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. These results will then be used to inform the design process and improve the redesigned razor. Convenience is a potential advantage for disposable LMAs, and facilities that use reusable LMAs must ensure that a variety of sizes are always available when needed. 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. 3.7.Product Life Cycle Analysis . This obviously makes the results less accurate, but it can still be used as a general indicator of impact. Manufacturing Processes (RAZOR): KAI FACTORY: KAI Group. KAI FACTORY | KAI Group, www.kai-group.com/global/en/kai-factory/process/razor/. Rogers, Tony. Holes are then punched into the metal and the tapelike sheets of razors are then put in a roll (Manufacturing Processes). What Is Polystyrene? They are resins that maintain a high dimensional stability, which helps create fast and cheap plastic razor handles (Safety Razor). Life Cycle Assessment - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics (i)What changes occurring in non-disposable Razor category? The authors declare no conflict of interest. 3. However, BIC did report some of its transportation statistics. Ecoinvent 2.2. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a modeling tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of products and processes. %PDF-1.5 % You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. The effect of alternate transport modes was quite small for the reusable LMA but quite significant for the disposable LMAs, leading to a large increase in GHG emissions in particular from air freight. 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. 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. Of course the 2.6 billion razors were not, all the same, however, we can still give a ballpark estimate of how many tonnes of plastic/metal waste is being produced every year. Small components such as inks and labels on the packaging and on the sterilization indicator strips are expected to have negligible impacts and were excluded from the analysis. endstream endobj startxref I found information about the whole blade manufacturing process, but could not find details about energy consumption in every step of the process. Life cycle assessment software I used GaBi 6 software, produced by PE International. At an average of 10 reuse cycles, GHG impacts increase by >50%, and this is the break-even point at which the GHG emissions from reusable and disposable LMAs are essentially equal. xTkJ((5:Ome\%{yIlka;K=1 Dbendorf, Switzerland, 2011, 12. The largest source of GHG emissions for the disposable LMAs (23%) is the production and polymerization of PVC, the main material constituent. 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. Production of razor blades across the industry is fairly standard. LMA North America. (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. 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. Most tungsten, about 85%, is extracted from various ores in China (Siddle, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed?). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) | Sustainable Agriculture Research Gillette Mach3 Men's Disposable Razor for Sensitive Skin - Best Cartridge Razor for Sensitive Skin. Environment Agency (Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the U.K.) investigated the impact of three diapering systems: cloth diapers with home wash, cloth diapers with commercial laundry, and disposable diapers. 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. Differences in environmental impacts between devices may present a compelling consideration in their selection. 769 0 obj <>stream There are only two components for the BIC disposable razors which are the plastic body and razor blade. 1982, www.nytimes.com/1982/04/11/business/how-bic-lost-the-edge-to-gillette.html. In landfilling or incinerating this part, the large amount of energy and material value used in creating it is lost. 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. These results suggest that the reusable LMA Classic has fewer life cycle impacts in comparison with the disposable LMA Unique at Yale New Haven Hospital, across several categories of concern. Life Cycle Assessments - Diaper Answers What makes for an easy, simple, and affordable mass produced and used product costs more in its long afterlife in the landfill, out of sight of the buyers awareness. 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. 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. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) covers all relevant inputs from the environment (e.g., ores and crude oil, water, land use) as well as emissions into air, water and soil (e.g., carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides). 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, How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed? Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/how-is-tungsten-carbide-formed/. 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. On the basis of observation at Yale New Haven Hospital, it takes approximately 10 minutes to conduct all cleaning processes for 1 LMA, which is equivalent to roughly $3 in wages. The biggest impact during the cartridge-based razor life-cycle is manufacturing the cartridge as this is the part which is hardest to make. 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?). BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). 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. Overall, reusable LMAs were found to have fewer negative environmental effects in nearly all categories, typically contributing <50% of the impacts of disposable LMAs. 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. 11,772. Figueredo E. Changes in the intracuff pressure of the laryngeal masks airway caused by repeated use. "Tungsten Processing." 3 Ways to Recycle Safety Razor Blades - wikiHow Life Comparative life cycle assessment of disposable and reusable - PubMed The metal used for the razor blades is called Tungsten Carbide which is used in wear applications, such as shaving (Safety Razor). 3. h[K#1}\$u@ Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) - A Complete Guide to LCAs On the other hand, extending the number of uses to 80 (doubling the lifetime) reduces GHG emissions by 9%. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts. ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. 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. Though technicians are paid regardless of whether they are cleaning LMAs or are performing some other task, these wages are nonetheless assigned to the reusable LMA on the basis of time spent. To begin the process of making tungsten carbide, the tungsten must first be extracted. Gillette Plastic Disposable Shaving Kit supermax, for Hotel. 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. Ask a worker if you can put them in the bin by themselves or if they need to be in a recyclable container to protect sanitation workers from being cut. Gillette Razor Local Recycling Solutions.TerraCycle, www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/gillette-local-recycling. A life-cycle assessment or LCA is a 'cradle to grave' analysis of the impact of a manufactured product on the environment. PDF An updated lifecycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies Complete with an ergonomic shaped non-slip rubber handle for great control and maneuverability and easy rinse blades for 100% better rinsing (vs . To begin the process of creating the razor blades, tungsten carbide, which is the metal that the blades and other optional components are made of, must first be manufactured. Gillette's slogan 'Gillette - the best a man can get' is famous the world over. The 1% of the material that is recycled however, goes through a 5 step recycling process which is collecting, sorting, cleaning, reprocessing, and producing new products. Uncertainties about the correctness of the model. Contribution: This author helped design the study and prepare the manuscript. A Comparison Life Cycle Assessment between Razor Blade and Electric Shaver. Dec. 2012. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. It is a thermoplastic that exhibits high heat resistance, dimensional stability, and accuracy and is often combined with other plastics, such as polystyrene, due to various problems in its processing (Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide, Wikipedia.org). 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). This LCA is specific for surgical gowns used in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota. 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. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: 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. 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. endstream endobj 752 0 obj <>stream During production, two components have to be created which are the blade and the plastic body. life cycle assessment European Environment Agency There much environmentally friendly options when it comes to shavings, such as the traditional safety razor and straight razors, which can have a much longer life than disposable razors. 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. BIC reported that every year around 2.6 billion of their razors are chosen by consumers every year (Shaver's). Ison E, Miller A. Alternate assumptions were used to test model sensitivity and to create bounds to aid interpretation of the results (Table 2). 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. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 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). (ii)Access paramount's competitive position? To make the handle and cartridges, these various plastics are heated together and melted together along with optional colorants and various filler materials. Gillette Sensor3 Sensitive Men's Disposable Razors : Target 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. Life cycle assessment of bio-based products: a disposable diaper case Brimacombe J, Keller C, Morris R, Mecklem D. A comparison of the disposable versus the reusable laryngeal mask airway in paralyzed adult patients. All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. Previous studies have examined the relative environmental profiles of reusables and disposables with regard to medical textiles7 and anesthetic drug trays.8 The present study uses life cycle assessment to evaluate the life cycle impacts of disposable and reusable LMAs across several categories of environmental and human health impacts. The processes that contribute to these emissions differ markedly between the 2 LMA devices. Case Studies. Case Studies : Reducing BIC's Rejection Rates | KEYENCE America, www.keyence.com/solutions/case-studies/bic.jsp. In the case of the disposable razor however, it is fairly simple due to its nature. 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> The stability of the plastic components, while necessary for shelf stability and use, takes longer than one persons life-span to decompose. 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. 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. These are the reasons why I will carry out an Eco-Indicator Assessment instead of a full LCA. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. The differences in environmental impacts between these devices strongly favor reusable devices. Reusable LMAs were collected in a dirty device bin on the anesthesia cart and then reprocessed by the anesthesia technicians. Life cycle assessment of stainless-steel reusable speculums versus 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). 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. The final product is then gathered and prepared to go through the final step which is the packaging of razors. 13, 14 There are few published life cycle assessment studies of medical items (ref. Amazon Best Sellers: Best Men's Disposable Shaving Razors Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) Hazard Summary. 1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations 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).). 2 offers from $9.92. Contamination problems with reuse of laryngeal mask airways and laryngoscopes. Policy H-135.945: Encouraging Alternatives to PVC/DEHP Products in Health. to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without Disposable Razors in Bulk, Bulk Razors with Knife Caps, Individually Packaged Disposable Razors Bulk, Suitable for Hotels, Shelters, Homeless People, Nursing Homes, Charities, Churches (60) 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (9) $22.39 $ 22. may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. 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. 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. 2. 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. By far, the biggest impact during the manufacturing of the razors was the 17 spot welds done in each cartridge. Choosing a less-green disposable will magnify your razor's manufacturing impact, but it won't change the overall picture very much. DEHP leaches out upon exposure to heat and lipids, as would be the case in contact with mucous membranes. 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). 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. This manuscript was handled by: Steven L. Shafer, MD. Hedrick, Art. Conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): from Theory to Practical Subramaniar Trading Company. Life Cycle Assessment of Compostable Coffee Pods: A US - Nature From mining and extracting the natural tungsten metal, to making the metal alloy and manufacturing just the blade, waste is released. 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. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Sustainability Assessment - Fraunhofer 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. LMA Classic Product Specifications, 2011, 10. Life cycle assessment Plastics Europe Despite this, a general perception is that reusable LMAs possess a safety profile inferior to that of disposable LMAs, thus contributing to the proliferation of the latter. The natural half life of a large stock of reusable laryngeal mask airways at a teaching hospital. The reusable LMA was found to have a more favorable environmental profile than the disposable LMA as used at Yale New Haven Hospital. The major problem with recycling this plastic however, is that during the heating process, the plastic degrades in quality making it less valuable (What Is Tungsten Carbide or Hard Metal?, AZoM.com). Table 2 shows the results of alternate assumption on the overall results. Sinha R, Sunder R. Retiring reusable laryngeal mask airways after 40: an anaesthetist's dilemma. However, of the 2 billion razors disposed of annually, about 32% end up in the ocean (Kaplan). This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al). The unit cost of disposable LMAs is 20% higher at approximately $9.60 per unit. 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 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. Once all the components of the razor have been made, the components go to various stations where different tasks will be performed. This project is a collaboration between the Great Recovery Programme and Fab Lab London. There is uncertainty in several model assumptions. From the *Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA; School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine/YaleNew Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT. Funding: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine. Comparison of the single use and reusable intubating laryngeal mask airway. 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. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - Complete Beginner's Guide - Ecochain The 2 LMA options are nearly equivalent in terms of eutrophication impacts, but with different contributions. 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). Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002, 26. 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. 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. Since then, around 60 billion razors have been produced, distributed, and sold worldwide. The EPA has now stopped tracking the: impact of disposable razors on the environment and has no update on the figure (Olsen). Some error has occurred while processing your request. In addition, the impact categories of eutrophication (growth of microorganisms due to excess nutrients) and terrestrial ecotoxicity reflect the impacts on other species and ecosystems and have implications for public health. At the end of applying the additives, the blades are once again heated, to cement the coating onto the blade. Polyphenylene Oxides.Polyphenylene Oxides - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/polyphenylene-oxides. 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. At every point during planning, production, and even marketing, the quantity of consumption should be analyzed to adjust business models accordingly. Life Cycle Assessment and Costing Methods for Device - PubMed Julabo Gmbh, et al. Environmental LCA - Life Cycle Initiative A Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable Razors. The hardest part of this whole process is the data gathering. 0 An updated lifecycle assessment for disposable and reusable nappies

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