WorksheetsCore Knowledge – Sustainability
Total questions: 49
Worksheet time: 25mins
Which of the following is NOT one of the 6R's of sustainability?
Rebuild
Reduce
Reuse
Rethink
Recycle
Fill in the blank: Sustainability is about meeting today’s needs without compromising the needs of ________ by using up the Earth’s resources faster than they can be replaced and not polluting the Earth further.
future generations
current technology
urban areas
businesses
Which of the following is an example of planned obsolescence?
Designing products to last a long time
Mobile phone companies designing new phones with new connections so older accessories do not work
Using recycled materials in manufacturing
Reducing packaging waste
Using renewable sources of energy is a part of sustainable design.
True
False
Which of the following is a disadvantage of design obsolescence?
Ensures predictable demand for manufacturers
Increases waste and uses up valuable resources and energy
Makes products more reliable
Reduces pollution
Fill in the blank: Allowing products to be easily ________ or components replaced to extend their life cycle is a part of sustainable design.
repaired
disposed
burned
ignored
Which of the following is NOT a method to reduce the environmental impact of products?
Using recycled materials
Reducing energy needs
Increasing packaging waste
Designing energy efficient products
The manufacture of new products uses up valuable materials, resources, and energy.
True
False
Fill in the blank: The 6R's of sustainability are Rethink, Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Refuse, and ________.
Repair
Replace
Remove
React
Which of the following is NOT one of the 6R's of sustainability?
Rethink
Reduce
Recycle
React
Fill in the blank: The 6R's of sustainability are Rethink, Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Refuse, and _________.
Repair/replace
React
Rebuild
Relocate
What does 'Primary Recycling' mean?
Reusing the material or product for the same purpose without changing it
Modifying the product before reusing
Breaking down materials to make new products
Throwing away products
Which type of recycling involves making new products from materials that have been broken down from their original state?
Primary Recycling
Secondary Recycling
Tertiary Recycling
None of the above
Secondary recycling means the material or product is reused with some modification but without reprocessing it.
True
False
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 6R's in product development?
To increase product cost
To ensure environmental qualities are designed into the product
To make products more fashionable
To reduce product lifespan
Fill in the blank: Clothing banks and charity shops play a very important role in ensuring that waste textiles are effectively ________ and recycled.
reused
burned
discarded
ignored
Which of the following questions might a designer ask when considering 'Reduce' in the 6R's?
Can the amount of materials or packaging be reduced?
Can the product be made more expensive?
Can the product be made in a different color?
Can the product be sold in more shops?
What is the definition of a 'throwaway society'?
A society that recycles everything
A society that excessively consumes and wastes resources
A society that conserves resources
A society that produces no waste
Which of the following is NOT one of the Six Rs of sustainability?
Rethink
Recycle
Repair
Remove
Fill in the blank: If products are disposed of incorrectly, they can end up in _______.
landfill
library
museum
bakery
Which directive helps to reduce the damage caused by waste products by making manufacturers and producers take responsibility for what happens to their products at the end of their lives?
Ecological Footprint Directive
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Six Rs Directive
Landfill Directive
What is an ecological footprint?
The amount of waste produced by a society
A measure of the impact human activity has on the environment
The number of products recycled in a year
The total number of electrical products used
Which of the following is a reason why hazardous materials in waste are dangerous?
They can be recycled easily
They can leak into the environment and cause health problems
They are biodegradable
They are always disposed of correctly
What does 'Rethink' mean in the context of sustainability?
It means considering alternative ways to make products that are less harmful and easier to manufacture, to reduce environmental impact.
It means ignoring the environmental impact of products.
It means using more resources to make products last longer.
It means focusing only on recycling and not on product design.
Can the product be recycled easily after it is no longer needed? Can the components and materials be separated easily? Can recycled materials be used? What does 'Recycle' mean in the context of sustainability?
It means ensuring products and materials can be recycled and reused to minimize waste and resource use.
It means disposing of products in landfills to reduce costs.
It means burning products to generate energy.
It means using only new materials for manufacturing.
Can this product be repaired easily if it breaks? Can the component parts be replaced easily? What does 'Repair' mean in the context of sustainability?
It means designing products so they can be fixed and parts replaced, extending their life and reducing waste.
It means throwing away products when they break and buying new ones.
It means using products only once and then discarding them.
It means making products that cannot be taken apart or fixed.
Where will it be made and what are the conditions for workers? Is the product ethical? What does 'Refuse' mean in the context of sustainability?
It means choosing not to buy or use products that are not environmentally friendly or ethical.
It means recycling all products regardless of their origin.
It means always buying the cheapest products available.
It means using products until they are completely worn out.
Applying Rethink and Recycle when making a new product involves which of the following?
Considering alternative materials and ensuring the product can be processed at the end of its life.
Focusing only on the product's appearance and ignoring its end-of-life.
Using as many resources as possible without considering waste.
Designing products that cannot be reused or recycled.
Applying Rethink and Recycle when making a new product involves which of the following?
Considering alternative materials and ensuring the product can be processed after use
Ignoring environmental impact and using traditional materials only
Focusing only on product aesthetics and not on end-of-life disposal
Using as many resources as possible without considering recycling
Applying Rethink and Recycle when making a new product involves which of the following?
Considering alternative materials and ensuring the product can be processed at the end of its life.
Focusing only on the product's appearance and ignoring its end-of-life.
Using as many resources as possible without considering waste.
Designing products that cannot be reused or recycled.
The term ‘sustainable design’ refers to:
Design that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Design that focuses only on aesthetics.
Design that ignores environmental impact.
Design that prioritizes cost over sustainability.
Which of the following is a key sustainability consideration that should be explored during the development of a product?
Material selection and sourcing
Increasing product weight
Ignoring end-of-life disposal
Maximizing single-use components
Give one example for each type of recycling.
Primary recycling: Reusing glass bottles Secondary recycling: Turning old newspapers into cardboard Tertiary recycling: Breaking down plastics into chemicals for new products
Primary recycling: Melting glass bottles into new bottles Secondary recycling: Composting food waste Tertiary recycling: Using old tires as playground surfaces
Primary recycling: Shredding paper for animal bedding Secondary recycling: Reusing plastic bags Tertiary recycling: Melting aluminum cans into new cans
Primary recycling: Turning old clothes into rags Secondary recycling: Reusing glass bottles Tertiary recycling: Composting food scraps
Before making a new product designers think about the 6R’s. Describe how you could apply Rethink and Recycle when making a new product.
Can less materials be used to make the product? Can more sustainable materials be used to make the product?
Can the product be made more expensive to increase profit?
Can the product be made using only non-recyclable materials?
Can the product be designed to be used only once and then thrown away?
Before making a new product designers think about the 6R’s. Describe how you could apply Rethink and Recycle when making a new product.
Can the product use materials that have been recycled sources? Can the materials and components be separated and reused after use?
Should the product be made only from new materials? Should the product be designed to be used once and thrown away?
Is it important to ignore the source of materials? Should the product be made without considering its end of life?
Can the product be made without any consideration for the environment? Should the product be designed to be as complex as possible?
Before making a new product designers think about the 6R’s. Describe how you could apply Rethink and Recycle when making a new product.
Can the amount of materials or packaging be reduced? Are there any features that the product doesn’t require to function?
Should the product be made only from expensive materials?
Is it possible to make the product more complex for no reason?
Can the product be designed to use more energy than necessary?
What is meant by the term ‘sustainable design’?
Sustainability is about meeting today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations by using up the Earth’s resources faster than they can be replaced and not polluting the Earth further.
Sustainable design is about creating products that are only used once and then discarded.
Sustainable design focuses on maximizing profits regardless of environmental impact.
Sustainable design means using as many resources as possible to ensure product durability.
When developing and purchasing new products, designers, manufacturers and consumers have a responsibility to do so with sustainability in mind. Discuss 6 sustainability considerations that should be explored during the development of the product.
i. Rethink – Is there a better way of making the product that is less harmful or uses less materials? ii. Recycle – Can the components and materials be separated easily for recycling at the end of the product's life? iii. Repair – Can this product be repaired easily if it breaks? iv. Refuse – Where will it be made and what are the conditions for workers? v. Reuse – Can the product or parts of the product be used for some other purpose once it has reached the end of its primary life? vi. Reduce – Can the amount of materials or packaging be reduced?
i. Increase – Can the amount of materials or packaging be increased? ii. Replace – Should all components be replaced frequently? iii. Remove – Should essential features be removed to save cost? iv. Restrict – Should the product be made available to only a few people? v. Recycle – Can the components and materials be separated easily for recycling at the end of the product's life? vi. Repair – Can this product be repaired easily if it breaks?
i. Rethink – Is there a better way of making the product that is less harmful or uses less materials? ii. Recycle – Can the components and materials be separated easily for recycling at the end of the product's life? iii. Reuse – Should the product be disposed of after single use? iv. Refuse – Should the product be made from non-renewable resources? v. Reuse – Can the product or parts of the product be used for some other purpose once it has reached the end of its primary life? vi. Reduce – Can the amount of materials or packaging be reduced?
i. Rethink – Is there a better way of making the product that is less harmful or uses less materials? ii. Recycle – Should the product be made from non-recyclable materials? iii. Repair – Can this product be repaired easily if it breaks? iv. Refuse – Should the product be made in unsafe working conditions? v. Reuse – Can the product or parts of the product be used for some other purpose once it has reached the end of its primary life? vi. Reduce – Can the amount of materials or packaging be reduced?
Give one example for each type of recycling: Primary recycling, Secondary recycling, Tertiary recycling.
Primary recycling: A product that is no longer used/needed could be sold on to another user via a selling platform like e-bay. Secondary recycling: The materials or product can be reused, with some modification but without reprocessing it like making a pair of jeans into shorts. Tertiary recycling: Materials are broken down to their original state and made into brand new products. An example of this process is the use of plastic bottles to make polyester fleece material for clothing.
Primary recycling: Melting down plastic bottles to make new bottles. Secondary recycling: Selling a used car to another person. Tertiary recycling: Using old newspapers to wrap gifts.
Primary recycling: Composting food waste at home. Secondary recycling: Donating old clothes to charity. Tertiary recycling: Reusing glass jars for storage.
Primary recycling: Using old tires as playground swings. Secondary recycling: Burning plastic waste for energy. Tertiary recycling: Shredding paper for animal bedding.
Name 2 disadvantages of planned design obsolescence.
i. Consumer demand for the latest technology and planned obsolescence can have a negative impact on the environment – the disposal of old products increases waste. ii. The manufacture of new products uses up valuable materials, resources, and energy.
i. Planned obsolescence increases the resale value of old products. ii. It encourages companies to provide free upgrades for all products.
i. It reduces the amount of waste produced by consumers. ii. It ensures all products are made from renewable resources.
i. Planned obsolescence guarantees longer product warranties. ii. It decreases the need for recycling programs.
When consumers purchase the new smart watch with activity tracker, they are likely to dispose of the traditional watch. Explain two ways consumers could do this sustainably.
Donate the traditional watch to charity or someone in need.
Throw the traditional watch in the regular trash bin.
Burn the traditional watch to get rid of it quickly.
Bury the traditional watch in your backyard.
When consumers purchase the new smart watch with activity tracker, they are likely to dispose of the traditional watch. Explain two ways consumers could do this sustainably.
Recycle the traditional watch at an appropriate electronic waste facility.
Throw the traditional watch in the regular trash bin.
Burn the traditional watch to dispose of it quickly.
Bury the traditional watch in the backyard.
The back of the menu holder is made from reclaimed laminate flooring from houses. Explain how this can be considered sustainable.
Using reclaimed laminate flooring reduces waste and the need for new materials, conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact.
Reclaimed laminate flooring is more expensive to produce, which increases the value of the menu holder.
Using reclaimed laminate flooring makes the menu holder heavier and less portable.
Reclaimed laminate flooring is always a better insulator than new materials, keeping menus cooler.
Explain how planned obsolescence will effect the life span of the older version of the i-phone.
Planned obsolescence will shorten the lifespan of the older iPhone, as it may no longer receive software updates or support, making it less functional over time.
Planned obsolescence will increase the lifespan of the older iPhone by providing more frequent updates.
Planned obsolescence will have no effect on the lifespan of the older iPhone, as all versions are supported equally.
Planned obsolescence will make the older iPhone more valuable and functional over time.
Discuss what impact will this have on the user.
Users may be forced to upgrade to newer models more frequently, increasing costs and electronic waste.
Users will experience improved battery life and longer device lifespan.
Users will have unlimited access to free software updates forever.
Users will be able to customize their devices without any restrictions.
Consumers can dispose of their traditional watch sustainably when purchasing a new smart watch with activity tracker by:
Donating it to charity or recycling it properly.
Throwing it in the regular trash bin.
Burning it to get rid of it quickly.
Burying it in the backyard.
The back of the menu holder is made from reclaimed laminate flooring from houses. This can be considered sustainable because:
It reuses existing materials, reducing waste and the need for new resources.
It increases the cost of production significantly.
It uses more energy than new materials.
It makes the menu holder less durable.
Planned obsolescence will affect the life span of the older version of the i-phone by:
Reducing its usable life to encourage users to upgrade.
Increasing its battery life significantly.
Making it more compatible with new software updates.
Ensuring it remains the most advanced model.
Discuss what impact this will have on the user as well as the negative environmental impact.
This will negatively affect the user and harm the environment.
This will only benefit the user and have no environmental impact.
This will have no impact on the user or the environment.
This will improve the environment but negatively affect the user.
