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). And then there's the water. 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. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. 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. disposable paper diaper; material recycling; closed-loop recycling; life cycle assessment (LCA) 1. 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).). Each time the steam autoclave machine conducts a sterilizing cycle, a large amount of energy is used to heat the steam. 3.Quantify the materials and processes The blade is made from a tungsten steel, and carbon alloy. The life cycle assessment results shown here allow clinicians and health care administrators to understand the balance between direct benefits of a given LMA choice to local patient care and the environmental and human health impacts of that choice that occur far from the operating room. Overcash M. Comparison of reusable and disposable medical textiles. 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. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). 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. Whereas transportation has a relatively significant GHG impact for the disposable LMAs, by comparison the transportation of reusable LMAs has little impact on GHG emissions, because 40 disposable LMAs must be shipped to provide an equivalent function to 1 reusable LMA. %PDF-1.5 % GaBi includes its own database containing life cycle inventories of processes such as polypropylene manufacturing, transportation, and landfill . 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. Quantifying the Environmental Impacts of Labor. 21 offers from $5.20. WC2N 6EZ, Redesigning the razor Life Cycle Assessment. Phase 3: Life Cycle Impact Assessment. 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.. 1. In this section we also need to state the assumptions made during the process: 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. Wat LI, Brimacombe JR, Gee S. Laryngeal mask airway longevity and pilot-balloon failure. Siddle, Dave. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts.ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. 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. 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). The long and harmful life-cycle of disposable razors is not reflected to the buyer browsing aisles of fully stocked razor shelves. The Great Recovery was a project by the RSA working with Innovate UK which ran between 2012 and 2016. What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal? AZoM.com, 2 Aug. 2009, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4827. Kelly, John. Hedrick, Art. To begin the process of creating the metal, the tungsten is purified and ground into a fine powder. Highlights 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. 1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations After the products make their way to consumers and serve their purpose, the waste must be dealt with. Disposable razors are a commonly used item for most Americans, and over two billion razors are thrown away every year in the United States (Shabecoff). The more capital-intensive option of increasing the energy efficiency of the autoclave machines by 10% decreases GHG emissions by 8%. Most of those razors just end up in a landfill because most countries are not recycling them. 8 John Adam Street Ison E, Miller A. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: 1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations 2.Define the life-cycle 3.Quantify the materials and processes 4.Complete the form 5.Interpret and analyse the results a Centers for Disease Control. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Transportation, 2002, 14. Overview. Powers, Matt, and Amanda M. Can You Recycle Disposable Razors? Earth911.Com, 30 July 2019, earth911.com/living-well-being/health/can-you-recycle-disposable-razors/. 3. 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. Buy Now. Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). 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). Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. These steps are not necessarily conducted in succession, but iteratively. Contribution: This author helped design the study, analyze the data, and prepare the manuscript. There are land, air, and water-based transportation methods. Wang, Chun Tsin, and Alexander Sutulor. Another material used is polystyrene. In this process, the metal is heated to temperatures of 1,967-2,048F (1,075-1,120C), then quenched in water to a temperature between -76- -112 F (-60- -80 C) to harden it. BIC Group, 2016, For You For Everyone Registration Document. 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. Anesth Analg 2004;99:6267, 17. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Life cycle assessment is a "cradle-to-grave" approach for determining the financial and environmental costs of a product over its entire life. Julabo Gmbh, et al. Since then, around 60 billion razors have been produced, distributed, and sold worldwide. 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 this case its the life-cycle of the cartridge-based razor. Plastics are cleaned and pelletized to be recycled into new products, such as picnic tables and park benches. 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. 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. Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. 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). A combination of transportation methods is used depending on where the product needs to go. 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. Wolters Kluwer Health Choosing a less-green disposable will magnify your razor's manufacturing impact, but it won't change the overall picture very much. The metal is not yet to its final form, as it is still greatly held together by the previously added binders. Staff, RT. 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. BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). It is also often not accepted in curbside recycling, and even when it is, it is not separated and recycled when it reaches the dumping station, making it an unsustainable and wasteful material (Polystyrene. Wikipedia.org). All that is needed is the insertion of the razor blade into the plastic body. 11 / Piece. 2. They are resins that maintain a high dimensional stability, which helps create fast and cheap plastic razor handles (Safety Razor). BIC says its product beats out other models by 59 percent. 1982, www.nytimes.com/1982/04/11/business/how-bic-lost-the-edge-to-gillette.html. Introduction Paper diapers are roughly divided into two types: those for infants and those for adults. J Environ Assess Policy Manage 2000;2:45376, 2. may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed What Is Polystyrene? Research and Innovative Technology Administration. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). 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). How Does Polystyrene Recycling Work?HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 4 Apr. 0 : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). 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. We purchase the product in a store, use the product for removing unwanted body and facial hair until it eventually dulls, and then we toss it in the bathroom trash, unaware of where it goes or where it came from. The natural half life of a large stock of reusable laryngeal mask airways at a teaching hospital. A comparative cradle to grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to determine and analyze the environmental impacts of using disposable acrylic speculums versus using reusable stainless-steel speculums in a women's university health clinic where around 5,000 pelvic exams are conducted on a yearly basis. With the recommended use of three to ten uses for disposable razors, they quickly end up in the landfill to decompose. This is based on our Life Cycle Inventory flows from phase 2. Finally, the assessment will be carried out on the new design to assess if it has a lower impact than the other options analysed. A Life Cycle Assessment is the systematic analysis of the environmental impact of products during their entire life cycle. Yet, tungsten has been found to deposit particles into the soil that causes some contamination, making it a recent concern to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. American Medical Association (AMA). Applying this method of assessment is complex and difficult and translating the theory into a . LCA is a standardized, science-based tool for quantifying the impact in order to assess lifetime environmental impact. Next, the razors will be tested for flaws, strength, and razor hardness and sharpness (Safety Razor, madehow.com). Materials were matched with appropriate life cycle inventory records from the ecoinvent database.11 Injection molding was assumed for the hard plastic pieces (polycarbonate and ABS plastic) and thermoforming for the softer plastics (silicone, polypropylene, and PVC). To start the process of making the blades, tungsten carbide is melted at high temperatures. 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 blades, which are made from a carbide steel made using tungsten carbide, the handle, which is made from a combination of plastics such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide (PPO), and the cartridge, which is made up of these plastics and sometimes the carbide steel as well (Safety Razor, madehow.com). Weissman, Alexander, et al. Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. 2 offers from $9.92. Main methodological choices . Since BICs products do not go to a single location it is impossible to give an exact number for BICs energy usage in transportation. Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). LMA North America. RSA Being that it is such a common and quickly replaced product, this is is a major issue in terms of waste. 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. This manuscript was handled by: Steven L. Shafer, MD. 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. Recycling of Polypropylene (PP). AZoCleantech.com, 25 June 2012, www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=240. #3. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2010. to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without 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. All of these equipment-related cases occurred before the routine implementation of sterilization procedures currently used in health care facilities. Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. DEHP leaches out upon exposure to heat and lipids, as would be the case in contact with mucous membranes. Its an extremely strong and durable metal compound, making it perfect for the use of razor blades (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?; Tungsten Carbide. Wikipedia.org). 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. 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. 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. Safety Razor. How Products Are Made www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. 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. Anesthesiology 2003;99:1066, 6. Steel Life Cycle.SSAB, www.ssab.com/company/sustainability/sustainable-offering/steel-life-cycle?di=discover21C927E58ECC41198B78D915F7E3E2AF. It is at this stage that very small amounts of other metals such as iron, silicon, and chromium may be added to the carbide to increase its strength and durability. The next step is to temper the steel at a temperature of 482-752F (250- 400C) and pressed into thin sheets (Safety Razor, madehow.com). Manufacturer specifications indicate 20 kWh of electricity use for a 5-minute cycle at 135C. Your message has been successfully sent to your colleague. Anaesth Intensive Care 2004;32:5304, 4. Brimacombe J, Keller C, Morris R, Mecklem D. A comparison of the disposable versus the reusable laryngeal mask airway in paralyzed adult patients. Life Cycle Impact Assessment is the estimation of indicators of the environmental pressures in terms of e.g. Lv, Andrea Lind, and Tigist Fetene. The plastic handle and head of the disposable razor consists of a hybrid of polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide, also known as PPO. One of the materials used is polypropylene, a thermoplastic addition polymer made from the combination of propylene monomers (Creative Mechanisms Staff, creativemechanisms.com). In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method used to estimate the total environmental impacts from producing a good or service. Contamination problems with reuse of laryngeal mask airways and laryngoscopes. 15 - 21 Our group recently performed a life cycle assessment of anesthetic drug trays, finding that reusable trays were both environmentally and . The purpose of this assessment is to compare two different types of razors: cartridge based vs. double edge safety razor. hbbd``b`z$k@D The number of BIC razors that are used by consumers is astounding. A major flaw in the disposable razors design is in fact its inability to be sustainably and properly disposed, despite what its name suggests. Shabecoff, Philip. 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.9 Data collection was specific to Yale New Haven Hospital, including device transportation, cleaning procedures and labor, energy requirements, and disposal. Goal, scope and background The industrial packages sector has great importance for the transport sector in Europe. Ans: (i) Significant growth in industry of super premium segment . Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Inc., 26 Sept. 2012, www.britannica.com/technology/tungsten-processing#ref82029. LCA's are completed particularly in relation to how to develop a sustainable world where less waste and more reuse is implemented. Upgrading to a new, energy-efficient autoclave machine leads to a nearly equal reduction in life cycle GHG emissions and may be considered particularly in instances in which older equipment is being used. Sherman JD, Ryan S. Ecological responsibility in anesthesia practice. The disposable LMA consisted largely of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, and the reusable LMA consisted primarily of silicone. Gillette Mach3 Disposable Razors for Men, 6 Count, Designed for Sensitive Skin. Polypropylene is recyclable with the resin code of 5, which is its numbered identification code that is used to identify what resins plastic products are made of, and indicate how they are recycled. Cited Here. The results also suggest effective procurement strategies for reducing the impacts of disposable LMAs where they are selected. Anaesthesia 2000;55:7001, 18. Atlanta, 2012. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. 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). With the results we supply the basis for strategic decisions for sustainable action. The next step the blade goes through is called polishing in which is done using strops made out of cowhide to get the desired blade edge shape, the blade is then cut into the sizes of the individual blades, which are then sent off to be inspected. (ii)Access paramount's competitive position? The razors are mainly made of plastic, so they will be decomposing at a very slow rate in the landfill. Pollution of the oceans from plastics has become an increasingly large issue that researchers are still assessing. Camera visual inspection is performed and This is all to ensure BICs quality standards are being met and ensure a quality product. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. This is done on an assembly line by the robotic arm the inserts the razor blade into the small crevices in the plastic body. Please enable scripts and reload this page. At 20 reuse cycles,16 the results indicate an increase in emissions of nearly 20%. There is also an additional resin called fluorine resin that is applied to the blades, which allows them to freely glide on the skin. The metal that can be used in the cartridge is also cut out during this stage. Manufacturing Processes (RAZOR): KAI FACTORY: KAI Group. KAI FACTORY | KAI Group, www.kai-group.com/global/en/kai-factory/process/razor/. E.P.A. 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. These benefits must be weighed against concerns regarding transmission of infection. 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. 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 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. Poly(Phenylene Oxide). The Polymer Science Learning Center, www.pslc.ws/macrog/ppo.htm. 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. The second component of the razor is the plastic body which is made of a fairly inexpensive plastic called polystyrene. Cargo planes and other transport aircraft use jet fuel which produces 135,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). 1. The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. Packaging is an . For You for Everyone Registration Document. 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. At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. :396?Qkt)e. It has a low density and is quite flexible and heat resistant, therefore making it an easily moulded and extruded material. Waste is not only a problem when a product is disposed of, but also when it is initially manufactured. For climate change impacts specifically, the reusable LMA contributes 7.4 kg CO2e of GHGs over its life cycle, and the equivalent 40 disposable LMAs contribute 11.3 kg CO2e, or approximately the equivalent to burning a gallon (4 L) of gasoline. Nash, Nathaniel C. HOW BIC LOST THE EDGE TO GILLETTE. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Apr. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. Marvel Product Razor Lady Body Shaver Disposable Razore. Park Ridge, IL: American Society of Anesthesiologists, 1999, 15. These containers, mainly wooden pallets and spools, are subject to European legislat 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. This assessment is exceptionally useful as it shows the designer what areas are the most impactful during the products life cycle. The cartridge-based razor had a slightly higher impact due to the rubber parts which cant be separated from the plastic body. Click the image for pricing & more info. The main causes of the reusable LMA's environmental impacts are the steam used in the autoclave sterilizing machine and, to a lesser extent, the wastewater generated from washing the LMAs. Anyone can send in razors of any kind, and the plastic and cardboard packaging as well. Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. The metal is then quenched in water to bring it to -76 to -112 degrees Fahrenheit to harden the material (Safety Razor). 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. 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. 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). 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). 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. 2006 have considered a process water flow of 10,000 m3/day for a time period of 15 years (system design life) as the function unit used in order to compare the different wastewater treatment processes . 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. Anesth Analg 2012;114:105566, 8. The blades and lubricating strip were too light to be measured with our equipment so their weights were rounded to 1g. BIC put out a report detailing how they deal with the waste from their factories. Figueredo E. Changes in the intracuff pressure of the laryngeal masks airway caused by repeated use. 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. These are the reasons why I will carry out an Eco-Indicator Assessment instead of a full LCA. endstream endobj startxref 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. We purchase the product in a store, use the product for removing unwanted body and facial hair until it eventually dulls, and then we toss it in the bathroom trash, unaware of where it goes or where it came from. What Is Tungsten Carbide?" 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. 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. Once Terracycle has collected the waste, it is: broken down and separated by material. Amersfoort, The Netherlands: Product Ecology (PR) Consultants, 2011, 11. 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.

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