Product sustainability and social issues

Question 1

Choice of material - life cycle assessment

Answer 1

Hardwoods are often obtained from natural rainforests. Felling the trees destroys the habitat of everything living there, even people.

Question 2

What is a better alternate of hardwood?

Answer 2

Softwoods are a greener choice. They’re usually from managed plantations - so more trees are planted and grow quickly to replace them.

Question 3

What other choices can effect the life cycle assessment?

Answer 3

Metals have to mined and extracted from their ores. Most plastics are made using crude oil, which is a finite resource and can’t be replaced. These processes need a lot of energy and cause a lot of pollution.

Question 4

Manufacturing - Life cycle assessment

Answer 4

Manufacturing products uses a lot of energy and other resources. It can also cause a lot of pollution. (e.g. some processes produce toxic gases.)

Question 5

What do you need to think about with manufacturing.

Answer 5

You also need to think about waste material and how to dispose of it.

Question 6

Using the product - Life cycle assessment

Answer 6

Using the product can also damage the environment. E.g. electrical products use electricity generated by burning fossil fuels and paint can give off toxic fumes.

Question 7

Product disposal - life cycle assessment

Answer 7

Products are often disposed of in a landfill site at the end of their life. This takes up space and pollutes land and water (e.g. when paint washes off a product and gets into rivers)