Safety Razor. How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. The following document provides an introductory overview of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and describes the general uses and major components of LCA. a Centers for Disease Control. Life Cycle Assessment: Biopharma SUTs - BioProcess Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. Previous studies have examined the relative environmental profiles of reusables and disposables with regard to medical textiles7 and anesthetic drug trays.8 The present study uses life cycle assessment to evaluate the life cycle impacts of disposable and reusable LMAs across several categories of environmental and human health impacts. 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. 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. However, by looking at just this one company, there is a sense of the massive amount of direct and indirect emissions from just the making of razors that are thrown away so quickly after use, with an increase annually of users. The Eco-Indicator for EPDM rubber includes the manufacturing of the rubber as well as the molding process. These are the reasons why I will carry out an Eco-Indicator Assessment instead of a full LCA. 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. International Sympsium on Sustainable Systems and Technology. LMA Classic Product Specifications, 2011, 10. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. %PDF-1.5 % 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 life cycle assessment software package SimaPro 7.3.2 was used to conduct our analysis.10 The majority of inventory data were drawn from the ecoinvent v2.2 life cycle inventory database.11 Impacts were assessed using the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability v4.02 impact assessment method,12 which encompasses both environmental concerns (such as climate change, acid rain and smog formation, water use, and ozone depletion) and human-health-related impacts (such as cancer and noncancer ailments and emission of criteria air pollutants). Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. 2019, science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/polystyrene-recycling.htm. Using Life Cycle Assessments to Understand Cloth vs. Disposables - BAHP 10 Best Disposable Razors for Men (Incl. Cartridge) - 2023 Uncertainties about the correctness of the model. 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. Poly(Phenylene Oxide). The Polymer Science Learning Center, www.pslc.ws/macrog/ppo.htm. 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. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). 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. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). (PDF) Sources, Fate and Effects of Microplastics in the Marine Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) explained - PR Sustainability By raising awareness and creating locations where one can drop off used razors for recycling, perhaps a change can come. Lippiatt BC, Boyles AS. There is also an additional resin called fluorine resin that is applied to the blades, which allows them to freely glide on the skin. They report their waste production being at 340 tons, which represented an increase of 22% from 2015 (Bic). American Medical Association (AMA). After the end of their recommended lifetime, reusable LMAs were also placed in municipal solid waste containers. Click the image for pricing & more info. LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. Finally, the assessment will be carried out on the new design to assess if it has a lower impact than the other options analysed. 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. h[K#1}\$u@ BIC says its product beats out other models by 59 percent. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. These containers, mainly wooden pallets and spools, are subject to European legislat :396?Qkt)e. This study assumed no difference between the devices in terms of clinical efficacy or time for placement.4 Disposable LMAs were discarded in regular municipal solid waste bins after use. 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. HUO0NpnaJd@"&u[kj-+8=WU\*w)OMYb_ry> 1F3 nyNnb 0 Anesth Analg 1998;87:921, 3. The plastic handle and head of the disposable razor consists of a hybrid of polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide, also known as PPO. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The blade is made from a tungsten steel, and carbon alloy. What IS Life Cycle Assessment? 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. For You for Everyone Registration Document. 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. The company urges users to mail packages over 15 lbs., in order to reduce the waste of mail as well, yet is not necessary. The powder is then shaped, usually by the process of die stamping. What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)? - Sphera With the recommended use of three to ten uses for disposable razors, they quickly end up in the landfill to decompose. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a modeling tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of products and processes. Wat LI, Brimacombe JR, Gee S. Laryngeal mask airway longevity and pilot-balloon failure. Safety Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Released from PVC Medical Devices. 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. 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. The LMA was then dried with a cotton towel. Dbendorf, Switzerland, 2011, 12. An updated lifecycle assessment for disposable and reusable nappies This is only the operational energy consumption, but you still have to take into account all the energy used in the design and installation of the machinery. The plastic, however stable for the user, remains stable long after it is thrown away as well. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Transportation, 2002, 14. Not all form of impacts are valued the same, so the ones with the largest impact should be tackled first in order to produce the maximum overall improvement. The disposable LMA consisted largely of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, and the reusable LMA consisted primarily of silicone. 8 John Adam Street Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002, 26. The use of disposable razors is unsustainable with our growing population and increased demand. Life cycle environmental impacts of disposable medical masks Composition Assumptions for Disposable and Reusable Largyngeal Mask Airways (LMAs). Impact Assessment. Technical Fact Sheet-Tungsten.Technical Fact Sheet- Tungsten, EPA, Jan. 2014, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/ffrrofactsheet_contaminant_tungsten_january2014_final.pdf. There are various ways that the product can get there. Criteria air pollutants arise for the disposable LMA primarily from the production of ethylene (a polymer precursor) and the combustion of natural gas throughout the system, and for the reusable LMA from the combustion of fossil fuels to produce steam and electricity. Despite its ability to be recycled, it often ends up in the landfill as many people dont know how to properly recycle it, people are too lazy to recycle, or the plastics arent labeled properly (Polypropylene. Wikipedia). Most of those razors just end up in a landfill because most countries are not recycling them. Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. BIC Group, 2016, For You For Everyone Registration Document. 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). A Comparison Life Cycle Assessment between Razor Blade and Electric Shaver. Dec. 2012. BIC has noted however that they strive to be as efficient with materials used when it comes to their packaging. In landfilling or incinerating this part, the large amount of energy and material value used in creating it is lost. GaBi is a LCA software that allows its users to connect environmental impacts to a product across its lifespan. The carbon footprint reported was separated into two sections which are direct and indirect emissions. 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. 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. Ecoinvent 2.2. An exact number for the energy use for BIC was not obtained. 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. Research and Innovative Technology Administration. 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. The majority of eutrophication impacts from disposable LMAs are from deposition of nitrogen oxide particulates from electricity generation and waste incineration, and impacts for the reusable LMA are nearly all from wastewater used in the cleaning process. Each time the steam autoclave machine conducts a sterilizing cycle, a large amount of energy is used to heat the steam. 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. E.P.A. Experience spanning from the market-leading environment and climate practice of a global top 10 law firm - to leading Europe's largest . 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. 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. It has been assumed that the only part recycled at the end of life is the packaging. 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. Life Cycle Assessment Explained - STiCH The 2 LMA options are nearly equivalent in terms of eutrophication impacts, but with different contributions. 2 offers from $9.92. 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. Kaplan, Desire. 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). In conclusion, disposable razors are being used and thrown away at a rate that is unsustainable for the finite space on the planet. The differences in environmental impacts between these devices strongly favor reusable devices. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method used to estimate the total environmental impacts from producing a good or service. 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. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. EPA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 2001;6:7680, 13. Comparative life cycle assessment of disposable and reusable - PubMed 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. may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed 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 The metal liquid then goes through a strengthening process called annealing. Anyone can send in razors of any kind, and the plastic and cardboard packaging as well. To start the process of making the blades, tungsten carbide is melted at high temperatures. 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. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) - A Complete Guide to LCAs 1. The data collected through LCA helps organizations make conscious decisions that affect the environment. To compile a detailed life cycle inventory of the environmental burdens One of their most popular products is the disposable razor, which they started to manufacture in 1975. Until now, we defined what we want to measure and collect in phase 1. 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. This project is a collaboration between the Great Recovery Programme and Fab Lab London. 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. What Is Polystyrene? : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts.ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. Tungsten Carbide. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsten_carbide. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . There are three main materials used in the plastic handle and the cartridge of the disposable razor. After the plastic body is manufactured it goes through inspections similar to ones the blades go through. The total amount of direct GHG emissions in 2016 was estimated at 8,689 teqCO2, i.e. Evolution of disposable baby diapers in Europe: life cycle assessment 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. #3. The unit cost of disposable LMAs is 20% higher at approximately $9.60 per unit. This is the fourth installment in a series of blogs in which weexplore how to design a product for circularity. The aim of this paper is to analyse substitutes to disposable plastic tableware using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. LMA North America. 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). Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): from Theory to Practical There are land, air, and water-based transportation methods. Disposable razors are designed for consumers that prefer minimum spending . 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. qILL@#nO @8 Life Cycle Assessment | EcoAct LeBlanc, Rick. 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. Teoh W, Lim Y. Life Cycle Impact Assessment is the estimation of indicators of the environmental pressures in terms of e.g. 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. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS - CLEAN EDGE, NON DISPOSABLE RAZOR Q1. (ii)Access paramount's competitive position? 1. Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS).Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS), www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/polystyrene-ps-plastic. Life-cycle assessment - Ways of reducing the use of resources - AQA After the products make their way to consumers and serve their purpose, the waste must be dealt with. 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. The specific type or blend of plastic for BIC razors is used is called polystyrene (Europe). During production, two components have to be created which are the blade and the plastic body. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - Complete Beginner's Guide - Ecochain These benefits must be weighed against concerns regarding transmission of infection. 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. This is where the razors are portioned into their desired packaging amounts, that will be sent off to consumers. When designing a product for circularity it is often difficult to know where to begin. Camera visual inspection is performed and This is all to ensure BICs quality standards are being met and ensure a quality product. But what really goes into making one of these seemingly mundane disposable razors and what happens to it after its tossed in the trash? 2. Biron, Michel. Figueredo E. Changes in the intracuff pressure of the laryngeal masks airway caused by repeated use. 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. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. There are 3 key tasks in this step. Disposable and reusable LMAs typically differ in material composition, packaging, reuse, and cost. 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. Sustainability | Free Full-Text | Reducing the Environmental Impact of Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. Features Downloads. In this case its the life-cycle of the cartridge-based razor. From:. Then we collected and structured the data in phase 2. Eckelman, Matthew PhD*; Mosher, Margo; Gonzalez, Andres; Sherman, Jodi MD. 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). DEHP is a plasticizer routinely added to impart flexibility to PVC-based products, such as IV bags, tubing, and endotracheal tubes. 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). Conversely, impacts can be reduced by autoclaving more LMAs at once or with other equipment with similar decontamination requirements. Life of a Razor Blade - GreatRazors.com The studies have not found it to be harmful to drinking water, or public safety, however, it is an ongoing research of soil data that continues. 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 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). The number of BIC razors that are used by consumers is astounding. Quantifying the Environmental Impacts of Labor. Life cycle assessment of bio-based products: a disposable diaper case disposable paper diaper; material recycling; closed-loop recycling; life cycle assessment (LCA) 1. 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. life cycle assessment European Environment Agency