School Sustainability Flashcards
Environmental Aspect of Sustainability
Includes our air, land, animals and plant growth. Every product we buy consumes these resources and can impact negatively on the environment. Looking after the environment entails conserving and recycling resources, and reducing waste.
Social Aspect of Sustainability
Ensuring the needs of the people are considered. It includes the health, wellbeing and safety of workers, consumers and people who live near the factories.
Economic Aspect of Sustainability
Includes all related costs to designing and manufacturing a product. These include materials, labour, energy, equipment and facilities.
Globalisation Definition
The worldwide reach of markets and trade.
Life Cycle Assessment/Analysis
An assessment of all the outputs and inputs in a product’s life: from raw materials to disposal. It is used to measure and map the impacts of the product through all stages of its life, pinpoint the stages that could be improved, and assist with environmental strategies.
The Inputs of a Life Cycle Assessment/Analysis
The raw materials and energy used at each stage of the product’s life.
The Outputs of a Life Cycle Assessment/Analysis
The wastes and emissions into the air, water and soil.
Emotional Attachment
A close attachment you have with something.
Biodiversity
A term that covers the variety and richness of plant and animal life living in a complex ecological system that supports each other.
Green Washing
The practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or company practice.
Cradle to Cradle Concept
Recycling the product at the end of its life cycle to create a new product, instead of disposing of it.
Cradle to Grave Concept
The product is disposed of at the end of its life cycle.
Design for Disassembly (DfD)
This takes the entire product, including its parts and components and how they are joined, into consideration in the design stage. It aims for easy repair, minimal different types of material, and easy identification of materials so that recycling is easier.
Design for the Environment
This approach uses innovative strategies and techniques to lessen the impacts of products and processes. It aims to reduce the impact of sourcing materials, use less hazardous materials and packaging, and reduce waste and pollution.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) / Product Stewardship
This approach recognises that manufacturers, importers, governments and consumers have a shared responsibility for the environmental impacts of a product throughout its full life cycle.
