life cycle assessment of disposable razorslife cycle assessment of disposable razors

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). 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 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. CASE STUDY ANALYSIS - CLEAN EDGE, NON DISPOSABLE RAZOR Q1. The Eco-Indicator for EPDM rubber includes the manufacturing of the rubber as well as the molding process. 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. The total amount of Direct emissions from BIC factories was 8,689 tonnes of carbon dioxide (For You For Everyone Registration Document). The specific type or blend of plastic for BIC razors is used is called polystyrene (Europe). 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. 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. Safety Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Released from PVC Medical Devices. 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. Anesthesiology 2003;99:1066, 6. LMAs may be composed of 40% DEHP by weight. 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?). 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. Julabo Gmbh, et al. 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. 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. Can J Anaesth 2001;48:40912, 22. Due to the nature of the disposable razor, they are usually just thrown in the trash and sent off to a landfill. 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). What Is Tungsten Carbide?" Land transport like trains and trucks use diesel as fuel and that produced 138,700 BTU (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). Each manufacturing plant or node in the supply chain is referred to as agate-to-gate (GTG) life cycle inventory. The long and harmful life-cycle of disposable razors is not reflected to the buyer browsing aisles of fully stocked razor shelves. Overcash M. Comparison of reusable and disposable medical textiles. Once in the landfill, it usually takes around 20-30 years to breakdown. associated with the environmental interventions attributable to the life-cycle of a product. What does a business area's assessment of agreements, income, and value implicate? PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. A Life Cycle Assessment is the systematic analysis of the environmental impact of products during their entire life cycle. LCA is the most common tool for quantifying the environmental effects associated with a product, process, or service's entire life (Baumann and Tillman 2004).LCA was performed in accordance with the international standards of the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 . By far, the biggest impact during the manufacturing of the razors was the 17 spot welds done in each cartridge. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. #3. Life cycle assessment of a disposable and a reusable surgery instrument set for spinal fusion surgeries Leiden A, Cerdas F, Noriega D, Beyerlein J, Herrmann C. Life cycle assessment of a disposable and reusable surgery instrument set for spinal fusion surgeries. 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). At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. Finally, the razors are packaged in cardboard and plastic, and shipped out to stores and markets globally for customers to purchase and use. It all starts with the melting and combining of the desired metal. Any extra plastic will be discarded, remelted, and reused (Safety Razor, madehow.com). Comparison of disposable and reusable laryngeal mask airways in spontaneously ventilating adult patients. Dbendorf, Switzerland, 2011, 12. In this case its the life-cycle of the cartridge-based razor. Each time the steam autoclave machine conducts a sterilizing cycle, a large amount of energy is used to heat the steam. 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. (i)What changes occurring in non-disposable Razor category? The polypropylene is sorted during recycling using a float test that separates it from other materials based on its ability to float due to its weight, then it is often melted down and reused in other product manufacturing. SimaPro 7.3.2. Paper diapers for infants, which are highly convenient as they do not require laundering like cloth diapers, are essential for daily life in Japan. There are three main materials used in the plastic handle and the cartridge of the disposable razor. 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. Amersfoort, The Netherlands: Product Ecology (PR) Consultants, 2011, 11. LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. 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 ]. The biggest impact during the cartridge-based razor life-cycle is manufacturing the cartridge as this is the part which is hardest to make. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. 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). Their carbon footprint was reported with the highest offender being air travel for the product, and staff transportation coming from France: accounting for 73% of the companys annual greenhouse gas emissions (Bic). To make the handle and cartridges, these various plastics are heated together and melted together along with optional colorants and various filler materials. However, of the 2 billion razors disposed of annually, about 32% end up in the ocean (Kaplan). 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 Reprints will not be available from the authors. 15 - 21 Our group recently performed a life cycle assessment of anesthetic drug trays, finding that reusable trays were both environmentally and . This practice meets American Society of Anesthesiologists' recommendations for infection control for equipment requiring high-level disinfection.14. 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. Reusable LMAs in general appear to be made largely of silicone, lacking these same concerns for PVC/DEHP. With the recommended use of three to ten uses for disposable razors, they quickly end up in the landfill to decompose. The purpose of this assessment is to compare two different types of razors: cartridge based vs. double edge safety razor. In this case its much harder for me to carry out an LCA on a Gillette razor than if Gillette did the LCA themselves, as they would have all the correct info required first-hand (reducing the number of assumptions needing to be used). The authors declare no conflict of interest. Marinella Levi. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). They report their waste production being at 340 tons, which represented an increase of 22% from 2015 (Bic). Europe, Plastic News. This manuscript was handled by: Steven L. Shafer, MD. Sensor3 disposable razors for men feature an enhanced Lubrastrip with water activated Comfortgel technology for ultra-gentle shaving on your sensitive skin. 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. 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. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Inc., 26 Sept. 2012, www.britannica.com/technology/tungsten-processing#ref82029. In this case it was very difficult to see what materials the product contained and exactly how it was manufactured (as the big manufacturing companies wouldnt disclose this information), so some of the data had to be assumed. 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. 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. 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). Product Ecology (PR) Consultants. There are some solutions and new recycling ideas, yet, the reduction of waste for disposable razors is still far off. When designing a product for circularity it is often difficult to know where to begin. 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. Tungsten Carbide. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 17 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/tungsten-carbide. We are proud that it is among the leading professional LCA software . hb```X ea i:=3*?a_.k7#uq-u[JRP erle@@)`EkP;~ cdC58xiv06@Jup E Alternate assumptions were used to test model sensitivity and to create bounds to aid interpretation of the results (Table 2). Brimacombe J, Keller C, Morris R, Mecklem D. A comparison of the disposable versus the reusable laryngeal mask airway in paralyzed adult patients. Get new journal Tables of Contents sent right to your email inbox, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/cjd/qa_cjd_infection_control.htm, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Laryngeal Mask Airways, Articles in PubMed by Matthew Eckelman, PhD, Articles in Google Scholar by Matthew Eckelman, PhD, Other articles in this journal by Matthew Eckelman, PhD, May 2012 - Environment and Anesthesia Practice, A Comparison of Reusable and Disposable Perioperative Textiles: Sustainability State-of-the-Art 2012, Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Anesthetic Drugs, Environmental and Occupational Considerations of Anesthesia: A Narrative Review and Update, Global Warming Potential of Inhaled Anesthetics: Application to Clinical Use, A Survey of Anesthesiologists' Views of Operating Room Recycling, Privacy Policy (Updated December 15, 2022), International Anesthesia Research Society. Tungsten has a high melting point and is used mainly for strong tools unless used for smaller applications when combined with a carbon alloy: Its alloys are employed in rocket-engine nozzles and other aerospace applications (Safety Razors). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the impact of products on the environment. BIC Group, 2016, 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. A 2005 analysis published by U.K. Wat LI, Brimacombe JR, Gee S. Laryngeal mask airway longevity and pilot-balloon failure. 2. Poly(Phenylene Oxide). The Polymer Science Learning Center, www.pslc.ws/macrog/ppo.htm. The LMAs were first rinsed in tap water, scrubbed externally with a Hibiclens sponge and internally with a small scrub brush, and rinsed again. 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. 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. 761 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[748 22]/Info 747 0 R/Length 72/Prev 421064/Root 749 0 R/Size 770/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation. Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation | Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, www.bts.gov/content/energy-consumption-mode-transportation. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. Chu L, Mathur P, Trudell J, Brock-Utne J. Our team of experts has many years of experience in the ecological evaluation of products and services. The scope of our analysis, as is shown in Figure 1, includes extraction of material and energy resources, manufacturing, packaging and transport from the manufacturing site to the distribution center and the hospital, reprocessing, and eventual disposal. Rogers, Tony. Polystyrene. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene. Teoh W, Lim Y. However, BIC did report some of its transportation statistics. 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. Overall, while the materials for disposable razors are few, and the products basic design makes it appear simplistic, the products lifecycle is far from simple. Shavers. BICWorld, www.bicworld.com/en/our-products/shavers. It has a low density and is quite flexible and heat resistant, therefore making it an easily moulded and extruded material. 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. Define the Life-cycle This is an example of a simple product life-cycle diagram. Disposable razors are designed for consumers that prefer minimum spending . Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. The actual making of the razors, and printing paper for their packaging has a lower environmental impact, than the waste from the factories high energy use. In landfilling or incinerating this part, the large amount of energy and material value used in creating it is lost. Here, Great Recovery Intern Sebastian de Cabo Portugal discusses Life Cycle Assessments. Sustainable Development Report. 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. What Is Polystyrene? Facilities that select reusable devices should implement inventory and operating procedures that ensure that devices are reused to the greatest possible extent. The data collected through LCA helps organizations make conscious decisions that affect the environment. The autoclave was typically run with 5 LMAs, although loading varied significantly. Atlanta, 2012. Several clinical trials comparing function and ease of placement demonstrated no significant difference between disposable and reusable versions,25 allowing hospitals to base purchase decisions on economic considerations alone. The second component of the razor is the plastic body which is made of a fairly inexpensive plastic called polystyrene. Holes are then punched into the metal and the tapelike sheets of razors are then put in a roll (Manufacturing Processes). 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. Eckelman, Matthew PhD*; Mosher, Margo; Gonzalez, Andres; Sherman, Jodi MD. 39 ($0.37/Count) FREE delivery Thu, Mar 2 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. The metal is then quenched in water to bring it to -76 to -112 degrees Fahrenheit to harden the material (Safety Razor). 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. B|$5 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. Sherman JD, Ryan S. Ecological responsibility in anesthesia practice. HUO0NpnaJd@"&u[kj-+8=WU\*w)OMYb_ry> 1F3 nyNnb 0 Impact Assessment. Finally, the need for manual labor in the cleaning process of reusable LMAs contributed to the costs of these LMAs. Saudi J Anaesth 2008;2:58. The Eco-Indicator method is a tool developed to help designers conduct a simplified LCA study. Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). 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. 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@ Safety Razor.How Products Are Made, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Safety-Razor.html. 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. LCA can be used to compare alternative products, processes or services; compare alternative life cycles for a certain product . To go from raw materials to final product involves many steps and heavy energy input. 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 . The carbon alloy allows for the metal to be strong enough to be exposed to high levels of moisture without corroding, yet brittle enough to be made into thin blades for a multiple blade razor (Safety Razor). After that, the metal is pressed down to the desired blade thickness which is around 1mm (Manufacturing Processes). Erosion time for the blades was difficult to find, yet tungsten steel does erode faster than the plastic elements to the disposable razor due to the carbon alloys brittle makeup. Lv, Andrea Lind, and Tigist Fetene. 1. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) Hazard Summary. LCAs can be used comparatively to assess different product or service design options or to identify environmental . LMA North America. Address e-mail to [emailprotected]. Cargo planes and other transport aircraft use jet fuel which produces 135,000 BTU per gallon (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). Goal, scope and background The industrial packages sector has great importance for the transport sector in Europe. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. 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. The cartridge-based razor had a slightly higher impact due to the rubber parts which cant be separated from the plastic body. Anesth Analg 2004;99:6267, 17. Gillette Mach3 Disposable Razors for Men, 6 Count, Designed for Sensitive Skin. BIC states that it prides itself on producing affordable, safe, and quality razors for its customers worldwide. 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/. 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. The metal is not yet to its final form, as it is still greatly held together by the previously added binders. 3. At the end of applying the additives, the blades are once again heated, to cement the coating onto the blade. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2009;53:6878, 19. 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. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique for assessing the potential environmental aspects and potential aspects associated with a product (or service), by: compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs, evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with those inputs and outputs, After the end of their recommended lifetime, reusable LMAs were also placed in municipal solid waste containers. papa smurf and smurfette relationship, coldest masters tournament,
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