Life cycle assessment is the investigation and evaluation of the total environmental impact of a given product or service. It is also known as life cycle analysis.

Manufactured products can affect the environment throughout their life cycle, from when raw materials are extracted from the earth, during the product’s use, to when materials from the products are reused, recycled, recovered (energy) or discarded. The life cycle includes activities such as mining for materials, design, manufacture, transport, use and disposal.

LCA examines the total environmental impact of a product through every step of its life, from obtaining raw materials to disposal. It is a systematic process, identifying and quantifying all inputs (materials, energy, fuels) and outputs (products, waste, emissions) for a whole life cycle or for individual stages. Manufacturers can then evaluate the results and consider where change might be made. It could be linear or circular.

Digital Workbook Task and Paper Jotter Task:

1. Make a quick basic sketch of the Linear and Circular economies with a brief explanation of the difference

2. Ensure you have a definition for the key terms obsolescence and psychological obsolescence.

3. Watch the video clip on the LCA of the Toyota Prius and answer the 6 short questions

The traditional model of economic development is described as linear; where products are made, use and then disposed of. The circular economy is an alternative model which attempts to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each stage.

Achieving a circular economy is not something that will be easily attained; it will require humans to adopt a different attitude towards our goods and services. For instance, we often throw away products such as mobile phones before they cease functioning because they are no longer “trendy” (known as psychological obsolescence) or have the latest technology.

It will also require virtually all companies and organisations to rethink and reorganise the way they use resources and the way that they do business. This requires considerable investment, but there are significant economic and environmental benefits in the long term. We would require less finite resources to be extracted from the Earth, we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution and we also create economic opportunities in reprocessing and in redesigning products.

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