Next, the razors will be tested for flaws, strength, and razor hardness and sharpness (Safety Razor, madehow.com). 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. There are many detailed stages but the main ones are: extracting and. Saudi J Anaesth 2008;2:58. If you count the actual razor cover (if you haven't lost it long ago) then it will be four pieces for recycling. The blades, which are made from a carbide steel made using tungsten carbide, the handle, which is made from a combination of plastics such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide (PPO), and the cartridge, which is made up of these plastics and sometimes the carbide steel as well (Safety Razor, madehow.com). HUO0NpnaJd@"&u[kj-+8=WU\*w)OMYb_ry> 1F3 nyNnb 0 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. The final value for the cartridge-based razor was 115.06 mPt, and the value for the double edge safety razor was 15.70 mPt. 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 What IS Life Cycle Assessment? All of which provides an easy user experience, but, takes a toll on the planet. 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). %%EOF There are three main components in a disposable razor. Bics direct emissions were from: a combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and fuel oil, mainly used to heat buildings. 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. Our LCA team retains its reputation as the most experienced life cycle staff in North America. More immediate levels of waste, however, happen during the processing of disposable razors before they are even brought to the buyer and the landfill. This LCA is specific for surgical gowns used in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota. 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. 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. 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. The original LMA was a reusable device (Intavent International SA, Henley-on-Thames, UK). 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. Health care facilities can decrease their environmental impacts by using reusable LMAs, to a lesser extent by selecting disposable LMA models that are not made of certain plastics, and by ordering in bulk from local distributors. 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/. Whereas transportation has a relatively significant GHG impact for the disposable LMAs, by comparison the transportation of reusable LMAs has little impact on GHG emissions, because 40 disposable LMAs must be shipped to provide an equivalent function to 1 reusable LMA. 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). The powder is then shaped, usually by the process of die stamping. Subramaniar Trading Company. To go from raw materials to final product involves many steps and heavy energy input. J Clin Anesth 1997;9:432, 20. :396?Qkt)e. For both environmental and cost considerations, management and operating procedures should be put in place to ensure that reusable LMAs are not discarded prematurely. 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. Another material used is polystyrene. Safety Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Released from PVC Medical Devices. Premature disposal of reusable LMAs has significant environmental impacts (as well as costs, discussed below). Anesth Analg 2004;99:6267, 17. 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. The LMA was then dried with a cotton towel. Marinella Levi. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. 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. 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. 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. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a framework for assessing the environmental impacts of product systems and decisions. Reusable LMA cleaning was observed to proceed as follows. 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. 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. Sustainable Development at BIC . 6 Jan. 2011. But this is expected from a large brand like Gillette. The high levels of pollution from disposable razor blades alone caused the EPA to claim a national garbage crisis in the late 1980s, and the actual figure of 2 billion razors thrown away every year dates back to the 1990s. Iatrogenic transmission of the CreutzfeldtJakob disease agent has been reported in >250 patients worldwide, and 6 of these were linked to the use of contaminated equipment, all of which were neurosurgical related. Bic USAs 2016 registration document provides information about the waste produced during the manufacturing of the razors. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2010. The metal is heated to a temperature of 1967-2048 degrees Fahrenheit and tungsten carbide has a specific heat of 0.226 BTU/lb/Fahrenheit (Safety razor). What does a business area's assessment of agreements, income, and value implicate? This study assumed no difference between the devices in terms of clinical efficacy or time for placement.4 Disposable LMAs were discarded in regular municipal solid waste bins after use. 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. 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). 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. How Is Tungsten Carbide Formed? Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/how-is-tungsten-carbide-formed/. Chicago: American Medical Association, 2006, 27. Gillette Mach3 Disposable Razors for Men, 6 Count, Designed for Sensitive Skin. In the case of the disposable razor however, it is fairly simple due to its nature. In 2016, Bic reduced packaging for their Soleil Razor by 40%. Anaesthesia 2007;62:3814, 5. van Zundert AAJ, Fonck K, Al-Shaikh B, Mortier E. Comparison of the LMA-Classic with the new disposable soft seal laryngeal mask in spontaneously breathing adult patients. Questions and Answers: CreutzfeldtJakob Disease Infection-Control Practices. 21 offers from $5.20. The use of disposable razors is unsustainable with our growing population and increased demand. EPA. McGain F, McAlister S, McGavin A, Story D. The financial and environmental costs of reusable and single-use plastic anaesthetic drug trays. Applying this method of assessment is complex and difficult and translating the theory into a . Conversely, impacts can be reduced by autoclaving more LMAs at once or with other equipment with similar decontamination requirements. During shaving, the sharp edges of the blade will chip off at a slow but steady rate, dulling the blade after repeated shavings. Until now, we defined what we want to measure and collect in phase 1. Wolters Kluwer Health 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. Sherman JD, Ryan S. Ecological responsibility in anesthesia practice. The indirect emissions were mostly from the electricity use in the factories. 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. On the Venus Gillette company website, they provide the buyer with a guide for choosing which razor is best by asking: When it comes to choosing a razor, how do you know if a disposable or reusable razor is right for you? (What's the Difference Between Disposable and Reusable Razors for Women? Venus)This question, however, only affects the buyers short usage time, and does not provide any information as to the rest of the razors life-cycle after they are ready for a new razor blade and they: throw away the entire razor and grab a new one as recommended by the manufacturer (Venus). To begin the process of making tungsten carbide, the tungsten must first be extracted. Holes are then punched into the metal and the tapelike sheets of razors are then put in a roll (Manufacturing Processes). Impact Assessment. The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is where the impacts on the environment are calculated. 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. Siddle, Dave. Life Cycle Impact Assessment is the estimation of indicators of the environmental pressures in terms of e.g. Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment. The Great Recovery, http://www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011, 16. Disposable razors are a product that can be found in almost any average bathroom. 3. Anesth Analg 1998;87:921, 3. The steps in LCA are (1) goal and scope definition, (2) life cycle inventory analysis (LCI), (3) life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and (4) interpretation of the results. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method used to estimate the total environmental impacts from producing a good or service. Innovative and strategic advisor to leading philanthropies, corporates, governments, international institutions and NGOs. 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). PurposeIn this study, a life cycle assessment of a bioplastic based diaper was performed. 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. Reusable LMAs in general appear to be made largely of silicone, lacking these same concerns for PVC/DEHP. Anesth Analg 1993;77:1079, 21. During production, two components have to be created which are the blade and the plastic body. In the late 1990s, disposable LMAs became available. This means that it takes around 1 BTU to heat a 0.035-ounce razor blade to the desired temperature (Julabo et.al).