life cycle assesment

• What is the purpose of life cycle assessment (LCA)?

  To assess environmental impact of products
• What stages are assessed in a life cycle assessment?

  Extracting, manufacturing, operation during lifestyle, and disposal
• What is one aspect of resource use that can be easily quantified?

  Use of water and energy sources
• Why is quantifying to pollutant effects challenging?

  It requires value judgments and is subjective
• What is a potential misuse of selective or abbreviated LCAs?

  Supporting claims for advertising purposes
• What are the ways to reduce resource use?

  • Reduction in use
  • Reuse of materials
  • Recycling of materials
  • Minimizes waste and environmental impacts
• What materials are produced from limited raw materials?

  Metals, glass, building materials, plastics
• How does obtaining raw materials from the Earth impact the environment?

  It causes environmental impacts from quarrying and mining
• What can glass bottles be done with after use?

  They can be reused or recycled
• What happens to glass bottles when they are recycled?

  They can be crushed and melted for new products
• How can metals be recycled?

  By melting and recasting or reforming
• What does the amount of separation required for recycling depend on?

  It depends on the material and final product properties
• How can scrap steel be utilized in iron production?

  By adding it to iron from a blast furnace