6.2.1 life cycle assessment

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

  • used to work out how the environment is affected by the manufacture and use of different materials and products
• 4 major steps to life cycle assessment:

  • raw materials
  • manufacture + packaging (+transportation)
  • using the product
  • disposal (recycling -> cycle back to raw materials, landfill -> incineration)
• When compared with plastic bags, paper bags...:

  • have a shorter lifespan
  • require more energy to make