life cycle assessment

• what are the four stages of the life cycle assessment

  -extract and process of raw materials

  -manufacturing and packaging

  -use and reuse

  -disposal
• what are the factors of raw materials in the LCA

  -can be made from renewable and non renewable resources(crude oil/wood)

  -extraction of materials needs lots of energy for machinery+processing, damages landscape and increases pollution
• what are the factors of manufacturing and packaging in the LCA

  -packing requires raw materials to be made, more energy

  -heavy transport, more energy from fuel, increases global warming from co2

  -products use lots of water leading to shortages and water pollution

  -energy needed to be made, got from fossil fuels, global warming

  -released toxic waste during production
• what are the factors of use and reuse for the LCA

  -single use needs to be replaced+will end up in landfill

  -reusable conserves resources

  -use of product could damage environment
• what are the factors of disposal in the LCA

  -not biodegradable, disposed of in landfill, pollution

  -energy used to transport waste to landfill causes pollutants to be released

  -products might be burned causing air pollution
• what are value judgments

  they are subjective and not a purely objective process as they use a mix of numerical and judgment values
• what is the purpose of the LCA

  to measure the environmental impact
• what activity can have an impact on all four stages of the LCA

  transportation and distribution
• what are the problems with life cycle assessments

  value judgments