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Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Life cycle assessments (LCAs)

I can complete life cycle analysis for paper bags and plastic bags.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Life cycle assessments (LCAs)

I can complete life cycle analysis for paper bags and plastic bags.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. To make a product, raw materials need to be obtained and processed.
  2. A life cycle assessment can reveal the people who benefit from each stage of a product’s life.
  3. A life cycle assessment can reveal the costs to individuals or the environment at each stage of a product’s life.
  4. At the end of its useful life a product can be repaired, recycled, incinerated or thrown away.
  5. LCAs are often subjective, so it is important to consider the vested interests of those reporting on their findings.

Common misconception

LCAs only measure the carbon footprint of a product.

The slide deck addresses what is included in a LCA such as energy use, water use and pollutants released.

Keywords

  • Life cycle assessment - A life cycle assessment (LCA) measures the environmental impact of a product throughout its life.

  • Raw materials - The starting materials used to make products are known as the raw materials. Wood, metal and crude oil are examples of raw materials.

  • Sustainable - To be sustainable means to carry something out over a long period of time with little or no negative impact on the environment.

  • Subjective - Something that is subjective is based on personal feelings, opinions or perspectives.

  • Objective - Something that is objective is based on facts rather than personal opinions.

Provide information to students about two products such as a paper and plastic bag. Students can complete their own life cycle assessments and evaluate the data to decide which product is the more sustainable option.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What key term describes resources that exist in limited quantities on Earth, and once they have been used they cannot be regenerated or replaced in our lifetime?
Correct Answer: finite, non-renewable
Q2.
Which of the following statements about the disposal of products are true?
All waste products can be recycled.
Correct answer: Incineration releases energy that can be used in the generation of electricity.
Sending waste to landfill conserves finite resources.
Sending waste to landfill sites reduces the release of greenhouse gases.
Correct answer: Recycling conserves finite resources.
Q3.
Which statement about crude oil is subjective?
Crude oil is composed of hydrocarbons.
The viscosity of crude oil varies depending on its composition.
Crude oil is a non-renewable resource.
Correct answer: Crude oil is the best energy source for the future.
Q4.
Which statement about raw materials is objective?
Correct answer: Raw materials are natural resources used in manufacturing goods.
The supply of raw material is always poor when it is sunny.
Timber is the most environmentally friendly raw material.
Iron ore is the most essential raw material.
Q5.
What is the name of the assessment used to measure the environmental impact of a product throughout its life?
end of year assessment
Correct answer: life cycle assessment
sustainability assessment
disposal method assessment
Q6.
Sort the following statements to show the correct order of stages in a life cycle assessment.
1 - extraction and processing of raw materials
2 - manufacture of the product and packaging
3 - use and maintenance of the product
4 - disposal of the product

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the first step in the life cycle of a product?
disposal
processing raw materials
Correct answer: obtaining raw materials
manufacturing
use of product
Q2.
What key term means to carry something out over a long period of time with little or no negative impact on the environment?
Correct Answer: sustainable, sustainability
Q3.
Which of the following can be revealed by a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
the weight of the product
the marketing strategy for the product
the financial cost of manufacturing a product
Correct answer: the people who benefit from each stage of a product’s life
Q4.
What is one of the main purposes of conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
to find new markets for the product
Correct answer: to understand the environmental impact at each stage of a product’s life
to determine the shelf life of the product
to estimate the resale value of the product
Q5.
What is a potential limitation of using LCAs for decision-making?
they only consider the environmental impact on animals
they only focus on short-term costs
Correct answer: they can be subjective
they are too expensive to conduct
Q6.
Why is it important to consider vested interests when reviewing the findings of an LCA?
LCAs are always conducted by neutral parties
Correct answer: the results can be biased based on who conducted the LCA
LCAs are purely objective
LCAs only consider economic factors