Of course, no one knows for sure. Estimating the annual plastic waste from shaving worldwide is difficult because there is no reliable data. This is typical of an oligopoly like the shaving industry.
However, estimates suggest that the cosmetics industry generates approximately 5.3 million tons of plastic waste worldwide annually, a portion of which comes from shaving products. In the US alone, approximately 2 billion disposable razors are sold annually, which are made almost entirely of plastic. These have a short lifespan and are thrown away after use, creating a significant waste problem. Packaging, which is often made of plastic, also contributes to the amount of plastic waste.
According to Statista, approximately 5.7 billion disposable razors were sold worldwide in 2019. Of these, approximately 2.5 billion were sold in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, 1.8 billion in the Asia-Pacific region, and 1.4 billion in the Americas.
The average weight of a razor is approximately 10 grams. This assumption is based on information from various razor manufacturers and suppliers. Based on this information, the following estimate is derived:
EMEA : 2.5 billion disposable razors x 10 grams per razor = 25 billion grams or 25,000 tons of plastic waste
Asia-Pacific : 1.8 billion disposable razors x 10 grams per razor = 18 billion grams or 18,000 tons of plastic waste
America : 1.4 billion disposable razors x 10 grams per razor = 14 billion grams or 14,000 tons of plastic waste
In total , disposable razors are estimated to generate 57,000 tons of plastic waste per year worldwide. However, this estimate does not take into account the potential waste from reusable razors and other shaving accessories such as razor blades, nor does it take into account the packaging.
For reusable razors, an exact estimate is difficult , as there are many different models, each made of different materials. However, a rough estimate puts the total amount of plastic waste from reusable razors at approximately 25,000 tons per year worldwide.
Additionally, the packaging must be considered, which is also often largely made of plastic and must be disposed of after opening. An exact estimate is equally difficult here, but it's safe to assume that the amount of plastic waste from packaging is similar to that from the shaving products themselves.
Based on these estimates, we calculate that shaving generates more than 100,000 tons of plastic waste worldwide each year.
According to a 2019 estimate by the Federal Environment Agency, around 1.5 billion disposable razors and blades are sold in Germany every year , and they are made almost exclusively of plastic. Assuming that each disposable razor weighs around 10 grams, this results in a total of 15,000 tons of plastic waste from disposable razors and blades per year in Germany alone. For reusable razors, an exact estimate is also difficult because there are many different models that can be made of different materials. However, a rough estimate based on the weight of average reusable razors and the number of units sold results in a total of around 5,000 tons of plastic waste from reusable razors per year in Germany.
As emphasized several times, it's important to note that these figures are based on assumptions and estimates and are therefore not exact. However, it is an important reminder that shaving is a significant contributor to global plastic waste and that it is important to find alternatives to 1. disposable razors, 2. plastic handles, and 3. plastic packaging to drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste.
At NASH, we set out to do just that.
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All love,
Thomas von NASH
Sources:
Number of razors sold worldwide:
Statista: Global sales of men's razors by region
Statista: Global disposable razor market size from 2018 to 2025 (2021)
Ocean Conservancy: Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean (2017)
Earth911: How to Recycle Razors (2019)
The Guardian: The war on plastic waste: Is the battle slowing down? (2019)
Federal Environment Agency: Avoiding plastic waste: Single-use plastic products (2019)
MarketLine Industry Profile: Global Male Toiletries November 2017
Own estimate based on average weight of disposable razors including packaging.
