Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) Flashcards
What is Life Cycle Analysis?
A method for evaluating environmental impacts of products through their life cycle. This includes their extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, recycling, and final disposal.
What are the 5 phases in the life cycle of products
- Raw materials and processing
- Manufacture
- Distribution
- Use
- Disposal
What is a linear economy?
Resources are extracted, used, and disposed of after 1 use/life cycle.
What is a circular economy?
uses as few resources as possible and extracts the maximum from them, using them for as long as possible through recycling, repairing and more
What are the negative effects of a linear economy?
- exhaustion of resources (finite amount of things like timber if not replanted). This releases CO2 and destroys habitats
- promotes the manufacture of one use products (example fast fashion that creates clothes with short lifespan that are disposed of after a few uses)
- unsustainable for future generations
How does a circular economy help safe our environment?
It uses the 6R’s to ensure that products can have many lives and use the materials sustainably. It also promotes a sustainable life style where we need less new materials.
What are the 6R’s?
Rethink: Does the product do its job well?
Reduce: Can we reduce the amount of materials used? Are the parts which are not needed? packaging!
Recycle: Can materials be easily separated and then recycled in order to make new products?
Reuse: Can the product (or parts of it) be used for some other purpose after its primary life? Can packaging be reused rather than being discarded?
Refuse: is it necessary to use the product at all? Is it an unethical product? Is the product Fairtrade?
Repair: Can the product be repaired if it breaks? Can it be better designed so that maintainance extends its life?
Define sustainability
meeting today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations
