GCSE Combined Science (AQA)

622 videos | 38 hours

Life Cycle Assessments

Please subscribe to watch this video.

This, and all other videos, are included in our premium subscriptions.

Premium accounts get access to all videos.

Using resources Life cycle assessment and recycling

Life Cycle Assessments

8:51 Evaluating Environmental Impact and Waste Reduction
Spec 4.10.2.1
Previous Producing Potable Water Next Limitations of Life Cycle Assessments
  • Lifecycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impact of manufacturing a product.
  • Familiarity with LCAs is necessary for exams, including performing LCAs on specific products.
  • Four main stages in a product's lifecycle: raw materials, manufacturing, usage, and disposal.
  • Raw materials stage involves sourcing resources, which can be finite and damage habitats.
  • Manufacturing stage involves building factories, which can destroy habitats and cause pollution.
  • Usage stage impact varies by product function, e.g., cars emit greenhouse gases, while ladders have minimal impact.
  • Disposal stage involves recycling or landfill, with recycling being more environmentally friendly.
  • Transport and distribution at each stage produce greenhouse gases.
  • LCAs help reduce waste through reduction, reuse, and recycling.
  • LCAs can compare environmental impacts of different products.
  • Data for LCAs includes energy, water, resources used, and waste produced.
  • Example comparison: plastic vs. paper shopping bags.
  • Plastic bags are stronger but made from non-renewable crude oil and are non-biodegradable.
  • Plastic manufacturing requires more energy and releases more greenhouse gases.
  • Plastic bags are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills, causing pollution.
  • Conclusion: plastic bags have a greater negative environmental impact than paper bags.

Please subscribe to access these revision notes.

This, and all other video notes, are included in our premium subscriptions.

Premium accounts get access to all videos and revision notes.