Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 11 Design and technology Guides

Year 11 - Design and technology

Environmental impact of materials

Papers and boards

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will develop technical principles knowledge with an explicit focus on exam technique.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the environmental impact that materials have during a product's life cycle.

Key Notes

  • Manufacturing materials uses energy, resources, and creates emissions.
  • Using a product can consume energy, resources, and produce waste.
  • Disposing of products can create waste, pollution, and lose valuable resources.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • LCA: life cycle assessment; assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life
  • carbon footprint: total amount of greenhouse gases a product or activity produces
  • product miles: distance a product travels from production to consumer

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The environmental impact of a material only happens when the product is thrown away.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Manufacturing materials uses energy, resources, and creates emissions. Using a product can consume energy, resources, and produce waste.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'LCA'

life cycle assessment; assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: The environmental impact of a material only happens when the product is thrown away. Correction: A material's environmental impact occurs at every stage of its life cycle; during manufacture, use, and disposal.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 Design and technology guide library.