A life-cycle inventory of cloth and disposable diapers was conducted based on diapering habits in Canada The parameters evaluated were energy consumption, water consumption, raw materials 15 Crop water use and water use efficiency on irrigated cotton farms in Australia S. Tennakoon, S. Milroy Environmental Science 2003 93 Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall results. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. An exact number for the energy use for BIC was not obtained. Production of razor blades across the industry is fairly standard. The alternatives are objects made of bio compostable plastic,. Wolters Kluwer Health Chicago: American Medical Association, 2006, 27. At 20 reuse cycles,16 the results indicate an increase in emissions of nearly 20%. 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 razors are mainly made of plastic, so they will be decomposing at a very slow rate in the landfill. 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). Overview. 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). Bic has attempted to lower their direct emissions by having factories world-wide and creating: a Transport Community which connects shipping managers on each continent to raise control for greenhouse gas emissions, optimize shipments and routes, and use only responsible carriers (Bic). Figueredo E. Changes in the intracuff pressure of the laryngeal masks airway caused by repeated use. In BIC factories they pride themselves in producing a quality product, so the blades go through a series of highly precise visual inspections with cameras which help with rejecting blades that do not meet BIC standards (Case Studies) After that they go through visual inspection is done be BIC employees to reject any blades that the cameras were not rejected by the inspection camera system, the blades are then send off to be coated and burned. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. Properly following the instructions it should (hopefully) leave you with three pieces, the handle, the metal blade, the plastic that was covering the blade. The more capital-intensive option of increasing the energy efficiency of the autoclave machines by 10% decreases GHG emissions by 8%. 1. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. This points to the need for effective inventory control, which is also critical for the reusable devices because there needs to be a sufficient number clean and on hand while another batch is undergoing cleaning, sterilization, and cooling. 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). Reusable LMA cleaning was observed to proceed as follows. 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 . It has a low density and is quite flexible and heat resistant, therefore making it an easily moulded and extruded material. 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. Eckelman, Matthew PhD*; Mosher, Margo; Gonzalez, Andres; Sherman, Jodi MD. 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. Where regulations permit, disposal of LMA-related waste as regular municipal waste, as opposed to biohazardous waste, should also reduce the adverse health effects stemming from medical waste incineration. This assessment is exceptionally useful as it shows the designer what areas are the most impactful during the products life cycle. The metal liquid then goes through a strengthening process called annealing. The number of BIC razors that are used by consumers is astounding. The extraction and consumption of resources (including energy), as well as releases to air, water, and soil, are quantified throughout all stages. 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 . xTkJ((5:Ome\%{yIlka;K=1 The tracking can come from sales, and in 2018 more than $1.2 billion in disposable razors were sold in the U.S., with varying prices but many disposables costing less than $1 each (Olsen). Disposable LMAs are made largely from PVC plastic, which is associated with a number of health concerns that are gaining increased attention.23 Historic efforts to minimize routine medical incineration resulted in the 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the American Hospital Association and the US Environmental Protection Agency, largely on the basis of recognition of the potential carcinogenic effects of burning PVC plastics. Another material used is polystyrene. Goodman EJ, Haas AJ. A combination of transportation methods is used depending on where the product needs to go. Quantifying the Environmental Impacts of Labor. Finally, the need for manual labor in the cleaning process of reusable LMAs contributed to the costs of these LMAs. endstream endobj startxref Approximately 24 L/min of water are used by the autoclave for cooling, for a total of 960 L of water needed to sterilize an LMA 40 times. LMA North America. This is the fourth installment in a series of blogs in which weexplore how to design a product for circularity. Each manufacturing plant or node in the supply chain is referred to as agate-to-gate (GTG) life cycle inventory. 2. Weissman, Alexander, et al. The Bic Razor, Still the Sharpest of the Bunch. Plastics Le Mag, 31 Jan. 2017, plastics-themag.com/The-Bic-razor-still-the-sharpest-of-the-bunch. Biron, Michel. Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. 2. Gillette Plastic Disposable Shaving Kit supermax, for Hotel. 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. Uncertainties about the correctness of the model. Reusable LMAs were collected in a dirty device bin on the anesthesia cart and then reprocessed by the anesthesia technicians. 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. 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). 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. Nash, Nathaniel C. HOW BIC LOST THE EDGE TO GILLETTE. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Apr. "Tungsten Processing." Manufacturers can do this solely by machine or by human eye/hand plus machine for extra quality assurance. 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. Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. DEHP is a plasticizer routinely added to impart flexibility to PVC-based products, such as IV bags, tubing, and endotracheal tubes. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 156 (2020) 104704. 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 . Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) Hazard Summary. However, BIC did report some of its transportation statistics. Recommendations for Infection Control for the Practice of Anesthesiology. 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. Dbendorf, Switzerland, 2011, 12. From:. 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. The use of LCA to introduce life-cycle thinking into decision-making for the purchase of medical devices in the NHS. 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. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. Please try again soon. 39 ($0.37/Count) FREE delivery Thu, Mar 2 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. On the Venus Gillette company website, they provide the buyer with a guide for choosing which razor is best by asking: When it comes to choosing a razor, how do you know if a disposable or reusable razor is right for you? (What's the Difference Between Disposable and Reusable Razors for Women? Venus)This question, however, only affects the buyers short usage time, and does not provide any information as to the rest of the razors life-cycle after they are ready for a new razor blade and they: throw away the entire razor and grab a new one as recommended by the manufacturer (Venus). 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. In 2016, Bic reduced packaging for their Soleil Razor by 40%. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. The cartridge-based razor had a slightly higher impact due to the rubber parts which cant be separated from the plastic body. Safety Razor. How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the impact of products on the environment. Such an analysis is commonly performed using life cycle assessment. 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. To go from raw materials to final product involves many steps and heavy energy input. endstream endobj 752 0 obj <>stream 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. 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. Anaesth Intensive Care 2004;32:5304, 4. The purpose of this assessment is to compare two different types of razors: cartridge based vs. double edge safety razor. a Centers for Disease Control. 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. 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. 2.Define the life-cycle We perform Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Critical Reviews in accordance with ISO 14040/44 for products and services. Finally, the razors are packaged in cardboard and plastic, and shipped out to stores and markets globally for customers to purchase and use. 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. After the reusable LMA was washed and dried, it was then placed into a heat seal pouch, made of polypropylene film and paper. How Does Polystyrene Recycling Work?HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 4 Apr. 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. A Comparison Life Cycle Assessment between Razor Blade and Electric Shaver. Dec. 2012. PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. The human-health-related impact categories are pertinent to those developing standards for the delivery of health care. 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. 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. The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. Gillette Razor Local Recycling Solutions.TerraCycle, www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/gillette-local-recycling. 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. 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. Questions and Answers: CreutzfeldtJakob Disease Infection-Control Practices. The cheap price of the razor does not reflect the high cost of its waste and impact on the environment. 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. Applying this method of assessment is complex and difficult and translating the theory into a . Phenylene oxide, or PPO, is another common plastic material used in disposable razors. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. 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. Disposable razors are designed for consumers that prefer minimum spending . A 2005 analysis published by U.K. Marine cargo ships use a fuel called heavy fuel oil which produces around 145,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). 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. Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. Two Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodologies were employed using SimaPro software 51,52 to calculate the environmental impacts of manufacturing both the plastic and compostable coffee . Contact Supplier. BIC has noted however that they strive to be as efficient with materials used when it comes to their packaging. 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). 3.7.Product Life Cycle Analysis . Life-cycle assessment stages 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). LCA is a standardized, science-based tool for quantifying the impact in order to assess lifetime environmental impact. Here, Great Recovery Intern Sebastian de Cabo Portugal discusses Life Cycle Assessments. Amersfoort, The Netherlands: Product Ecology (PR) Consultants, 2011, 11. Hedrick, Art. Pollution of the oceans from plastics has become an increasingly large issue that researchers are still assessing. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . When you take your blades in to the scrap metal center, choose the steel recycling bin. 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, 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? Main methodological choices . 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. E.P.A. Contribution: This author helped design the study and prepare the manuscript. 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). To start the process of making the blades, tungsten carbide is melted at high temperatures. There is no public data entailing the details of this plastics recyclability. Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS). Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS), 5 Nov. 2015, https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/polystyrene-ps-plastic. 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. Poly(Phenylene Oxide). The Polymer Science Learning Center, www.pslc.ws/macrog/ppo.htm. 769 0 obj <>stream On the other hand, extending the number of uses to 80 (doubling the lifetime) reduces GHG emissions by 9%. 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. There are only two components for the BIC disposable razors which are the plastic body and razor blade. Interpretation of results The last step in the process is to interpret the results and compare them against each other. Staff, RT. There could be hundreds of different sources for their materials. 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. 1. 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. All of these software packages and models are in widespread use by life cycle assessment practitioners in the US and internationally. However, because of the new awareness to their wasteful impact on the environment, some companies have begun to provide solutions to the disposable razor issue. 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. They also reported how they dealt with their non-hazardous waste 76 percent was recycled, 11 percent incineration with energy recovery, 10 percent was sent to land disposal, and the remaining 3 percent was sent off for a different treatment (For You for Everyone Registration Document). 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.
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