Reference no: EM133486440

The objective of this assignment is to have you do a qualitative LCA where you examine the environmental and social impacts of a grocery bag. COTTON BAG is the bag i choose

Find at least five (5) credible sources with relevant information on the two life cycle stages you have chosen. This is 5 in total and not 5 for each stage. But do not rely on only a single source for a stage. You should have at least two (2) sources per stage. Note that you will find information from a variety of different sources. Whenever possible, academic journal articles or government reports are preferred. You should avoid newspaper articles or opinion pieces from individuals or special interest groups.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Extraction of Raw Materials

This part of a life-cycle analysis examines the environmental and social impacts of the extraction and/or processing of the main raw materials that are required to produce the type of grocery bag you are assigned to. Here are a list of example questions you can ask yourself:

For the description section: What are the materials needed to produce the type of grocery bag you have chosen? How are those materials extracted from the earth? How much material is required for a single grocery bag? What are the steps involved in the extraction process?
For the environmental effects: How much energy and/or water does the extraction or processing of these materials take? How does this process alter the environment and animals in the area? What types of waste products are being created and where do they go?
For the social effects: How does the extraction or processing affect people? What are conditions for the workers or effects on nearby communities?
2. Production of the Grocery Bag

This part of a life-cycle analysis examines the environmental and social impacts of the design and production process of the grocery bag. Examples of relevant questions you can ask yourself include:

For the description section: What are the steps in the production process for the grocery bag? Does it require additional materials inputs? Where does the production occur?
For the environmental effects: How much energy and/or water does the production require? How much and what kinds of waste or by-products are being produced in the production process? What happens with this waste?
For the social effects: How much labour does the production require and what are the working conditions? Are there impacts on nearby communities?
3. End of Life

This part of a life-cycle analysis examines the environmental and social impacts of the end-of-life of the type grocery bag you chose. This includes how/if the bag can be re-used, recycling, and disposal types. Examples of relevant questions you can ask yourself include:

For the description section: What types of disposal exist for this bag type and where do the discarded bags go? Can the material be recycled or reused? What is the recycling process? Are extra materials and energy required? Do the discarded bags need to be shipped somewhere to be recycled?
For the environmental effects: What are the wastes produced through disposal and/or recycling? Do different disposal processes have different wastes? What is the impact of these wastes on the environment and animals? Can the bag be broken down? If so, how?
For the social effects: What are the disposal and recycling impacts on humans? Does the continued use of the discarded bags help us to avoid the use of new resources? How many times does the bag need to be used to minimize its social and environmental effects? What are the impacts of single-use culture?