Life cycle environmental impacts of disposable medical masks After the products make their way to consumers and serve their purpose, the waste must be dealt with. The most important sources of impacts for the disposable LMA were the production of polymers, packaging, and waste management, whereas for the reusable LMA, washing and sterilization dominated for most impact categories. Each manufacturing plant or node in the supply chain is referred to as agate-to-gate (GTG) life cycle inventory. A SYSTEMATIC METHODOLOGY FOR ACCURATE DESIGN-STAGE ESTIMATION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR INJECTION MOLDED PARTS. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 rev, 25. To begin the process of creating the metal, the tungsten is purified and ground into a fine powder. 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. LMAs may be composed of 40% DEHP by weight. In this section we also need to state the assumptions made during the process: WC2N 6EZ, Redesigning the razor Life Cycle Assessment. Contribution: This author helped conduct the study and analyze the data. Sustainable Development Report. Land transport like trains and trucks use diesel as fuel and that produced 138,700 BTU (Energy Consumption by Mode of Transportation.). Biro P. Damage to laryngeal masks during sterilization. Anesthesiology 2003;99:1066, 6. BIC reported that the weight of one of their most popular disposable razors is 8.8 grams (Shavers). (iii)What are the strategic lifecycle challenges for paramount's current products as well as for clean edge? Properly following the instructions it should (hopefully) leave you with three pieces, the handle, the metal blade, the plastic that was covering the blade. Click the image for pricing & more info. In order to carry out the Eco-Indicator analysis method, the methodology described below has to be followed: 1.Establish the purpose of the Eco-Indicator calculations 2.Define the life-cycle 3.Quantify the materials and processes 4.Complete the form 5.Interpret and analyse the results Anaesth Intensive Care 2004;32:5304, 4. BIC Group, 2016, For You For Everyone Registration Document. 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. 1. 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).). 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). 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). 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. An exact number for the energy use for BIC was not obtained. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A Guide to Best Practice - ResearchGate BIC states that it prides itself on producing affordable, safe, and quality razors for its customers worldwide. All of these equipment-related cases occurred before the routine implementation of sterilization procedures currently used in health care facilities. The human-health-related impact categories are pertinent to those developing standards for the delivery of health care. BIC has done their best to deal with waste in an environmentally conscious manner. Our team of experts has many years of experience in the ecological evaluation of products and services. 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. 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. Several waste management scenarios were also considered, including 100% landfilling and 100% incineration, because practices are highly location dependent. : Uses, Benefits, and Safety Facts. ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 17 June 2019, www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/polystyrene/. The stability of the plastic components, while necessary for shelf stability and use, takes longer than one persons life-span to decompose. LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service. In this process, the metal is heated to temperatures of 1,967-2,048F (1,075-1,120C), then quenched in water to a temperature between -76- -112 F (-60- -80 C) to harden it. The original LMA was a reusable device (Intavent International SA, Henley-on-Thames, UK). The plastic, however stable for the user, remains stable long after it is thrown away as well. You Asked, We Answered. Chronicle, 12 June 2015, chronicle.kennametal.com/what-is-tungsten-carbide-you-asked-we-answered/. Through an examination of how the raw materials: carbide steel, tungsten steel, and a combination of the plastics: polypropylene, polystyrene, and phenylene oxide of the razors decompose, and how much waste is accumulated in making the razors, an assessment can be made for the duration of their life cycle. 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. Redesigning the Razor Life Cycle Assessment.The Great Recovery, www.greatrecovery.org.uk/resources/3682/. These containers, mainly wooden pallets and spools, are subject to European legislat A 2005 analysis published by U.K. On the basis of information provided by the distributing company, the disposable LMA was manufactured in Hangzhou, China, and the reusable LMA was manufactured in Singapore. 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. Rogers, Tony. The metal that can be used in the cartridge is also cut out during this stage. Die Basics 101: Intro to Stamping. The Fabricators, 18 July 2018, www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/stamping/die-basics-101-intro-to-stamping. 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. Wolters Kluwer Health 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. Max Soft Disposable Razor For Women - 3 Pcs In A Pack. The data collected through LCA helps organizations make conscious decisions that affect the environment. DEHP is a plasticizer routinely added to impart flexibility to PVC-based products, such as IV bags, tubing, and endotracheal tubes. This is where the razors are portioned into their desired packaging amounts, that will be sent off to consumers. These benefits must be weighed against concerns regarding transmission of infection. Bic has attempted to lower their direct emissions by having factories world-wide and creating: a Transport Community which connects shipping managers on each continent to raise control for greenhouse gas emissions, optimize shipments and routes, and use only responsible carriers (Bic). Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Disposable Bioreactors - BioProcess InternationalBioProcess International Upstream Processing Bioprocessing begins upstream, most often with culturing of animal or microbial cells in a range of vessel types (such as bags or stirred tanks) using different controlled feeding, aerating, and process strategies. There is also an additional resin called fluorine resin that is applied to the blades, which allows them to freely glide on the skin. The differences in environmental impacts between these devices strongly favor reusable devices. Sensitivity and simple life cycle cost analyses were conducted to aid in interpretation of the results. 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. Terracycle is a company that was created to address the issue of recyclable products that often end up in landfills. All of these software packages and models are in widespread use by life cycle assessment practitioners in the US and internationally. Environmental LCA - Life Cycle Initiative 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 tungsten carbide is then ground into an extremely fine powder in a wet mill process, where metal binders and other metals such as cobalt may be added to increase the metals strength and durability and to help hold the powder together when it is shaped. Plastics are cleaned and pelletized to be recycled into new products, such as picnic tables and park benches. 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. There is uncertainty in several model assumptions. This document is an update and merger of two previous EPA documents on LCA ("Life Cycle Assessment: Inventory Guidelines and Principles," EPA/600/R-92/245, and "LCA101" from the LCAccess, website . The alternatives are objects made of bio compostable plastic,. Paper diapers for infants, which are highly convenient as they do not require laundering like cloth diapers, are essential for daily life in Japan. Because the human health impacts of the disposable LMAs are dominated by plastics, increasing the amount of PVC by 10% leads to a significant (>5%) increase in cancer and noncancer effects. By not using air travel and transport, BIC greatly reduces their energy usage and carbon footprint at the same time. Gillette Mach3 Disposable Razors for Men, 6 Count, Designed for Sensitive Skin. Online Course Life Cycle Assessment | MIT Professional Education HUO0NpnaJd@"&u[kj-+8=WU\*w)OMYb_ry> 1F3 nyNnb 0 Wang, Chun Tsin, and Alexander Sutulor. 8 John Adam Street The body of both razors had similar impact as their weights were also quite similar. 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).