Chapter 5 - The environment and concerns

Question 1

What is causing companies to become more conscious of the environment?

Answer 1

Both national and international laws due to emissions from factories etc and also people are become more environmentally aware and like to buy greener products.

Question 2

What is ‘Ecolabel’?

Answer 2

Ecolable is a voluntary scheme which was established in 1993. Manufacturers are encouraged to label product that has a reduced impact on the environment, so consumers are able to identify such products, a flower symbol is used.

Question 3

What is the packaging directive?

Answer 3

The EU packaging directive was introduced in 1994 and changed in 2004. It was set to reduce the amount of waste produced from packaging. By means of the design of the packaging, recycling and reusing. It also sets limits for the amount of toxic metals used in packaging.

Question 4

What is the energy labelling directive? And how does it reduce energy consumption?

Answer 4

Introduced in 1996. All electrical appliances such as refrigerators are labelled with a rating from A to G. This indicates to the buyer the energy consumption of the appliance. People are more likely to buy efficient products forcing manufacturers to make their product more efficient therefore phasing out inefficient appliances.

Question 5

What does ELVD stand for and what does it aim to do?

Answer 5

ELVD - End-of-life vehicle directive
Was introduced in 2003 to encourage the reuse and recycling of waste from vehicles when they reach their end of life. It also restricts the use of toxic metals in new cars and manufacturers have to label plastic parts to make recycling possible and easier.

Question 6

What does WEEE stand for and what does it do?

Answer 6

WEEE - Waste electrical and electronic equipment directive
Was introduced in 2006, it aims to encourage manufacturers to develop electrical and electronic products that can be dismantled and the parts reused or recycled. Manufacturers have to include instructions to the buyer not to discard old products but to take them to WEEE collection points.

Question 7

What does RoSH stand for and what does it do?

Answer 7

RoSH is the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
This bans the use of some chemicals and materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment. This is to safeguard human health when the products are disposed of and recycled.

Question 8

What is green design? And what two areas does it focus on?

Answer 8

Green design is an approach in design to reduce the impact on the environment. It focuses on two areas conserving materials through recycling or by conserving energy in the use of the product.

Question 9

What is Ecodesign and where could it be used?

Answer 9

Eco design is an approach to the design that goes further than green design. In eco-design the manufacturer and designers will try to reduce the impact of the product through its whole life cycle, from raw materials to final disposal. It could be used when creating white appliances eg a washing machine.
The company might take these areas into consideration:
- Selection of low impact materials
- Reduction in material usage
- Reduction of impact during use and optimisation of initial lifetime
- optimisation of end of life systems, recycling recovering and reusing parts etc.

Question 10

What is sustainable design?

Answer 10

Here the main function of the product is looked at and a more environmentally sound method of performing the same function is sought after. It also looks at the welfare of workers that are producing the product, fair trade is an example of a company which works with sustainable design

Question 11

What is sustainable innovation?

Answer 11

This a radical approach which looks for a new way of doing something, by using a mix of products and services. E.g. efficient washing powders which work at much lower temperatures. Combining a number of day to day jobs such as shopping, washing and using your car all combined to use less fuel and fewer materials.

Question 12

What is an example of a green product?

Answer 12

Clothing made from organically grown, naturally coloured cotton, no need for chemicals and pesticides. Sandles made from recycled denim. Biodegradable carrier bags etc, basically anything where the environment has been considered.

Question 13

What are two ways in which a company can make their packaging greener?

Answer 13

Reduce the amount of packaging, making the packaging from recycled materals trying to aviod plastics, labelling all materials making recycling easier, replacing internal packaging from polystyrene to cardboard for example.

Question 14

How are LDPE cushions can example of green packaging?

Answer 14

LDPE is a thermoplastic one in which can be recycled. By filling the LDPE with air it reduces the amount of polymer which is need while still being able to protect the product.

Question 15

What does LCD stand for?

Answer 15

Life cycle design

Question 16

What does LCD try to tackle?

Answer 16

Material consumption, fossil fuel energy consumption, pollution and toxic waste

Question 17

Name 3 ecodesign ideas to make a green TV?

Answer 17

Combine the TV and DVD player to reduce materials and components used
Remove standby feature, meaning the TV has to be switched off
Replace picture tube with LCD display which use less energy

Question 18

Describe how a compact fluorescent light bulb works and why is it better for the environment than a filament bulb?

Answer 18

A compact fluorescent light bulb works by heating an electrode which emits electrons into a tube of mercury vapour. Making the vapour emit UV light. A coating on the inside of the bulb reacts with the UV to produce white light which is then emitted. These are better than filament bulbs because they last 10 times longer.

Question 19

What does LED stand for and how do they work?

Answer 19

Light emitting diode, they produce light when electrons pass between two pieces of semiconducting materials. This releases LED light emission which reacts with the phosphorescent pigment coating on the inside of the LED to produce visual light.

Question 20

Describe the electrodeless induction lamps?

Answer 20

They are a new type of lamp in the 1990’s. They work by using a magnetic coil to generate radio waves which excite gas contained in the lamp. The inside surface of the lamp is coated with phosphorescent pigment which glows. These last a lot longer than a filament bulb and do not have an electrode or filament which will wear out even though the gas can degrade over time.

Question 21

What are the main materials used in cars?

Answer 21

Aluminium, mild steel, copper, glass and polymers.

Question 22

Name 5 ways in which manufacturers reduce fuel consumption in cars?

Answer 22

Reducing drag with aerodynamic bodies, using lightweight aluminium for engines and body parts, using polymers instead of woods much lighter, installing electronic engine management systems to optimise burning of fuel, stop-start systems where the car turns off the engine when stopped eg traffic lights.

Question 23

What other green features do manufacturers use in their cars?

Answer 23

Asbestos-free breaks, using recycled textiles in upholstery filling and soundproofing, natural dyes, using water-based paints, using international codes to identify polymers making recycling easier.

Question 24

Describe a hybrid car and how they help the environment?

Answer 24

A hybrid car uses a petrol engine and an electric motor, .At slow speeds, the car will just use an electric motor so therefore gives off no emissions. At higher speeds, the petrol engine takes over and as well as powering the wheels the engine also charges the batteries.

Question 25

What are the negatives of a hybrid car?

Answer 25

The batteries and 2nd engine add a lot of weight, only beneficial at low speeds, no good on motorways. Use a petrol motor which is less efficient than say diesel.

Question 26

What is a hydrogen fuel cell?

Answer 26

Its a way of producing energy using hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that convert hydrogen and oxygen into water, in the process producing electricity.

Question 27

What are the negatives of using fuel cells in cars?

Answer 27

The parts to produce the unit is very expensive, due to the hydrogen having to be kept under high pressure there are risks of explosions when crashed. Also all fuel stations would need to be adapted to hold hydrogen fuel.

Question 28

What is regenerative breaking in electric cars?

Answer 28

When breaking the kinetic energy from the moving vehicle is transferred from the wheels to the motor that acts as a generator. This will then help charge the batteries and extend the range on a single charge.

Question 29

What is biodiesel made from? And how is it carbon neutral?

Answer 29

From vegetable oil extracted from crops such as rapeseed and palm. The plants which are grown to produce the diesel makes it carbon neutral because plants absorb Co2 and the burning of fossil fuels produces Co2.

Question 30

What plastic do car dashboards tend to be made from?

Answer 30

ABS

Question 31

What are the advantages of using plastics in cars?

Answer 31

Avaiable is a large range of colours, to suit cosumer taste.
Moulding can give the plastic texture, such as leather effect grain, engraving etc.
Can be injection moulded, means all elements of a dashboard can be moulded in one go, and it is a fast method to keep up with demand.
It is cheaper to paint, veneers or coat a plastic dashboard than it is to make one from wood or metal for example.
Reduces weight to improve performance and reduce fuel consumption.