Ecologial and social footprint

Question 1

What are the ecological and social footprints

Answer 1

product miles, mining, carbon emissions, social factors, deforestation, farming

Question 2

Product miles definition (ecological and social footprint)

Answer 2

number of miles a product travels from all stages of manufacture through to its final retail destination, by using a carbon footprint calculator the total CO2 emissions can be calculated which is part of the life cycle assessment

Question 3

Carbon emissions definition (ecological and social footprint)

Answer 3

when manufacturing goods we consume energy which emits greenhouse gases, to reduce carbon emissions our production and consumption of energy needs to be reduced, becoming more energy efficient = using low or no-carbon fuels, new technologies

Question 4

Mining definition (ecological and social footprint)

Answer 4

this extracts minerals, metals and coal from the earth which then means the environment is affected by soil erosion, air and water pollution and loss of biodiversity, mining companies are expected to return the land to its orginial state

Question 5

Social factors definition (ecological and social footprint)

Answer 5

designers have social responsibility to consider what impact their products may have on the environment such as: using materials from sustainable resources, sourcing materials that have a positive impact on farmers and workers, reducing the use of unethically sourced materials, using recycled products

Question 6

Deforestation definition (ecological and social footprint)

Answer 6

results in a loss of wild habitat and trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere, timber soured from sustainably managed forests means new trees are replanted

Question 7

Farming definition (ecological and social footprint)

Answer 7

use of pesticides and fertilisers can result in pollutants in water run-off from the soil harming habitats