Life cycle assessment and recycling

• Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas
• Finite resources are processed to provide energy and materials, where to

  they come from?

  Earth, oceans and the atmosphere
• Rubber made from tree sap is now made from which raw material?

  Polymers from crude oil.
• Wood is replaced by which raw material?

  Plastic from crude oil.
• What is the name of the material that is used in place of wood in flooring?

  Laminate.
• What are doors and window frames made from in place of wood?

  PVC, a polymer from crude oil
• Cork has been replaced by which finite material?

  Plastic from crude oil.
• What is sustainable development?

  Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• What is meant by renewable resource?

  Resources which are inexhaustible and can be replaced as we use them. They are available in unlimited amounts and develop in a relatively short period of time.
• What is meant by finite resources?

  Natural resources which are exhaustible and can’t be replaced once they are used. They are available in limited amounts and develop over a long period of time.
• What stages are involved when environmental impact of products is assessed?

  Extracting and processing raw materials. Manufacturing and packaging. Use and operation during its lifetime. Disposal. Transport.
• When considering mass or weight of materials, how can its energy impact be described?

  The heavier a material is, the more energy is required to transport it.
• When considering recycling or re-using, how can the impact be explained?

  It reduces the build up of landfill and saves resources for future use.
• When describing using crude oil based products, how can its impact be

  explained?

  Crude oil is a finite resource and will eventually run out.
• How should you answer an evaluation style exam question?

  Analyse the information provided. Decide what my judgement is and write it down. Then describe the analysis in terms of advantages and disadvantages.
• How should you answer a comparison style exam question?

  Analyse the information provided. Then describe the analysis to include what is different and what is the same.
• What are the three ways in which a material can be sustained?

  Reduce use, reuse the item or recycle.
• Which commonly used resources have limited supply?

  Metals, glass, clay, ceramics, plastics and building material.
• How are commonly used resources often obtained?

  Quarrying and mining.
• What is the biggest problem caused by mining and quarrying?

  Environmental damage.
• How is glass recycled?

  Crushing and melting to form other products.
• How is metal recycled?

  Melting and recasting into other products.
• What is the biggest challenge of recycling metals?

  They are often alloys and they cannot be easily separated.