3 - Implications of Wider Issues

Question 1

What does the Waste Electrical and Electronics (WEEE) directive do currently?

Answer 1

-Requires manufacturers to have a take back scheme.
-Requires all EEE is labelled with the crossed out wheelie bin symbol.
-Encourages manufacturers to manage waste from their products.

Question 2

Summarise the EU Ambient Regulation Act.

Answer 2

A set of directives that aim to reduce the effects of air pollution on human health & the environment.

Question 3

What does the EU Ambient Regulation Act do?

Answer 3

It sets standards for 12 different air pollutants (e.g. sulphur dioxide & arsenic) and has established lots of air quality monitoring stations to ensure air quality is within safe limits.

Question 4

Explain the UK Climate Change Act of 2008.

Answer 4

It requires the government to set policies to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of the 1990 levels by 2050.

Question 5

Summarise the purpose of the EU Ecolabel.

Answer 5

Help consumers buy products that are actually sustainable.

Question 6

What does the EU Ecolabel currently do?

Answer 6

Awards a label to products that meet requirements concerning carbon emissions, durability, ease of repair/recycling and more.

Question 7

Summarise the Paris Agreement.

Answer 7

An international treaty on climate change that aims to keep global temperature rise this century below 2°C.

Question 8

Summarise the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

Answer 8

A directive that requires 42.5% of energy consumed in the EU to be renewable by 2030.

Question 9

Summarise the EU Timber Regulation Act (EUTR).

Answer 9

An act which aims to counter illegal logging in timber/timber products (which would lead to deforestation!)

Question 10

Summarise the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.

Answer 10

A directive that restricts the use of 10 hazardous materials in the manufacture of various electronic parts.

Question 11

Name three substances that the RoHS directive restricts.

Answer 11

Cadmium, lead and mercury.

Question 12

What is the difference between fair trade and Fairtrade?

Answer 12

Fair trade is a concept that supports justice in international trade. Fairtrade is a certification system that enforces this concept.

Question 13

What are 5 of the 10 principles of fair trade?

Answer 13

Opportunities for producers, fair payment, capacity building, good working conditions, no child/forced labour.

Question 14

What does Fairtrade do to enforce the 10 principles?

Answer 14

Producers can sell their products with the Fairtrade certificate, sets social, economic & environmental standards, provides the Fairtrade Premium which workers & farmers can draw from to improve their conditions.

Question 15

What is a criticism of fair trade?

Answer 15

A number of fair trade products are not sold as such, so go for the same low price despite the extra expense that went into making them.

Question 16

Define carbon footprint.

Answer 16

The amount of carbon dioxide produced by a product throughout its lifespan.

Question 17

What is the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI)?

Answer 17

An alliance of trade unions, NGOs & companies that all follow a base code to advance human rights in global supply chains.

Question 18

Explain the role of the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI).

Answer 18

-Ensures workers in global supply chains have safe working conditions & fair wages.
-Aims to eliminate child/forced labour.
-Encourages companies to disclose working conditions.
-Works with businesses to meet ethical trade standards/improve labour rights.

Question 19

Define linear economy.

Answer 19

A ‘cradle to grave’ approach in which after use, a product is thrown away and not reused.

Question 20

Define circular economy.

Answer 20

A ‘cradle to cradle’ approach in which products are repaired, reused and recycled. No waste is produced.

Question 21

Give an example of a product that follows the circular economy.

Answer 21

Fairphone: has modular components that can be easily replaced and are made from almost entirely recycled materials.

Question 22

Define social footprint.

Answer 22

The impact a product has on people/communities.

Question 23

Name the stages in a life cycle assessment (LCA).

Answer 23

Extraction of raw materials, processing, manufacturing, use, disposal and transportation.

Question 24

Define planned obsolescence, and why is it used?

Answer 24

A product is designed to break prematurely to bring the user back to a company to buy a replacement.

Question 25

Give an example of a product that uses planned obsolescence.

Answer 25

iPhone: is designed to be difficult to repair so it is thrown away and replaced after breaking.

Question 26

Define sustainable development.

Answer 26

Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations.

Question 27

What is Just in Time (JIT) manufacturing?

Answer 27

Materials are delivered to the manufacturer only when they are needed.

Question 28

What are the pros & cons of JIT manufacturing?

Answer 28

Reduced cost of storage, reduced waste, reduced response times to consumers. Halts production of a shipment doesn’t show up.

Question 29

Name the 6 Rs.

Answer 29

Rethink, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Refuse, Reduce.

Question 30

What is Design For Disassembly (DFD)?

Answer 30

A product is designed to be taken apart, often used to support repair.

Question 31

Give an example of a product that uses DFD.

Answer 31

Dualit toasters are designed to be taken apart and repaired easily.

Question 32

What is the difference between tidal and wave energy?

Answer 32

Tidal energy uses an underwater turbine, while wave energy follows the up & down motion of the waves.

Question 33

Define upcycling.

Answer 33

Repurposing an old product to perform a different function, for example using a tin can as a plant pot.

Question 34

Define globalisation.

Answer 34

The process by which organisations start operating at an international scale.

Question 35

What are three positives of globalisation?

Answer 35

Resources can be distributed to where there is a shortage, more jobs in developing countries, strengthens economic relations with other countries.

Question 36

What are three negatives of globalisation?

Answer 36

Big companies can take advantage of poorer countries, human rights violations may occur, can cause conflict between countries.

Question 37

What effects does geothermal energy have on the environment?

Answer 37

Carbon footprint from set up, seismic activity from drilling, releases harmful gases.

Question 38

What is a negative of solar energy?

Answer 38

Solar panels are difficult to dispose of sustainably.

Question 39

What is a positive of coal energy?

Answer 39

It has a very high energy density.

Question 40

What is a negative of wind energy?

Answer 40

Energy is not produced all the time, so must be stored somehow.

Question 41

What can be used for biomass energy?

Answer 41

Methane from animal waste, plant waste and landfill.

Question 42

Define optimisation.

Answer 42

Identifying the best choices from design alternatives in terms of optimum use of materials, manufacturability and ease of assembly.

Question 43

Define lead time.

Answer 43

The total time required for item manufacture.

Question 44

What is the consumer protection act?

Answer 44

An act that ensures product safety and ethical production practices.