable LMA consisted largely of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, and the reusable LMA consisted primarily of silicone. From mining and extracting the natural tungsten metal, to making the metal alloy and manufacturing just the blade, waste is released. Staff, Creative Mechanisms. PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. Life Cycle Impact Assessment is the estimation of indicators of the environmental pressures in terms of e.g. 3.7.Product Life Cycle Analysis . This is where the razors are portioned into their desired packaging amounts, that will be sent off to consumers. Gillette Mach3 Disposable Razors for Men, 6 Count, Designed for Sensitive Skin. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Kaplan, Desire. Contrary to common expectation, hair is actually pretty hard. 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. use/disposable and multiple-use/washable surgical gowns. 3. Reducing Trichloroethylene (TCE) Waste in the Fabricated Metals Sector.EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 9 Aug. 2016, www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/reducing-trichloroethylene-tce-waste-fabricated-metals-sector. International Sympsium on Sustainable Systems and Technology. Their disposable nature causes them to be put into landfills faster than it takes them to be made, packaged, and shipped. 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. 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). The indirect emissions were mostly from the electricity use in the factories. B|$5 Ans: (i) Significant growth in industry of super premium segment . 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. Sustainable Development at BIC . 6 Jan. 2011. The cheap price of the razor does not reflect the high cost of its waste and impact on the environment. The alloy must allow for easy manufacturing due to the high demand of disposable razors and enough strength to last through transportation and shelf holding. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 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. Despite the overall lower impacts of the reusable LMA, there are still several ways that its environmental profile could be improved, as suggested by the results shown in Table 2. 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. Properties: Tungsten Carbide-An Overview. AZoM.com, 25 Nov. 2019, www.azom.com/properties.aspx?ArticleID=1203. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. Buy Now. How Does Polystyrene Recycling Work?HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 4 Apr. 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/. 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). 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. How Long Will It Take That Bag of Trash to Decompose in a Landfill?The Balance Small Business, The Balance Small Business, 22 Oct. 2019, www.thebalancesmb.com/how-long-does-it-take-garbage-to-decompose-2878033#plastic-waste. 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. Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment.The Great Recovery, www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. Lippiatt BC, Boyles AS. 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. 1. 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. During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. To create the metal compound, carbon is added to the purified tungsten in a complex chemical process where the materials are heated to over 2,200 degrees celsius. The remaining percentage is split up between energy consumption in their three facilities in: Clichy (France), Shelton (U.S.), and Cajamar (Brazil) (For You For Everyone: Registration Document, Bic). 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). Both were assumed to be transported to Los Angeles, CA, by container ship, and from there by truck to the company distribution center in San Diego, CA. 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). Certain practices would further reduce the environmental impacts of reusable LMAs, such as increasing the number of devices autoclaved in a single cycle to 10 (25% GHG emissions) and improving the energy efficiency of the autoclaving machines by 10% (8% GHG emissions). You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the impact of products on the environment. 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). This reflects the equivalence between 40 disposable LMAs and their associated materials, waste, and 40 uses of 1 reusable LMA. Siddle, Dave. DEHP is a plasticizer routinely added to impart flexibility to PVC-based products, such as IV bags, tubing, and endotracheal tubes. Please try again soon. Scope of the life cycle assessment for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMAs). More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. During production, two components have to be created which are the blade and the plastic body. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. It has been assumed that the only part recycled at the end of life is the packaging. BIC has reported their total energy usage and carbon footprint in their factories around the world, this was all however for the year 2016. How One Facility Completely Eliminated the Use of TCE Schick Razor Blade Manufacturing in Knoxville, Tennessee. 2017. Amersfoort, The Netherlands: Product Ecology (PR) Consultants, 2011, 11. What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal? AZoM.com, 2 Aug. 2009, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4827. It can also help them to compare the newly redesigned product to the original, acting as a benchmark to ensure the design changes are actually positive for the environment. 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). Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? Life cycle assessment is a "cradle-to-grave" approach for determining the financial and environmental costs of a product over its entire life. Finally, the assessment will be carried out on the new design to assess if it has a lower impact than the other options analysed. Life Cycle Assessment - definition & methodology. Terracycle is a company that was created to address the issue of recyclable products that often end up in landfills. This is done on an assembly line by the robotic arm the inserts the razor blade into the small crevices in the plastic body. 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. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely-used technique to comprehensively assess the impacts of a product or a process on the environment and acts as an effective tool in gauging the. LCA is the most common tool for quantifying the environmental effects associated with a product, process, or service's entire life (Baumann and Tillman 2004).LCA was performed in accordance with the international standards of the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 . LMA North America. With the amount of waste accumulated from the factories and the bulk of the razors ending up in landfills and oceans, a low price of $1 removes the buyer from how high the cost on the environment a disposable razor is. Such an analysis is commonly performed using life cycle assessment. And then there's the water. An LCA is a life cycle assessment which is completed through research, testing and understanding of the environmental impacts a particular item creates through it's resources use/ production/distribution/disposal. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts.ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: 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%). In this paper, many details about the life cycle stages were not included. Williams S, Henderson K. A survey into the number of times laryngeal masks are used. 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. However, the viability of the disposable razor is always thrown into question because of the sheer amount of resources that it expends. 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). Since BICs products do not go to a single location it is impossible to give an exact number for BICs energy usage in transportation. Shabecoff, Philip. On the other hand, extending the number of uses to 80 (doubling the lifetime) reduces GHG emissions by 9%. 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. 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. 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. The major problem with recycling this plastic however, is that during the heating process, the plastic degrades in quality making it less valuable (What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal?, AZoM.com). 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). The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. Rogers, Tony. Each razor can last up to 12 gentle shaves. The metal used for the razor blades is called Tungsten Carbide which is used in wear applications, such as shaving (Safety Razor). 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. LCA can be used to compare alternative products, processes or services; compare alternative life cycles for a certain product . After the plastic body is manufactured it goes through inspections similar to ones the blades go through. There are so many variables that you have to take into account when calculating how much of an impact a product is having on the environment and our resources. To begin the process of making tungsten carbide, the tungsten must first be extracted. The final value for the cartridge-based razor was 115.06 mPt, and the value for the double edge safety razor was 15.70 mPt. 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. There much environmentally friendly options when it comes to shavings, such as the traditional safety razor and straight razors, which can have a much longer life than disposable razors. LCA's are completed particularly in relation to how to develop a sustainable world where less waste and more reuse is implemented. 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. 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. 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 . Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. To compile a detailed life cycle inventory of the environmental burdens 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). Reusable LMA cleaning was observed to proceed as follows. Safety Razor.How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. 6,474. Cad M, Webb T, Bjorksten A. These steps are not necessarily conducted in succession, but iteratively. qILL@#nO @8 Brimacombe J, Keller C, Morris R, Mecklem D. A comparison of the disposable versus the reusable laryngeal mask airway in paralyzed adult patients. But this is expected from a large brand like Gillette. A SYSTEMATIC METHODOLOGY FOR ACCURATE DESIGN-STAGE ESTIMATION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR INJECTION MOLDED PARTS. Tungsten carbide is a carbide compound, made up of equal parts of tungsten and carbon. Safety Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Released from PVC Medical Devices. The metal must be mined and extracted from the mountain causing an emission of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases (Wang). Overall, while the materials for disposable razors are few, and the products basic design makes it appear simplistic, the products lifecycle is far from simple. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). 0 8tZ Eshwar Shop. Staff, RT. Packaging is an . There are land, air, and water-based transportation methods. 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.
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