Life Cycle of a Product

Question 1

What must products undergo?

Answer 1

A life cycle assessment made up of 4 phases

Question 2

What are these 4 phases?

Answer 2

1. Making the material from natural raw materials
2. Manufacture
3. Use
4. Disposal

Question 3

What is each phases assessed for?

Answer 3

The environmental impact by the amount of energy and resources that will be used, and how materials will be obtained and disposed of.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a life cycle assessment?

Answer 4

To find the most sustainable method so that current needs are met without damaging resources for the future

Question 5

What factors must be assessed in Making the Material from Natural Raw Materials?

Answer 5

Energy needed and environmental impact of converting raw materials into useful materials (eg. crude oil into plastic).

Question 6

What factors must be assessed in Manufacture?

Answer 6

Resources and energy to make the product. The environmental impact of making the product from the material

Question 7

What factors must be assessed in Use?

Answer 7

Energy needed to use the product (eg. electricity). Energy and chemicals needed to maintain the product. Environmental impact

Question 8

What factor must be assessed in Disposal?

Answer 8

Energy needed to dispose of the product. Environmental impact of landfill, incineration and recycling.