1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations This is where the razors are portioned into their desired packaging amounts, that will be sent off to consumers. 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). Safety Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Released from PVC Medical Devices. This break-even point will change depending on the category of environmental impact being considered. Soulias M, Martin L, Garnier N, Juniot A, Aho L, Freysz M. Disposable vs reusable laryngeal mask airway: a cost-minimization analysis. 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. 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. Once all the components of the razor have been made, the components go to various stations where different tasks will be performed. 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. Innovative and strategic advisor to leading philanthropies, corporates, governments, international institutions and NGOs. 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 . Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method used to estimate the total environmental impacts from producing a good or service. Some error has occurred while processing your request. 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. 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/. Finally, the razors are packaged in cardboard and plastic, and shipped out to stores and markets globally for customers to purchase and use. 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. In 2016, Bic reduced packaging for their Soleil Razor by 40%. The Ramboll Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) found that, assuming realistic usage over a year, the energy consumption involved in the use phase of reusable plastic and traditional crockery, during in-store or out-sourced washing and drying, outweighed the environmental impact of single-use paper dishes. Wang, Chun Tsin, and Alexander Sutulor. 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. A Life Cycle Assessment is the systematic analysis of the environmental impact of products during their entire life cycle. 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. 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. Reprints will not be available from the authors. Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall 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. endstream
endobj
752 0 obj
<>stream
The LMA was then dried with a cotton towel. Reusable LMAs in general appear to be made largely of silicone, lacking these same concerns for PVC/DEHP. a 4.1% (Bic). Teoh W, Lim Y. 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. 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. Manufacturing Processes (RAZOR): KAI FACTORY: KAI Group. KAI FACTORY | KAI Group, www.kai-group.com/global/en/kai-factory/process/razor/. The human-health-related impact categories are pertinent to those developing standards for the delivery of health care. 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. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. This reflects the equivalence between 40 disposable LMAs and their associated materials, waste, and 40 uses of 1 reusable LMA. What's the Difference Between Disposable and Reusable Razors for Women?Venus, www.gillettevenus.com/en-us/womens-shaving-guide/learning-to-shave/disposable-razors-vs-refillable-razors/. Life cycle analysis takes into account the following categories: Energy consumption Water consumption Air emissions (including carbon dioxide and other global warming gases) Water emissions Generation of solid waste The plastic and steel elements of the razor can be recycled, yet, because they are so lightweight and small it makes it hard to separate in the trash and unable to be recycled normally. Despite manufacturer-recommended cleaning processes, and various modifications thereof, proteinaceous material may remain on reusable LMAs.27 Of particular concern, these residues may expose patients to prions causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, CreutzfeldtJakob disease. For example, LCA results can tell us if one product is environmentally preferable to another . Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Transportation, 2002, 14. 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). Being that it is such a common and quickly replaced product, this is is a major issue in terms of waste. 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. Address correspondence to Jodi Sherman, MD, Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP3, New Haven, CT 06520. The total amount of Direct emissions from BIC factories was 8,689 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). 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). 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. Polystyrene is not biodegradable and takes hundreds of years to break down. 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. Data Uncertainty. 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 However, we can discuss the energy usage of different modes of transportation. These are the reasons why I will carry out an Eco-Indicator Assessment instead of a full LCA. Metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys (Terracycle). to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without
Then we collected and structured the data in phase 2. There are three main materials used in the plastic handle and the cartridge of the disposable razor. From mining and extracting the natural tungsten metal, to making the metal alloy and manufacturing just the blade, waste is released. Another advantage is that the process produces a single score (Eco-Indicator Point) for the all the impacts of the product, not just individual ones for each part. The company urges users to mail packages over 15 lbs., in order to reduce the waste of mail as well, yet is not necessary. After the products are packaged, there has to be a way for them to get to the end consumer. 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%). 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. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). The Great Recovery was a project by the RSA working with Innovate UK which ran between 2012 and 2016. BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). This obviously makes the results less accurate, but it can still be used as a general indicator of impact. Wages are then spent on food, entertainment, transport, and other economic activities that themselves have environmental impacts. Impact Assessment. Life-cycle assessment stages I found information about the whole blade manufacturing process, but could not find details about energy consumption in every step of the process. The metal liquid then goes through a strengthening process called annealing. The 2 LMA options are nearly equivalent in terms of eutrophication impacts, but with different contributions. After the reusable LMA was washed and dried, it was then placed into a heat seal pouch, made of polypropylene film and paper. 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. Your message has been successfully sent to your colleague. In landfilling or incinerating this part, the large amount of energy and material value used in creating it is lost. Now that we understand the key challenges with the razors, and where the biggest impacts are occurring, we can begin to make informed decisions in the redesign. Polypropylene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene. 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. 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. Anesthesiology 2003;99:1066, 6. The GTG LCIs are added together to give a cradle-to-gate (CTG) life cycle inventory . But what really goes into making one of these seemingly mundane disposable razors and what happens to it after its tossed in the trash? Sherman JD, Ryan S. Ecological responsibility in anesthesia practice. 0
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. Select patients who are highly infective warrant the choice of disposable devices; however, data do not support selecting disposables for all patients to avoid any possible risk of infection. Holes are then punched into the metal and the tapelike sheets of razors are then put in a roll (Manufacturing Processes). 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 . Contrary to common expectation, hair is actually pretty hard. This project is a collaboration between the Great Recovery Programme and Fab Lab London. The EPA has said in their 2014 report: Currently, little information is available about the fate and transport of tungsten in the environment and its effects on human health. EPA. Such an analysis is commonly performed using life cycle assessment. Die Basics 101: Intro to Stamping. The Fabricators, 18 July 2018, www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/stamping/die-basics-101-intro-to-stamping. Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. One of their most popular products is the disposable razor, which they started to manufacture in 1975. Alternate assumptions were used to test model sensitivity and to create bounds to aid interpretation of the results (Table 2). Tungsten Carbide. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 17 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/tungsten-carbide. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. After that, the metal is pressed down to the desired blade thickness which is around 1mm (Manufacturing Processes). The LCA is broken into four stages: Defining the goal and scope how much of a product's lifecycle will be addressed, the reasons for carrying out the assessment, the intended audience, and the intended end-use [] Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. BIC Comfort 3 Refillable Three-Blade Disposable Razors for Men, Sensitive Skin Razor for a Comfortable Shave, 1 Handle and 12 Cartridges With 3 Blades, 13 Piece Razor Kit. The life cycle impacts of the disposable and reusable LMA options are shown in Figure 2 for all impact categories, on the basis of data from Yale New Haven Hospital. 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. Terracycle is a company that was created to address the issue of recyclable products that often end up in landfills. Click the image for pricing & more info. 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.). 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. Choosing a less-green disposable will magnify your razor's manufacturing impact, but it won't change the overall picture very much. Anesth Analg 2004;99:6267, 17. Most of those razors just end up in a landfill because most countries are not recycling them. 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). Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002, 26. It is used to assist companies, consumers, and policy-makers in greening their practices and decisions. use/disposable and multiple-use/washable surgical gowns. The metal that can be used in the cartridge is also cut out during this stage. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. 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. This was a cradle-to-grave study that included inputs and outputs for the manufacture, transport, use, and waste phases of the LMAs. This LCA is specific for surgical gowns used in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota. Highly effective in driving partnerships, public policies and projects that accelerate the shift towards a sustainable built environment. The advantage of using this method compared to a more comprehensive LCA method is that its much simpler to carry out and to gather the required information because the data regarding the most common materials and processes has been collected in advance. disposable paper diaper; material recycling; closed-loop recycling; life cycle assessment (LCA) 1. The metal is not yet to its final form, as it is still greatly held together by the previously added binders. Composition Assumptions for Disposable and Reusable Largyngeal Mask Airways (LMAs). Next, the razors will be tested for flaws, strength, and razor hardness and sharpness (Safety Razor, madehow.com).