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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 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). Safety Razor. How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. 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. Once extracted, the tungsten is then shipped to a desired location for it to be manufactured into the metal compound. Certain practices would further reduce the environmental impacts of reusable LMAs, such as increasing the number of devices autoclaved in a single cycle to 10 (25% GHG emissions) and improving the energy efficiency of the autoclaving machines by 10% (8% GHG emissions). By far, the biggest impact during the manufacturing of the razors was the 17 spot welds done in each cartridge. #3. GaBi includes its own database containing life cycle inventories of processes such as polypropylene manufacturing, transportation, and landfill . Max Soft Disposable Razor For Women - 3 Pcs In A Pack. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. 2.Define the life-cycle Safety Razor. How Products Are Made www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. 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. The tables didnt contain values for welding steel, so it has been assumed that the value is close to welding aluminium which is in the table. Production of razor blades across the industry is fairly standard. Sinha R, Sunder R. Retiring reusable laryngeal mask airways after 40: an anaesthetist's dilemma. to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without 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/. Current LMA procurement decisions are typically based on perceived costs. 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 metal liquid then goes through a strengthening process called annealing. Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. The natural half life of a large stock of reusable laryngeal mask airways at a teaching hospital. Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. Subramaniar Trading Company. BIC Group, 2016, For You For Everyone Registration Document. 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. Experience spanning from the market-leading environment and climate practice of a global top 10 law firm - to leading Europe's largest . 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 . 3. Life cycle assessment, according to ISO 14040/44, is conducted in four steps [29,30,31]: (1) goal and scope definition, (2) life cycle inventory, (3) life cycle impact assessment, and (4) interpretation. Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . The Eco-Indicator for EPDM rubber includes the manufacturing of the rubber as well as the molding process. Goodman EJ, Haas AJ. Anesth Analg 2012;114:105566, 8. For example, LCA results can tell us if one product is environmentally preferable to another . Europe, Plastic News. The more capital-intensive option of increasing the energy efficiency of the autoclave machines by 10% decreases GHG emissions by 8%. BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). Marvel Product Razor Lady Body Shaver Disposable Razore. 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. 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/. Goal, scope and background The industrial packages sector has great importance for the transport sector in Europe. During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. 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. In this paper, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used as a tool to quantify the environmental impacts of disposable medical face masks. In their study of Life cycle assessment of wastewater treatment technologies treating petroleum process waters, Vlaopolous et al. Life cycle assessment is a "cradle-to-grave" approach for determining the financial and environmental costs of a product over its entire life. The blades are then carefully sharpened to create the razor blades. This short course will give you an introduction to life cycle assessment (LCA) methods and how to apply them in real-life situations.. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a rapidly evolving tool used to determine impacts of products or systems over a range of environmental and resource issues. Nash, Nathaniel C. HOW BIC LOST THE EDGE TO GILLETTE. The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Apr. 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. LMA Classic Product Specifications, 2011, 10. 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 . 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. The high waste from manufacturing and shipping such a small, and cheap product is one that is negatively impacting the planet. 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. 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. For a number of perioperative textiles, surgical instruments, and anesthetic devices, a life cycle assessment (LCA) has been done and has shown reusables to be environmentally favorable to disposables [ 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 ]. On the other hand, extending the number of uses to 80 (doubling the lifetime) reduces GHG emissions by 9%. Their disposable nature causes them to be put into landfills faster than it takes them to be made, packaged, and shipped. 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. 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. Another material used is polystyrene. In addition, although this life cycle assessment study did not analyze health impacts during use of an LMA, intraoperative exposure to diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is of some concern. The purpose of this assessment is to compare two different types of razors: cartridge based vs. double edge safety razor. The processes that contribute to these emissions differ markedly between the 2 LMA devices. Because of its high stability, PPO is a very widely used plastic for many different household items. 11,772. Figure: Life Cycle Assessment steps: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment and interpretation (Sala et al., 2016) In the goal and scope phase, the aims of the study are defined, namely the intended application, the reasons for carrying out the study and the intended audience. Anesthesia & Analgesia114(5):1067-1072, May 2012. When you take your blades in to the scrap metal center, choose the steel recycling bin. Rogers, Tony. To bring the metal to its final form, it is heated to extremely high temperatures to remove the binders, and to mold the metal particles together, in turn, creating a very strong and durable metal compound (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). Composition Assumptions for Disposable and Reusable Largyngeal Mask Airways (LMAs). BIC has reported their total energy usage and carbon footprint in their factories around the world, this was all however for the year 2016. Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. Scope of the life cycle assessment for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMAs). Being that it is such a common and quickly replaced product, this is is a major issue in terms of waste. 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. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 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 metal used for the razor blades is called Tungsten Carbide which is used in wear applications, such as shaving (Safety Razor). Terracycle. Zhang TW, Dornfeld DA. Please try again soon. We are proud that it is among the leading professional LCA software . After that, the metal is pressed down to the desired blade thickness which is around 1mm (Manufacturing Processes). 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. 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. Individually autoclaving the reusable LMA (because of stock shortages, for example) increased life cycle GHG emissions by >400%, whereas loading with 10 LMAs per cycle decreased emissions by nearly 25%. Cited Here. 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. BIC states that it prides itself on producing affordable, safe, and quality razors for its customers worldwide. However, the LCA is not an exact science and has its limitations: Polyphenylene Oxides.Polyphenylene Oxides - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/polyphenylene-oxides. Gathering all the data for the LCA is the most difficult part of the task, and normally assumptions have to be made where its impossible to gather all the knowledge required, thus not all the relevant impacts are considered. BIC has done their best to deal with waste in an environmentally conscious manner. 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. . Biron, Michel. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology to assess the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life - from raw material extraction, manufacture and use, to end-of-life disposal, recycling or reuse. 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. 748 0 obj <> endobj PPO elements of the disposable razor are hard to determine in years, however, data shows that most plastic items take up to 1,000 years to begin to decompose (LeBlanc). : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts, ChemicalSafetyFacts.org,). This assessment is exceptionally useful as it shows the designer what areas are the most impactful during the products life cycle. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). The largest difference in environmental impacts is seen in the impact category of carcinogenesis, in which reusable LMAs cause 5% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. Chicago: American Medical Association, 2006, 27. 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. SimaPro 7.3.2. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Task Force on Infection Control. From San Diego, both LMAs were assumed to be transported 4700 km by truck to New Haven, CT (70% of shipments in the US are made by truck).13. 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 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 [] With the recommended use of three to ten uses for disposable razors, they quickly end up in the landfill to decompose. h[K#1}\$u@ 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). Depending upon on how the razor is packaged, the finished cartridge may or may not be assembled onto the handle of the razor, as some companies choose to package the handle detached the cartridge(s). Anaesth Intensive Care 2004;32:5304, 4. Its aim is a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of products and services. LCAs can be used comparatively to assess different product or service design options or to identify environmental . The LMA, within the heat seal pouch, was then placed in the steam autoclave sterilizing machine (Castle/Getinge MC 3522). Some error has occurred while processing your request. Lv, Andrea Lind, and Tigist Fetene. However, the viability of the disposable razor is always thrown into question because of the sheer amount of resources that it expends. 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. Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. 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). Gillette Plastic Disposable Shaving Kit supermax, for Hotel. LCA for product sustainability. Flying staff to meetings, shipping, and distributing the product is the highest offender for the planet. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2006;25:8114, 7. This reflects the equivalence between 40 disposable LMAs and their associated materials, waste, and 40 uses of 1 reusable LMA. The reusable LMA was found to have a more favorable environmental profile than the disposable LMA as used at Yale New Haven Hospital. Assessing all steps in that life cycle provides insight into individual stresses and burden shifts from one step to another and enables understanding of both the cumulative environmental impacts and related trade-offs in each area, throughout the lifespan of both a facility and its manufactured products. The long and harmful life-cycle of disposable razors is not reflected to the buyer browsing aisles of fully stocked razor shelves.