Life Cycle Analysis

 THE STORY OF STUFF

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-
RnnEFWUM4
 Exploration
 Extraction
 Production (including marketing and
distribution)
 Use
 Reuse
 Disposal
 Every material/product has an energy cost in its
exploration, extraction production, use, reuse and
disposal.
 Calculating the energy cost requires a knowledge of
scientific processes and is the work of scientists.
 The carbon footprint is an important consideration.
 Production of every material and every product has
environmental impacts including recycling.
 Use of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is the only way to
determine environmental impacts with any certainty.
It can only be conducted on a scientific basis by
trained scientists.
 Usea life cycle analysis to determine the
energy cost of a product.
An analysis of the consumption of a
product, including
 extraction
 manufacturing
 processing
 transportation
 disposal operations
 Used to work out the
environmental
impact of a product.
 Many times used to
compare two
products (glass vs
aluminum packaging,
for instance)
 Documents the
inputs and outputs*
Inputs: water, energy, raw materials
Outputs: products and wastes
 Materials: Which materials were used to make the product e.g.
plastics, metals? What impact do those materials have on the
environment during extraction?
 Production: How and where was the product made? Was it made
overseas? What energy was involved in its manufacture?
 Distribution: How was the product distributed throughout its
lifecycle, from sourcing through to final disposal?
 Sales: How was it sold and marketed e.g via the internet, flyers,
shops?
 Use: How is it used? Does it need more energy/batteries
throughout its use?
 Disposal: How can it be disposed of or recycled e.g. through
charity shops, landfill sites?
 Synthetic

Leather
 https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calcul
ator.aspx

 Considers
housing, transportation, and
goods consumption
 Carbon dioxide is produced as a by
product of energy use throughout a
product’s life cycle.
 The carbon footprint is the calculation of
the greenhouse gases produced through
a product’s life.
 Graphfrom http://www-
materials.eng.cam.ac.uk/mpsite/interacti
ve_charts/energy-cost/NS6Chart.html
 http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carb
oncalculator/
 http://www-
materials.eng.cam.ac.uk/mpsite/interacti
ve_charts/energy-cost/NS6Chart.html