Chapter 21 - Ecological & Social Footprint

What is the term for the total amount of greenhouse gases released as a result of a product's life cycle?

The Carbon Footprint.

The _ footprint measures the overall environmental and human impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle.

ecological and social

What does a 'social footprint' assess?

It assesses the effects of designing, manufacturing, and distributing a product on people and communities, including worker welfare and ethics.

What is the primary negative ecological effect of manufacturing 'virgin' paper and timber products?

Deforestation, which leads to habitat loss and soil erosion.

Approximately how many times can paper and board be recycled before new fibres must be added?

About seven times.

Why is the use of hardwood trees considered a significant environmental problem compared to softwoods?

Hardwood trees take a much longer time to mature, around 60 to 100 years, compared to about 25 years for softwoods like pine.

What international non-governmental organization promotes responsible forest management and provides certification for it?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Which type of recycled board cannot be recycled again and often ends up in a landfill due to the gluing process?

Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF).

Why are metals considered a non-renewable and finite resource?

They cannot be grown and exist in a fixed amount within the Earth's crust.

What is the name of the ore that is mined to create aluminium?

Bauxite.

The process of extracting aluminium from aluminium oxide, known as _, uses huge amounts of energy.

electrolysis

What is the primary source material for most polymers (plastics), making them a non-renewable resource?

Crude oil.

What are two key environmental impacts associated with farming natural fibres like cotton?

Soil degradation and habitat loss from land expansion.

Besides land use, what other negative environmental effect is caused by the use of pesticides in farming natural fibres?

The strain on water supplies and negative effects on wildlife.

The extraction of raw materials for electronic circuit boards and components from mined ore often leads to the destruction of _.

natural habitats

What category of finite resources, critical for products like magnets and aircraft engines, must be carefully recycled to prevent pollution?

Rare earth metals (e.g., neodymium, praseodymium).

What is the name of the UK law that controls the use and disposal of hazardous substances like lead and mercury in electronics?

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.

Which directive controls the disposal of products like electronics after consumer use to manage hazardous materials?

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

List two sources of carbon emissions during a product's life cycle.

Manufacturing processes and transportation of materials.

What is the term for the large-scale removal of forests for timber, agriculture, or development?

Deforestation.

What term refers to the distance materials and products travel through the supply chain, which contributes to carbon emissions?

Product miles.

List two main causes of oceanic pollution.

Plastic waste (including microplastics) and oil spills.

What are the two main greenhouse gases mentioned as contributors to the Greenhouse Effect?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and Methane.

How can using recycled materials significantly reduce the CO₂ footprint at the raw material stage?

It reduces the fuel and energy needed to harvest, mine, or drill for new raw materials.

From a sustainability perspective, why is it better for a factory to use locally sourced materials?

It reduces the product miles and therefore the CO₂ emissions from transportation.

What happens when products sent to a landfill break down?

They can release greenhouse gases, like methane, into the atmosphere.

What UK organization is responsible for ensuring employees work in a safe and protected environment?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

A method used to evaluate the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life, from start to finish.

What are the three main stages of a product's life examined in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

Manufacture, use, and disposal.

What environmental impact does importing materials from distant locations increase?

It increases product miles, which adds to CO₂ emissions from transport.

The destruction of habitats during raw material sourcing leads to a loss of _.

biodiversity

What energy-intensive process is required to turn metal ores into useable metals?

Smelting.

Polymers are refined from crude oil through a process called _.

fractional distillation

Besides energy use, what other resource is consumed in large quantities during the processing of materials like metals, paper, and textiles?

Water.

What are three types of waste, other than pollution, generated during the manufacturing process?

Material offcuts, defective products, and packaging waste.

During the 'use' stage of an LCA, what is a primary factor that adds to a product's carbon footprint?

Ongoing energy consumption (e.g., electricity, fuel) required for the product to operate.

What is planned obsolescence?

A design strategy where products are intentionally made to fail or become outdated quickly to encourage frequent replacement.

What is a 'modular design' and how does it improve sustainability?

It allows individual components to be swapped out or replaced, extending the product's lifespan and reducing waste.

What do energy labels on appliances, rated from A+++ to D, indicate?

They rate how efficient a product is in its use of energy.

How can regular maintenance of a product reduce its overall environmental impact?

It keeps the product working efficiently and extends its lifespan, reducing the need for replacements and the resources used to manufacture them.

What are two major negative environmental impacts of disposing of products in a landfill?

The release of methane gas and the leaching of toxic chemicals into soil and water.

While incinerating waste can generate energy, what is its primary environmental drawback?

The process releases carbon dioxide and toxic gases into the atmosphere.

What is the main benefit of recycling materials in terms of environmental impact?

It reduces the demand for new raw materials, which lowers the impact of extraction and processing.

Although beneficial, recycling still has an environmental impact because it requires and .

energy and transport

What is the term for transforming a waste product into something of higher value or quality?

Upcycling.

Why do hazardous materials like batteries and electronic waste require special handling at disposal?

They contain toxic substances that can pollute the environment, and the extra processing involved uses more energy.

In a Life Cycle Assessment, why is the 'manufacture' stage often considered the most critical for environmental impact?

Because it often has high energy and water consumption, CO₂ emissions, and waste production.

For which types of products might the 'use' stage have the largest environmental impact in an LCA?

Products that are used frequently and consume a lot of energy or resources, like cars or washing machines.

Why must designers consider the 'disposal' stage when choosing materials for a product?

Because materials that are difficult to recycle are more likely to end up in a landfill, increasing long-term pollution and emissions.

What social issue is a major concern in some supply chains, particularly in countries without strong employment laws?

The use of child labour.

What are three key considerations for ensuring safe working conditions in a factory?

Adequate ventilation, proper training for machinery, and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).

What environmental consequence is directly linked to rearing animals like sheep for wool?

Expansion of land for grazing, which can lead to deforestation and habitat loss.

What is a major environmental risk associated with drilling for oil to make plastics?

Oil spills and leaks, which are extremely harmful to wildlife and water ecosystems.

What happens to the cost of finite resources as they become less available?

Their costs rise, and more land is destroyed to find new sources.

What fast-growing renewable resource is mentioned as a sustainable alternative for some products?

Bamboo.

What is a key impact of mining on local communities?

Noise and disruption from machinery and operations.

Factory emissions, transportation exhaust, and the burning of fossil fuels are all sources of _ pollution.

atmospheric

In textile production, what harmful chemicals are often found in the wastewater from pulping and bleaching paper?

Harmful chemicals that pollute water sources.

What is an example of a social impact consideration for a company, related to employee benefits?

Offering flexible hours, sick pay, or maternity pay.

How does high customer demand for timber strain forest management?

It puts pressure on organizations to supply wood, even though trees take a long time to mature.

Why is it difficult to recycle boards like plywood and chipboard a second time?

The gluing process used to manufacture them makes subsequent recycling difficult.

Which two activities are listed as main contributors to global emissions alongside burning fossil fuels and deforestation?

Livestock production and biomass burning.

How can designers reduce the carbon footprint related to a product's packaging?

By finding ways to reduce and simplify the packaging used.

What is the primary ecological concern with growing natural fibres for textiles?

It can lead to soil degradation, habitat loss, and high water/pesticide use.

The refining of crude oil into synthetic textiles produces fabrics that do not _ easily.

biodegrade

What ecological issue arises from clearing large areas for mining operations?

The destruction of natural habitats.

How does deforestation contribute to increased carbon emissions?

Trees store carbon dioxide (CO₂), and removing them releases it into the atmosphere or reduces the capacity to absorb it.

What risk, besides pollution, is associated with some methods of drilling for oil and gas, such as fracking?

Increased earthquake risk.

What type of pollution is caused by chemical run-off from farms and factories entering waterways?

Oceanic pollution.

What is an example of a design choice that can make a product last longer?

Choosing materials that resist wear and tear, such as stainless steel over pine.

How can an inefficient product design increase its carbon footprint during the 'use' stage?

Inefficient designs waste energy, leading to higher consumption and emissions over the product's lifetime.

What is a sustainable alternative to using polymers derived from crude oil?

Using alternative, plant-based polymers.

Lead, mercury, and cadmium are examples of _ materials used in the production of electronic components.

hazardous

Besides CO₂, what harmful atmospheric pollutants can be produced by factory emissions?

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and Nitrogen oxides (NO_x).