life cycle assessment of disposable razors life cycle assessment of disposable razors

The life of a typical razor blade is not an easy one. Life cycle assessment of bio-based products: a disposable diaper case Cited Here. . Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) - A Complete Guide to LCAs 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). Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002, 26. Life cycle assessment - Environmental Assessment and Optimization Group Introduction Paper diapers are roughly divided into two types: those for infants and those for adults. disposable paper diaper; material recycling; closed-loop recycling; life cycle assessment (LCA) 1. Put the blades in the steel recycling section. The next step in the process is the assembly of all the parts. The LMAs were first rinsed in tap water, scrubbed externally with a Hibiclens sponge and internally with a small scrub brush, and rinsed again. 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. There is uncertainty in several model assumptions. 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. A SYSTEMATIC METHODOLOGY FOR ACCURATE DESIGN-STAGE ESTIMATION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR INJECTION MOLDED PARTS. Flying staff to meetings, shipping, and distributing the product is the highest offender for the planet. Comparative life cycle assessment of disposable and reusable - PubMed Chain Management by Life Cycle Assessment (CMLCA) software has been used to conduct the LCA and Ecoinvent 2.01 has been used for life cycle inventory data. Health care facilities can decrease their environmental impacts by using reusable LMAs, by selecting disposable LMA models that are not made of certain plastics, and by ordering in bulk from local distributors. 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. 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. E-LCA is a time tested assessment technique that evaluates environmental performance throughout the life cycle of a product or from performing a service. On the basis of such criteria, single-use disposable medical devices are increasingly supplanting reusable devices in the United States (US) and elsewhere.1 Although purchase and maintenance costs for disposable devices are perceived to be less than for reusables, this fails to account for indirect costs to society from the environmental impacts attributable to the entire life cycle of a device. 2011, Packaging Technology and Science. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was introduced into clinical use in the late 1980s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the US in 1991. The alloy is strong enough to resist moisture for a short time in the buyers shower, yet, in the landfill, it does eventually rust and decompose. Overall BIC is an industry leader when it comes to reducing the environmental impact that their disposable products make. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: Shavers. BICWorld, www.bicworld.com/en/our-products/shavers. Main methodological choices . 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. Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment.The Great Recovery, www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. BIC currently holds around 11 percent market share in disposable razors (Nash). However, the LCA is not an exact science and has its limitations: The reusable LMA was found to have a more favorable environmental profile than the disposable LMA as used at Yale New Haven Hospital. To compile a detailed life cycle inventory of the environmental burdens The Fate of the Disposable Razor.Industrial Equipment News (IEN), 7 Aug. 2019, www.ien.com/product-development/news/21081402/the-fate-of-the-disposable-razor. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. 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/. In 2016, Bic reduced packaging for their Soleil Razor by 40%. 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. 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). Brimacombe J, Keller C, Morris R, Mecklem D. A comparison of the disposable versus the reusable laryngeal mask airway in paralyzed adult patients. A Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable and Single-Use Central V - LWW The stability of the plastic components, while necessary for shelf stability and use, takes longer than one persons life-span to decompose. (PDF) Sources, Fate and Effects of Microplastics in the Marine Life Cycle Assessments - Diaper Answers A Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable Razors. The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is where the impacts on the environment are calculated. Wolters Kluwer Health It has a low density and is quite flexible and heat resistant, therefore making it an easily moulded and extruded material. We are proud that it is among the leading professional LCA software . 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. 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? Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. A 2005 analysis published by U.K. Additionally, the PVC-dominated material composition of the disposable LMA and associated packaging added significantly to its impacts. Amazon Best Sellers: Best Men's Disposable Shaving Razors On the basis of manufacturer information and density testing, the materials used in the 2 LMAs were identified and their compositions measured using a microgram scale (Table 1). These benefits must be weighed against concerns regarding transmission of infection. DEHP is a plasticizer routinely added to impart flexibility to PVC-based products, such as IV bags, tubing, and endotracheal tubes. This practice meets American Society of Anesthesiologists' recommendations for infection control for equipment requiring high-level disinfection.14. Please try again soon. J Environ Assess Policy Manage 2000;2:45376, 2. 3 Ways to Recycle Safety Razor Blades - wikiHow Life 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. Amazon.com: Bulk Disposable Razors Polypropylene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene. On the other hand, extending the number of uses to 80 (doubling the lifetime) reduces GHG emissions by 9%. The Great Recovery was a project by the RSA working with Innovate UK which ran between 2012 and 2016. There is no public data entailing the details of this plastics recyclability. 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. 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. BIC Disposable Razor Design Life-Cycle LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE | Science Inventory - US EPA Olsen, Alexandra. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Transportation, 2002, 14. 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. Disposable Blood Warmer Market 2023-2030 Future Forecasts The LMA, within the heat seal pouch, was then placed in the steam autoclave sterilizing machine (Castle/Getinge MC 3522). Life Cycle Assessment of the Closed-Loop Recycling of Used Disposable Life Cycle Assessment Study single use vs. multiple use Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. The metal liquid then goes through a strengthening process called annealing. Wang, Chun Tsin, and Alexander Sutulor. There are three main materials used in the plastic handle and the cartridge of the disposable razor. The more capital-intensive option of increasing the energy efficiency of the autoclave machines by 10% decreases GHG emissions by 8%. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a framework for assessing the environmental impacts of product systems and decisions. Overall, reusable LMAs were found to have fewer negative environmental effects in nearly all categories, typically contributing <50% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. Hedrick, Art. Razor blades dull quickly after repeated use, and are recommended to be used only three to ten times, making them a cheap alternative to reusable cartridges. Scope of the life cycle assessment for disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways (LMAs). 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). 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). 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 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. More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. Manufacturer specifications indicate 20 kWh of electricity use for a 5-minute cycle at 135C. All that is needed is the insertion of the razor blade into the plastic body. Sinha R, Sunder R. Retiring reusable laryngeal mask airways after 40: an anaesthetist's dilemma. (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? Life cycle assessment comparison among different reuse intensities for The Bic corporation considers their environmental impact and takes steps to reduce as much waste as possible. Goal, scope and background The industrial packages sector has great importance for the transport sector in Europe. Environmental LCA - Life Cycle Initiative For both environmental and cost considerations, management and operating procedures should be put in place to ensure that reusable LMAs are not discarded prematurely. Packaging is an . This liquid material is then injected into moulds, or extruded through moulds, where it will cool and take the form of the desired cartridge and handle shape. In the late 1990s, disposable LMAs became available. Bic Disposable Razor (1975). Plastics News Europe, 19 Nov. 2009, www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20091119/PNE/311199986/bic-disposable-razor-1975. 3. Impact Assessment. 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. 2. Anyone can send in razors of any kind, and the plastic and cardboard packaging as well. Online Course Life Cycle Assessment | MIT Professional Education mmw*vA|5v*3n9IUt){e%!HN6@` xcr@pz*Fbiq%1!TJ-CF*1OS|UZU\vQL7M?m'b-,r~S}Y&/{#U6U)S|%q[RB !3j~tj$h>5qtsJ./j?;eosyy*"Z`'wG"M6]O}UKqw[LzY9e B,s&C4++_tI~& Me*lNU"Uigq\u7{:&VNC'rT]FB5jOa.%N%1*stBC]%y&RDs"#&iUX&?8sh:wJo ZjbO|KFmfC{:oX~'b> 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 blades and lubricating strip were too light to be measured with our equipment so their weights were rounded to 1g. Address correspondence to Jodi Sherman, MD, Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP3, New Haven, CT 06520. After the parts are manufactured it is time for the final product assembly. And then there's the water. 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). The majority of life cycle human health impacts of disposable LMAs are caused by PVC use in packaging and the device itself. 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. Staff, RT. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. One of their most popular products is the disposable razor, which they started to manufacture in 1975. Sustainability | Free Full-Text | Life Cycle Assessments of Takeaway By raising awareness and creating locations where one can drop off used razors for recycling, perhaps a change can come. 0 8tZ :396?Qkt)e. 4. Life Cycle Assessment: Disposable paper cups by Shanice Robbins Bic did have an increase in non-hazardous waste due to: expansion work or renovation of buildings or development of new products and manufacturing equipment (For You For Everyone: Registration Document, Bic) For carbon footprint assessments for large companies, they are assessed on direct (scope 1) emissions and indirect (scope 2) emissions of greenhouse gases. Properties: Tungsten Carbide-An Overview. AZoM.com, 25 Nov. 2019, www.azom.com/properties.aspx?ArticleID=1203. To start the process of making the blades, tungsten carbide is melted at high temperatures. Atlanta, 2012. #4. A new incentive must come for companies to be more sustainable with resources and create products that can still be cheap for the buyer, while also not taking a high cost on the environment. Manufacturing Processes (RAZOR): KAI FACTORY: KAI Group. KAI FACTORY | KAI Group, www.kai-group.com/global/en/kai-factory/process/razor/. In this paper, this will be exactly what we will discuss, from what materials go into making a disposable razor and how they are made, to what happens to it after its tossed out, and all the energy and waste that is used and expelled throughout its lifecycle. In addition to traditional criteria for the selection and purchase of medical devices that include safety, efficacy, and cost, 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 product selection process. 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. Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable - LWW Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment. The Great Recovery, http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. LCA's are completed particularly in relation to how to develop a sustainable world where less waste and more reuse is implemented. Lv, Andrea Lind, and Tigist Fetene. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Sustainability Assessment - Fraunhofer Decision makers have typically favored disposable LMAs because the purchase price is perceived to be less for a comparable quantity of disposable LMAs, in comparison with 1 reusable LMA with its associated labor costs for in-house reprocessing.6. This was a cradle-to-grave study that included inputs and outputs for the manufacture, transport, use, and waste phases of the LMAs. They have teamed up with Gillette to raise awareness about the massive waste of disposable razors by allowing users to mail their old razors in to be recycled. 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). Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. 2.Define the life-cycle 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.