topic 10 - using resources (6. life cycle assessments) Flashcards
what are life cycle assessments
they access the environmental impact of the entire lifetime of a product
what are the stages of the lifetime of a product
getting raw materials
manufacturing and packaging
using product
product disposal
what factors must be considered at each stage of the LCAs
amount of energy needed amount of water used pollution produced waste formed how waste disposed how long product used for
how can getting raw materials damage environment
extraction
transportation
processing
how can extraction damage the environment
mining
result in pollution due to energy needed
how can transportation damage environment
greenhouse emissions from combustion of fossil fuels
how can processing damage environment
often large amounts of waste with processes that need to be deposed of
how can manufacturing and packaging damage the environment
pollution
use lots of energy resources
chemical reactions produce waste products
how can product disposal damage the environment
transport to landfill- pollutants and energy released to atmosphere
landfill- pollutes water and land
incineration (waste burnt at very high temperatures)- air pollutions
problems involved with life cycle assessments
effect of pollutants is hard to value
can be biased as it takes into account the values of the person carrying out the assessment
