Learning Objective To be able to: Describe how and why life cycle assessments are carried out Key Words: Materials, disposal, use, plastic

Life Cycle Assessments Wednesday, 22 May 2019 Life Cycle Assessments Date and title in books. You need a pen, pencil & ruler. Starter Activity – 5 minutes What do you think this picture is telling us about?

Explain why LCAs are carried out (F) Target 9-1 Identify what is meant by a life cycle assessment (F/H) Target 4-9 Carry out an LCA for paper bags and plastic bags (H) Target 5-9 Explain why LCAs are carried out Extension: Application of Knowledge Target 8/9 Discuss the issues with carrying out LCAs Learning Outcomes

Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) Key term: Life cycle assessments are carried out to assess the environmental impact of products in each stage of its life.

LCA Stages LCAs are carried out for each of the following stages: Extracting and processing raw materials Manufacturing and packaging Use and operation during its lifetime Disposal at the end of its useful life, including transport and distribution at each stage

How are LCAs carried out? Some processes are easy to quantify, such as the amount of water or resources used. Others, its hard to put a number to, for example, the effects of pollutants.

Activity Carry out an LCA for paper bags and plastic bags Use the information provided and draw a flow diagram to inform your LCA of a paper bag.

Issues with LCAs What happens if a company carries out an LCA on their own product? Could they be biased? Could it help them to support advertising campaigns

Packaging and Transportation Materials Extraction Recycling Materials Processing Disposal Manufacturing Reuse End of Life Packaging and Transportation Useful Life

Packaging and Transportation Materials Extraction When you no longer need or want a product. Combining components and materials to make a product come together. E.g. Adding components to a circuit board for a product to work electronically. Materials Processing When companies accept products to dismantle and reuse certain raw materials. Manufacturing Raw materials must be treated processed before companies can use them to make products. E.g. Copper is mined, ground, heated and treated to isolate the pure metal. Packaging and Transportation When finished products are boxed and moved by plane, truck or rail. Products are boxed for protection and identifies the contents. Useful Life When companies accept working products and offer them to organisations. End of Life When products are thrown in the rubbish that results in land fill or incinerated. Reuse When raw materials are found in the earth and mined to use in the making of products. Disposal Recycling When a product has been used for a length of time until it become unusable. You can extend the life of a product by taking care of it.

Packaging and Transportation Materials Extraction When raw materials are found in the earth and mined to use in the making of products. Materials Processing Raw materials must be treated processed before companies can use them to make products. E.g. Copper is mined, ground, heated and treated to isolate the pure metal. Combining components and materials to make a product come together. E.g. Adding components to a circuit board for a product to work electronically. Manufacturing Packaging and Transportation When finished products are boxed and moved by plane, truck or rail. Products are boxed for protection and identifies the contents. When a product has been used for a length of time until it become unusable. You can extend the life of a product by taking care of it. Useful Life End of Life When you no longer need or want a product. When companies accept working products and offer them to organisations. Reuse Disposal When products are thrown in the rubbish that results in land fill or incinerated. When companies accept products to dismantle and reuse certain raw materials. Recycling

http://www.epa.gov/osw/education/pdfs/life-cell.pdf

Do products have a life cycle? Give three stages of a life cycle What happens to products when we put them in the bin? What happens to products when they are recycled? Answers: 1. Yes 2. Materials Extraction, Materials Processing, Manufacturing, Packaging and Transporting, Useful Life, End of life, Reuse, Disposal, Recycling. 3. Landfill or Incineration. 4. Raw materials are reused.