Life Cycle Assessment Concepts

The video explores life cycle assessments, which evaluate the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. It covers the four main stages: raw material extraction, manufacturing, usage, and disposal. The video compares plastic and paper bags, highlighting their environmental impacts. It also discusses the limitations of life cycle assessments, such as complexity and potential manipulation.

What is the primary goal of a life cycle assessment?

• To increase the cost of production

• To assess the environmental impact of a product's life cycle

• To improve product design aesthetics

• To memorize facts about products

Which stage involves the direct damage to the local environment?

• Disposal

• Manufacturing

• Extracting and processing raw materials

• Packaging

What is a common issue during the manufacturing stage?

• Lack of raw materials

• High energy use and pollution

• Excessive product demand

• Inadequate packaging

When considering the usage of a product, what is important to assess?

• The color of the product

• The cost of the product

• The environmental damage during its lifetime

• The brand popularity

What is a major concern with disposing of products in landfills?

• They are not accessible to the public

• They are too far from cities

• They take up space and may release chemicals

• They are too expensive

What is the raw material for plastic bags?

• Wood

• Metal

• Crude oil

• Recycled paper

Why are paper bags considered better for disposal?

• They are cheaper

• They are biodegradable and non-toxic

• They are more durable

• They are waterproof

What is a limitation of life cycle assessments?

• They are too simple

• They can be easily manipulated

• They are universally accepted

• They are inexpensive to conduct

Why is it difficult to assess the harm of each step in a life cycle assessment?

• Because the data is always inaccurate

• Because there are no standards

• Because all steps are equally harmful

• Because comparing different types of harm is challenging

How can life cycle assessments be manipulated?

• By ignoring environmental impacts

• By supporting a particular company

• By using outdated data

• By simplifying the process