sustainability Flashcards
3 key areas
social, economic and environmental
models
lca
dfd
c2c
epr
lca
an assessment of all the outputs and inputs in a products life from its raw materials to its disposal. internationally recognised technique for assessing environmental aspects or potential aspects over the total life of the product, time consuming and expensive to conduct.
covers material sourcing and processing, product manufacture, transport and distribution, product use and product disposal.
strategies to reduce impact lca
strategies to reduce impact include sustainably sourced materials, non toxic materials and less materials, reducing transportation and waste. designing to be reused or recycled both parts and materials, extending the life of eg more durable products
cradle to cradle
uses the materials within it as a beginning of a new life, design of product is important so that the materials can be reused after the products life has ended. up-cycling and recycling of materials helps to avoid increased landfill
design for disassembly
takes the entire product including its parts and components into consideration and how they are joined together in the design stage, aim for easy repair, minimum different types of materials, labelling for easy identification of materials and easy recycling. product is designed so it can be taken apart easily so that the materials and parts can be recycled. allows for easy separation of materials that are no good for recycling
extended producer responsibility
recognises the manufacturers, governments and consumers share the responsibility for the environmental impact of a product throughout its full lifecycle. it reduces the amount of waste from consumer goods. producers can use srategies to reduce the impact by designing products that produce less waste, use fewer resources and less toxic components, use more recyclable materials, take back products from consumers that are no longer useful and use them to produce new products
materials sourcing
mining, logging or growing materials then converting them into forms used for manufacture
- may produce toxic or polluting waste
- cause degredation of land and impact on people animals and plants
- use of finite resources eg water
- use of toxic herbicides and pesticides
- production of pollution,
- ethical and social implications on communities that live where materials are sourced and processed andon workers that source and process the materials
- land degredation can affect the future economy of the area
product manufacture
making the products including components that might be used in production
- use of materials energy and water producing pollution and using finite resources
- use and possible degradation of land for manufacturing
- may have social/ health impacts on the workers and surrounding communities
transport
moving materials and products from their source to processing facility, to site of production, to distribution centres and retailing locations, to where products are used and then disposed of.
- may involve use of fuel
- creation and maintenance of vehicles and infrastructure for transport
- pollution
product use
products function in different ways eg some use fuel and energy others more static and need to be maintained or washed regularly
- use of energy, fuel, cleaning maintanence and or water to make the product function or keep useable condition
- may produce pollution while being used or maintained
- discarding of disposable parts?
- may have significant social and ethical implications eg may improve quality of life.
product disposal
can the materials the product has been made form be recycled. if they can how much landfill will they take up? how toxic are they as they break down? how long will it take for them to break down?
- creates waste and impacts may involve the production of pollution incresed landfill which impacts on health of people, animals and plants inthe areas around landfill
- may be recyclable for use in other products.
