Chapter 12: Production and Consumption

Question 1

Waste Hierarchy

Answer 1

1. reduce at source (stop creating it)
2. Reuse
3. Recycle
4. Incinerate/Landfill

Question 2

Solutions to overproduction/consumption

four

Answer 2

-move to 0 waste
-eliminate POPs
-Life cycle assessment
-create a circular economy
-

Question 3

what is the Kuznets Curve and its Problems

four issues

Answer 3

defined: as income increases so does environmental degradation until a turning point is reached where envr degradation begins to decrease

problems:
-suggests economic growth is good for environment
-environmental improvement unlikely to occur without government intervention
-does not consider global scale of pollution
-high GDP countries have highest pollution levels

Question 4

What is Circular Economy

Answer 4

concept that integrates reusing the waste of a company as a resource for another one. 3 key objectives:

1.Design out waste and pollution: waste and pollution are not accidents, but the products of decisions made at the design stage.

2.Keep products and materials in use: design products and materials to be used and reused and take materials back

3.Regenerate natural systems: figure out how to return valuable nutrients or materials to nature.

Question 5

What is Lifecycle Assessment

Answer 5

a methodology used for understanding the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle: from raw material extraction through production, use, and waste treatment, to final disposal

Question 6

stages of lifecycle assessment

5

Answer 6

1. raw material extraction
2. production
3. use
4. waste treatment
5. disposal