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BIC ball pen case study

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 SCHOOL of ENGINEERING

Environmental Engineering

Redesigning the disposable BIC ballpoint pen

Author: Zhehao Jiang

Student ID: 000850583
zj0494m@greenwich.a
E-mail:
c.uk
Date: 07/11/2015
 CIVI-1018-M02-2014-15 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Content

1. Summary ................................................................................................................................ 2

2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2

3. Analysis and suggestion......................................................................................................... 2

Stage 5: the end of life optimization in waste disposal ...................................................... 3

Stage 3: Go Eco-optimized on distribution process in packaging and shipping ............... 3

Stage 2: Manufacturing process optimization................................................................... 5

Stage 1: optimization in raw materials and design ............................................................ 6

4. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 7

5. Reference ............................................................................................................................... 7

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1. Summary

Primarily, I feel great honored to be employed by Societe Bic as the manager of

‘Environmental Friendly Product Development’ for disposable ballpoint pens. This
report mainly states a ‘reverse’ Environmental life cycle assessment on the standard
BIC ballpoint pen and some individual recommendations on changes in each period of
life cycle in order to minimize its environmental impact without compromising on its
function or reliability. To summarize, the life cycle of BIC ballpoint pen including
following five stages: Design -Manufacturing -Distribution -Using -The end of life
cycle respectively.

2. Introduction

Trace back to the history of our company. In 1945 after the Second World War, two
merchants named Marcd Bich and Edward Buffard saw a marketing opportunity to
launch a new pen product to displace the fountain pen esteemed position, so the
prototype of our company was founded. It acquired its name to ‘BIC’ by Bich
shortened his name in 1953, with unremitting efforts made by generation to
generation, BIC ballpoint pen has become an irreplaceable product recognized
globally. 4 (Moma.org, 2013.08.04)

Since the hot topic on environmental friendly manufacturing, our company has put
into an aggressive effort to try to manufacture the ballpoint pen in environmental
friendly materials and explore the new design to reach energy conservation and
emission reduction. Our company hammers at publishing Sustainable Development
Report annually to summarize the progress made for economic friendly ballpoint pen
in the year and shortcomings need to be improved in the future. Although the
company has already leaded the position in environmental friendly manufacturing, we
also need to innovate and learn the advantages from other companies in some fields.

3. Analysis and suggestion

Table 1: Environmental performance in BIC ballpoint pen1

Life cycle Manufacturin Design Distribution Usage The end of
assessment g including life cycle
raw material

BIC ballpoint 88% 7% 4% <1% <1%

pen

1
Partial data reference from Bic sustainable development report in 2011

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According to the table 1, we can clearly see that manufacturing and design process
take over 95% on its environmental impact. On the other words, the environmental
impact level has been determined due to the original two life cycle steps, which
means optimization in Manufacturing and design are vital.

The reverse environmental life cycle assessment as following:

Stage 5: the end of life optimization in waste disposal

The waste disposal can be divided into three main parts: recycling, incineration and
landfill.

Actually, our BIC group has already carried on thermally treat non-recyclable waste
in plant and converts generated thermal energy into usable energy carriers. In 2013,
we can transfer 2.5 tons per hour of waste into 1200Kw of electric power and 8000
Kw of heat power, 2(BIC Group, 2014) these incinerated heat power will be used to
run the manufacturing equipment. The efficiency of energy recovery is approximately
at 70%, with rapid updated new technology, this number would rise higher and higher
in the future.

Stage 3: Go Eco-optimized on distribution process in packaging and

shipping

Packaging on the environmental impact covers almost the whole product chain. In our
company, BIC ballpoint pens start being first packaged after they are manufactured.
Distribution process including shipping, trucking, etc. also need a large amount of
packaging materials. Sales packaging, recycle and waste collection process take over
different scales of packaging material consumption.

Our ballpoint pen packaging item consists of primarily of boxes and cases made of
plastic, paper and cardboard.

Here are some points I suggested to minimize the environmental impact:

1) No use of PVC packaging

① PVC packaging is an energy intensive industry.

② PVC is only available with additives or plasticizes, most of these are harmful
which can interface with the biological endocrine and increase the risk of cancer. On the
other words, PVC waste is not conformed to the business ethics.

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③ PVC waste incineration pollutes the air, the most notorious of incineration by-
products are dioxins. While dioxin emissions to air from incinerators, it creates huge
toxin which seriously affect the health of living beings and their generations.

2) Use green packaging material (PP)

① No destroy on the ecological balance.

② Low energy consumption during manufacturing process.

③ Rapid natural degradation and reuse rate.

④ Less harm on live beings.

⑤ compare to PVC, more less environmental impact cost($/Ton) of

manufacturing, the difference between the two can be seen as following figure:

2
Figure 1: environmental impact cost comparison 3(Buxburm, 2011)

Our company engages in two types of transport for it products:

 ‘Inter-site shipping’ which refers to factory to factory and factory to warehouses

(intracontinental).

 ‘Distribution shipping’ which refers to shipments from the factories or warehouses to

the end customer. 3 1 (BIC Group, 2011)

There are several fields I considered that can be optimized to develop an environment
symbiotic type of logistics management system:

1) Simplify the supply and distribution system. Reduce vehicle operation via the
effective use of vehicles. To be specific, our corporation could develop a plan of
2
The data is from Marisa Buxbaum,Persistent Plastic,http://www.inspirationgreen.com/plastic-packaging-waste.html
3
Italic part reference from Bic sustainable development report in 2011, page 30-31

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shipping distribution. For example, rational allocation of distribution center in order

to reduce resource consumption and cargo damages rate

2) To reduce total traffic via transportation mode optimization. Mainly use rail and sea
transport rather than air transport. According to our specific analyses, air transport
took over 3% in total tonnage. However, it occupied approximate 60% GHG
emission in total.

3) Use hydrogen energy automobile from delivery points to sale points.

Stage 2: Manufacturing process optimization

Water resource consumption:

As we all know, water consumption takes over a large scale in manufacturing process
and no exception on BIC ballpoint pen. Our company has tried to minimize the
industrial water, updating the cooling equipment to use the water more efficient.
However, it is not far enough just change equipment. Progress should be made on
continuous improvement.

1) Close inspect on the water supply line to prevent the loss from leaking issue.

2) Store rainwater as resource especially for these countries with large rainfall.

Energy consumption:
The use of energy varies with greenhouse gas emissions. In order to minimize
environmental impact on energy consumption, it is necessary to do following:

1) Use low-heating equipment.

2) Revise a machine operation handbook, and dominate employees follow the handbook
to run equipment more efficient.

3) Use renewable energy such as hydrogen energy, ethanol, etc. Replace petroleum and
coal that non-renewable energy with large carbon dioxide emission.

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Stage 1: optimization in raw materials and design

Nib adapter

Cap
Refill

Body

Roller ball tip

Figure 2: Structure of Bic disposable ballpoint pen 4

At present, a BIC disposable ballpoint pen is mainly composed of five parts. Cap is
made of polypropylene. Body and Refill are made of polyethylene. Tip is made of
Tungsten and Nib adapter is made of brass.

Although polyethylene and polypropylene are much more environmental friendly compa
re to other plastic materials, they still account for a scale of the environmental impact co
st, 340$/ton and 390$/ton respectively. Here I have a recommendation on new material f
or Cap, Body and refills. Plastarch Material (PSM), it is a biodegradable thermoplastic p
lastic via modification of corn starch and other renewable resources, integrated merits w
ith rigidity, toughness and elasticity. Waterproof, Grease proofing, Non-toxic, Heat resis
tant, Cold resistant, and etc. What’s more, there is no Waste water, waste gas, and waste
residue during manufacturing process. The waste of PSM can be 100% Biodegradable, a
nd 90%of them can be convert into Water, energy and biological carbon within 80 days.
Meanwhile, PSM can also be incinerated; the CO2 emission of PSM is only 10-20% com
pare to polypropylene incineration which release 3.14ton carbon dioxide per ton. This ne
w material was approved by RoSH 5, REACH 6 in 2005. If our company still wants to kee
p the leadership in ballpoint pen field, my suggestion in material innovation should be a
dopted.

The ink of our ballpoint pen is composed of hydroelectric acid tannic Gallic and diluted
with phenol sulfate, it could be deadly harmful to living beings if amounts that a mixture
in large quantities. In this regard, we can learn from our competitor Prodir 7. Prodir Com
pany use a kind of 100% percent natural DS3 Eco ink which is biological. There is an ol
d saying in China, if you want to beat you competitor, learn more from him. I think it is
also useful in commercial field. 5(Prodir, 2011)
4
Base map reference from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bic-Crystal-Ballpoint-Medium-Point/dp/B000JTOYLS

5
Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC

6
REACH，Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals

7
Prodir, a swiss brand ballpoint pen company

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4. Conclusion

As the manager, I have rights and obligation to lead my company to be better, so I perfor
med a reverse environmental life cycle assessment in BIC ballpoint pen and give some si
gnificantly individual suggestions on different components. With rapid force from busin
ess competition, we need to keep a level head to stay competitive. I wish my suggestions
would be adopted and implemented quickly.

5. Reference

1. BIC Group, 2011. 2011 Sustainable Development Report. In: France: Labrador, pp.
Page28-29.

2. BIC Group, 2014. Waste to Energy.

3. Buxburm, M., 2011. Presistent Plastic, Leeds: Barkston.

4. Moma.org, 2013.08.04. BIC Cristal in MoMA collection, France: Societe Bic.

5. Prodir, 2011. Prodir-Eco-Brochure, Swiss: Prodir.

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