10.2 Life cycle assessment and recycling

• Raw material extraction can lead to habitat destruction
• In the end-of-life stage, recycling helps recover resources
• What is the main environmental impact of raw material extraction in an LCA?

  Habitat destruction
• What happens to a product at the end-of-life stage in an LCA?

  Disposal or recycling
• What are the environmental impacts of raw material extraction in an LCA?

  Habitat destruction, water use, emissions
• Recycling is the only option considered at the end-of-life stage of an LCA.

  False
• Recycling conserves resources by reducing the need to extract and process new raw materials
• What is the primary goal of a life cycle assessment (LCA)?

  Evaluate environmental impacts
• Order the stages of a life cycle assessment from start to finish.

  1️⃣ Raw Material Extraction

  2️⃣ Manufacturing

  3️⃣ Usage

  4️⃣ End-of-Life
• What are three environmental impacts of raw material extraction in an LCA?

  Habitat destruction, water use, emissions
• Identifying environmental impacts in an LCA guides efforts to reduce environmental harm
• Match the environmental impacts of recycling with and without recycling:

  Without Recycling ↔️ Waste disposal, pollution

  With Recycling ↔️ Reduced waste, pollution
• Recycling conserves resources by reducing the need for raw material extraction.

  True
• What is one benefit of recycling in terms of waste management?

  Reduces landfill waste
• Sustainable resource management helps protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and reduce waste and energy consumption
• What is the purpose of a life cycle assessment (LCA)?

  Evaluate environmental impacts
• The usage stage of a product in an LCA can contribute to resource depletion.


  True
• Match each stage of an LCA with its environmental impact:

  Raw Material Extraction ↔️ Habitat destruction

  Manufacturing ↔️ Energy consumption

  Usage ↔️ Resource depletion

  End-of-Life ↔️ Waste disposal
• The usage stage of a product in an LCA can contribute to energy consumption.

  True
• The stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA) in the correct order

  1️⃣ Raw Material Extraction

  2️⃣ Manufacturing

  3️⃣ Usage

  4️⃣ End-of-Life
• What environmental impacts are associated with the usage stage of a product in an LCA?

  Energy consumption, resource depletion, emissions
• What are the key benefits of recycling in an LCA at the end-of-life stage?

  Reduce waste, conserve resources, save energy
• The stages of an LCA in the correct order, as highlighted in the example of a coffee cup:

  1️⃣ Harvesting trees for paper pulp

  2️⃣ Producing the paper cup

  3️⃣ Consumers use the cup for coffee

  4️⃣ Cup is disposed of or recycled
• The key stages of a life cycle assessment are raw material extraction, manufacturing, usage, and end-of-life
• An LCA considers environmental impacts throughout a product's existence, from raw material extraction to disposal
• Deforestation for paper pulp is an environmental impact of raw material extraction for a disposable cup.


  True
• Recycling diverts waste from landfills and incinerators, minimizing pollution.

  True
• Recycling faces challenges such as high costs, contamination, and fluctuating market demand
• Match the characteristics of sustainable and unsustainable resource management:

  Sustainable Resource Management ↔️ Conserves resources, reduces environmental impact

  Unsustainable Resource Management ↔️ Depletes resources, damages the environment
• What is the primary environmental impact of manufacturing in an LCA?

  Energy consumption
• Which stage of an LCA involves obtaining resources from natural sources?

  Raw Material Extraction
• Manufacturing contributes to pollution and waste generation
• Arrange the stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA) in their correct order:

  1️⃣ Raw Material Extraction

  2️⃣ Manufacturing

  3️⃣ Usage

  4️⃣ End-of-Life
• The manufacturing stage of an LCA involves processing raw materials into finished products
• Match the LCA stage with its environmental impacts:

  Raw Material Extraction ↔️ Habitat destruction, water use, emissions

  Manufacturing ↔️ Energy consumption, pollution, waste generation

  Usage ↔️ Energy consumption, resource depletion, emissions

  End-of-Life ↔️ Waste disposal, pollution, resource recovery
• Recycling requires more energy than producing new materials from scratch.

  False
• Understanding the environmental impacts of each stage in an LCA can guide decisions to minimize the overall environmental burden
• Each stage of a product's life cycle contributes to its overall environmental impact.


  True
• Match each stage of an LCA with its environmental impacts:

  Raw Material Extraction ↔️ Habitat destruction, water use, emissions

  Manufacturing ↔️ Energy consumption, pollution, waste generation

  Usage ↔️ Energy consumption, resource depletion, emissions

  End-of-Life ↔️ Waste disposal, pollution, resource recovery
• What are three benefits of recycling in reducing environmental impact?

  Reduce waste, conserve resources, save energy