BIC® ecolutions^TM

1 - What is BIC® ecolutions^TM ?

REFILLABLE vs ONE PIECE SHAVERS

2- Do shavers with refillable heads have less impact on the environment than one piece disposable shavers?

BIC® ecolutions^TM SHAVER

3- How does BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver reduce its environmental impact compared to a traditional one piece disposable shaver?

4- What is the environmental advantage of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

5- What about the shaving performance of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

6- Why did you use PLA rather than other alternative sources?

7- What is bioplastic ? What is PLA?

8- What is a renewable resource?

9- Where is BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver made?

10- Do we have a certification or Ecolabel for BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

11- Does bioplastic material have an impact on food prices?

12- Does bioplastic that you use contain GMO (genetically modified) products?

CO₂ REDUCTION

13- What is CO2 reduction? What is carbon offsetting? Why don’t you extend the CO2 reduction to other products?

AFTER THE USE

14- What can I do with the shaver after use ? Is BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver recyclable?

15- What is the impact of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver end of life on the environment? Is BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver biodegradable?

IN THE MARKET

16- Who are the consumers of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

17- How much does BIC® ecolutions^TM cost?

18- Where can I buy BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

1 - What is BIC® ecolutions^TM?

BIC® ecolutions^TM is BIC’s brand of products made from alternative or renewable materials.

BIC is an expert in precision plastic molding. Our production lines are designed to run at high speeds where our main goal is to offer our consumers affordable high quality products. In selecting raw materials our choice is limited to ingredients that can sustain the precision of our manufacturing process. This makes the research for alternative resources challenging.

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2- Do shavers with refillable heads have less impact on the environment than one piece disposable shavers?

BIC one piece disposable shavers can be used multiple times.

Based on ECOBILAN* Life Cycle Assessment (1994), shavers with refillable heads are not necessarily better for the environment than one piece disposable shavers:

• Shavers with refillable heads have heavier handles which use more raw materials and may generate more waste.

• Shavers with refillable heads currently use a lot of packaging material and may produce more waste.

*ECOBILAN is an independent expert agency in Life Cycle Assessment.

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3- How does BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver reduce its environmental impact compared to a traditional one piece disposable shaver?

BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver was developed under the BIC’s eco-design process:

• Shaver handle is made of PLA, talc and glass.
• Packaging is made of 100% recycled cardboard.
• Packaging has been reduced to the minimum size.
• Bio-pigment used for the shaver color is made from pigments of vegetable origin.
• Bio-ink used to print packaging is made from pigments of vegetable source.

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4- What is the environmental advantage of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

An expert agency in ecodesign (EVEA) has performed a study using Life Cycle Analysis method to assess BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver environmental impact.

With raw material, production, distribution, packaging and it’s end of life, BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver has reduced the emissions of CO₂ by 16g (27%) compared to an equivalent 3-blade shaver made with oil-based plastic. One year of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver production will save the CO₂ emission equivalent of 38 flights between Paris and New York. (Source: ADEME)

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5- What about the shaving performance of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

BIC® ecolutions^TMshaver offers the same comfortable, smooth, precise and close shave as our other 3-blade shavers*

BIC® ecolutions^TM fulfills BIC®’s mission of providing simple, convenient, long lasting products at great “value for money” everyday.

*Source: Eurosyn (Consumer tests & sensory expertise) .

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6- Why did you use bioplastic rather than other alternative sources?

International environmental experts have recommended the use of bioplastic as this renewable material is the most promising sustainable solution to our criteria presented below.

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7- What is bioplastic? What is PLA?

Bioplastic is a product of a chemical process that changes glucose into a resistant plastic. It is made of corn, a renewable resource.

PLA stands for Poly Lactic Acid and it is a common name for bioplastic. PLA is an environmentally friendly solution to current supermarket’s plastic bags.

PLA BIO-POLYMER production process scheme:

STARCH (CORN) Glucose Bacterial fermentation Lactic acid Polymerization PLA (click here for more information)

BIC® ecolutions^TM is the first BIC® eco-designed shaver.

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8- What is a renewable resource?

A renewable resource is a material that can renew or replace itself. It can be harvested indefinitely with proper management.

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9- Where is BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver made?

BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver is produced in Athens, Greece in our ISO 14001 certified BIC factory.

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10- Do we have a certification or ecolabel for BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

There are currently no official certifications for an ecolabel for the shaver category.
BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver is the first global eco-shaver made of bioplastic.

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11- Does bioplastic material have an impact on food prices?

Currently, corn dedicated to bioplastic production represents only 0.04% of the worldwide estimated corn production.

Bioplastic is made of corn seeds. It has been defined as first generation production. The second generation focuses on producing bioplastic from non edible parts of corn: leaf, stem, etc. This technology is currently under development.

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12- Does bioplastic that you use contain GM (genetically modified) products?

Almost all bioplastic suppliers are established in the USA where GM goods are widely accepted.

The next step will be to consider how to develop non-GMO corn.

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13- What is CO₂ reduction? What is Carbon offsetting? Why don’t you extend the CO₂ reduction to other products?

CO₂ reduction is the name of BIC’s approach to reduce the CO₂ emissions for the BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver:

• Reduce the carbon footprint of our shavers (product and packaging) from 59g to 43g.
• Offset the residual emissions of BIC® ecolutions^TM shavers
  • Carbon offsetting is an emission reduction credit that compensates carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver is the first step towards a more sustainable shave.
If consumers acknowledge BIC’s commitment to climate protection and if BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver sells well, BIC will extend CO₂ reduction program to other products. Our ambition is to do more and develop multiple solutions for a “greener shave”.

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14- What can I do with the shaver after use? Is BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver recyclable?

BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver has to be thrown away in the same garbage bin as other shavers.
Shavers are very difficult to recycle because they are too small and too light to attract the recycle industry’s attention.

BIC® ecolutions^TM packaging is 100% paper, so it is 100% recyclable.

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15- What is the impact of the shaver end of life on the environment? Is BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver biodegradable?

Life Cycle Analysis method shows that our 3-blade shaver impact is small and is more linked to the usage of water while shaving (75%).

BIC® shavers end of life (when it is thrown away) only represents 0.2% of the shaver environmental impact.

As some parts of BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver are not made of bioplastic (cartridge and blades), it is not completely biodegradable.

(Source: O₂ France: Sustainable development and ecodesign agency)

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16- Who are BIC® ecolutions^TM consumers?

BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver is designed for men and women who care about environment yet demand an affordable and high performance shaver.

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17- How much does BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver cost?

Consumers usually perceive “green” products as expensive. However with a suggested retail price of €3.20 per pack for four shavers, BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver remains affordable to everyone.

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18- Where can I buy BIC® ecolutions^TM shaver?

BIC® ecolutions^TM shavers will be initially sold in European hypermarkets, supermarkets and specific retail channels.

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