1. A life cycle assessment of a product

2. The key stages in the life of the product ‘from cradle to the grave’ – extraction of the raw materials it is made from through to how it is disposed of at the end of its life.

3. Raw materials – Use less material – Use materials with less environmental impact – Consider the recyclable materials – Adhere to relevant laws Manufacture – Reduce energy use – Simplify processes where appropriate – Reduce waste – Use natural resources efficiently Raw materials – Use less material – Use materials with less environmental impact – Consider the recyclable materials – Adhere to relevant laws Manufacture – Reduce energy use – Simplify processes where appropriate – Reduce waste – Use natural resources efficiently

4. Distribution – Reduce or lighten packaging – Reduce mileage of transportation to the customer Use – Increase durability of product – Encourage refill consumables where appropriate – Use ‘green’ credentials as a positive marketing strategy – Promote use of efficient use of product Distribution – Reduce or lighten packaging – Reduce mileage of transportation to the customer Use – Increase durability of product – Encourage refill consumables where appropriate – Use ‘green’ credentials as a positive marketing strategy – Promote use of efficient use of product

5. End of life – Make reuse and recycling easier – Reduce waste to landfill End of life – Make reuse and recycling easier – Reduce waste to landfill

6. A life cycle assessment of a product must include: Raw materials extraction Manufacture processes Distribution Use Disposal/recycling A life cycle assessment of a product must include: Raw materials extraction Manufacture processes Distribution Use Disposal/recycling

7. Raw materials (extraction) Aluminium is mined from the ore bauxite. The extraction of alumina from bauxite ore and production of aluminium uses up a lot of energy. Aluminium is extracted using open-cast mining on land or dredging of the sea bed. These techniques destroy large amounts of land and destroys sea life and habitats Sourcing recycled aluminium to use instead of virgin material Manufacture processes Use a simpler design with fewer components to reduce the amount of materials used Reduce the thickness of the aluminium Use efficient lay planning to limit the amount of aluminium wasted when stamping out the circular tops for the cans. This waste material can be recovered/recycled Reduce the amount of energy used during manufacture and produce less waste Use vegetable based printing inks Distribution Using less material means the weight is reduced and enables more products to fit in a single lorry, reducing the number of journeys in distribution Use forms of transport (other than haulage which results in high levels of carbon emissions) such as electric trains and waterways Have distribution centres closer to the consumer to reduce the size of the journeys Encourage drivers to drive sensibly and smoothly to reduce their fuel consumption Use Include recycling symbols on the label to encourage the consumer to dispose of the product sensibly Make sure that the ring pull component stays attached to the can so that it can be recycled easier and not cause litter or danger to wildlife End of life Using recycled aluminium as it is more sustainable because it uses less energy to process Product Life Cycle of an Aluminium Can

8. Raw materials (extraction) Cherry wood is a hardwood which is slow growing and therefore will take a long time to renew. Any timber should be sourced from a managed forest that is FSC certified. Sourcing timber from a non-managed forest can cause deforestation and degradation of forest areas Reclaimed cherry wood timber could be used instead to make it more sustainable. Manufacture processes Use a simpler design with fewer components to reduce the amount of materials used Reduce the thickness of the timber Use efficient lay planning to limit the amount of timber wasted when preparing for cutting out of a piece of timber. Any useable pieces of waste material can be recovered and used. Reduce the amount of energy used during manufacture and produce less waste Use a corrosive resistant metal such as aluminium or stainless steel that doesn’t need chrome plating so no need for etching acids which can cause pollution and electroplating which requires additional energy usage. Distribution Using less material means the weight is reduced and enables more products to fit in a single lorry, reducing the number of journeys in distribution [Use forms of transport (other than haulage which results in high levels of carbon emissions) such as electric trains and waterways Have distribution centres closer to the consumer to reduce the size of the journeys Encourage drivers to drive sensibly and smoothly to reduce their fuel consumption Use Include recycling symbols on the packaging to encourage the consumer to dispose of the product sensibly Increase the durability of the product by making sure that it is well made such as using good quality fixtures and fittings and applying a quality finish to the surface of the product. End of life Use reclaimed timber as it is more sustainable because it uses less energy to process Make it easy to dismantle so it can be repaired or reused so extending its life span. Use as few different materials as possible. Mark the materials in order to sort them correctly when recycling. Make it easy to separate the materials for recycling. Product Life Cycle of a Jewellery Box

11. Environmental concerns include: They are made from oil which is a finite resource They require a lot of energy to process, producing high levels of pollution Manufacturing techniques such as blow moulding consume a lot of energy Polymers are durable and degrade slowly which means they remain in landfill sites for a long time Environmental concerns include: They are made from oil which is a finite resource They require a lot of energy to process, producing high levels of pollution Manufacturing techniques such as blow moulding consume a lot of energy Polymers are durable and degrade slowly which means they remain in landfill sites for a long time

12. Glass is 100% recyclable – can be recycled endlessly with not loss in quality or purity Recycling glass saves raw materials – for every ton, over a ton of natural resources conserved Energy costs drop when recycled glass is used compared with using virgin raw materials Recycling cuts C02 emissions – for every 6 tons of recycled, 1 tone of CO2 is created No processing by products or waste is produced Glass is 100% recyclable – can be recycled endlessly with not loss in quality or purity Recycling glass saves raw materials – for every ton, over a ton of natural resources conserved Energy costs drop when recycled glass is used compared with using virgin raw materials Recycling cuts C02 emissions – for every 6 tons of recycled, 1 tone of CO2 is created No processing by products or waste is produced

13. Forest Stewardship Council FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests FSC operates a global certification system that allows consumers to identify, purchase and use timber products produced from well managed forests that do not contribute to the destruction of the world’s forests Forest Stewardship Council FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests FSC operates a global certification system that allows consumers to identify, purchase and use timber products produced from well managed forests that do not contribute to the destruction of the world’s forests

14. Modern timber merchants now have a zero waste policy. All off-cuts and waste material are used to be burned in furnaces to heat government buildings. One of these cities in the UK is Sheffield, in the USA Washington DC. Improved design efficiency in incinerators has made it possible to burn a large variety of wasted products that do not pollute the atmosphere. Modern timber merchants now have a zero waste policy. All off-cuts and waste material are used to be burned in furnaces to heat government buildings. One of these cities in the UK is Sheffield, in the USA Washington DC. Improved design efficiency in incinerators has made it possible to burn a large variety of wasted products that do not pollute the atmosphere.

15. Environmental issues with steel: Steel is produced from iron ore which is widely found and mined Use s large amounts of energy to convert iron ore into steel Steel is easily recycled and uses 75% less energy to recycle than from iron ore Steel is a ferrous metal and is magnetic therefore easy to sort Environmental issues with steel: Steel is produced from iron ore which is widely found and mined Use s large amounts of energy to convert iron ore into steel Steel is easily recycled and uses 75% less energy to recycle than from iron ore Steel is a ferrous metal and is magnetic therefore easy to sort

16. Environmental issues with aluminium: Is a pure metal which is mined beneath land and sea It’s the most plentiful metal element and produced from bauxite ore Extraction of alumina uses large amounts of energy Aluminium is easily recycled and can be melted down and used again and again with out spoiling Recycling aluminium uses much less energy Environmental issues with aluminium: Is a pure metal which is mined beneath land and sea It’s the most plentiful metal element and produced from bauxite ore Extraction of alumina uses large amounts of energy Aluminium is easily recycled and can be melted down and used again and again with out spoiling Recycling aluminium uses much less energy

17. Environmental issues with tin & aluminium: Tin is not naturally occurring metal and therefore must be extracted from cassiterite using a coal-fired furnace using a lot of energy Both aluminium and tin are extracted using open-cast mining on land or dredging the seabed which destroys natural habitats Environmental issues with tin & aluminium: Tin is not naturally occurring metal and therefore must be extracted from cassiterite using a coal-fired furnace using a lot of energy Both aluminium and tin are extracted using open-cast mining on land or dredging the seabed which destroys natural habitats

18. Environmental issues include: Toxic pollution – toxic chemicals used including solvents and chlorine compounds used to bleach and remove the lignin from the pulp Air pollution – pulp and paper mills are major sources of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide. These gases contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, acid rain and respiratory problems Environmental issues include: Toxic pollution – toxic chemicals used including solvents and chlorine compounds used to bleach and remove the lignin from the pulp Air pollution – pulp and paper mills are major sources of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide. These gases contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, acid rain and respiratory problems

19. Environmental issues include: Water & energy consumption – uses large amounts of electricity and water. This caused increase in water temperature, reduction in local wildlife, concentrations of toxic materials and lowering of the water tables Solid waste – paper fibres can be only recycled a limited number of times before they become too weak or short to make high quality paper. Resulting waste sludge fills large areas of landfill sites. Some companies burn their sludge in incinerators. Environmental issues include: Water & energy consumption – uses large amounts of electricity and water. This caused increase in water temperature, reduction in local wildlife, concentrations of toxic materials and lowering of the water tables Solid waste – paper fibres can be only recycled a limited number of times before they become too weak or short to make high quality paper. Resulting waste sludge fills large areas of landfill sites. Some companies burn their sludge in incinerators.

20. Environmental issues include: Deforestation – worldwide, enormous areas of virgin forest are being felled for paper pulp production, contributing to deforestation Many UK paper mills import their pulp, some of which come from endangered forests Environmental issues include: Deforestation – worldwide, enormous areas of virgin forest are being felled for paper pulp production, contributing to deforestation Many UK paper mills import their pulp, some of which come from endangered forests

21. Possible solutions: Mechanical pulping is the least environmentally damaging process for producing virgin wood pulp Produces high yield Newsprint contains few additives, can be recycled 4 times One solution would be to use more recycled virgin pulp Use alternative fibres such as hemp and straw to reduce pressure on forests Possible solutions: Mechanical pulping is the least environmentally damaging process for producing virgin wood pulp Produces high yield Newsprint contains few additives, can be recycled 4 times One solution would be to use more recycled virgin pulp Use alternative fibres such as hemp and straw to reduce pressure on forests