Year 9 - Design and technology
Life Cycle Assessment
The circular economy
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will develop knowledge of technology in society and its effects on design. Through the life cycle assessment of popular products, they will learn how to be responsible designers.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how life cycle assessment is used within design.
Key Notes
- LCA assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life cycle with the aim to reduce the impact.
- Designers can make environmentally friendly design decisions by considering the results of LCA.
Vocabulary To Learn
- life cycle assessment (LCA): assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's lifecycle
- carbon emissions: volume of carbon produced contributing to global warming
- design decisions: a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Environmental impact only occurs when products are disposed of.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
LCA assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life cycle with the aim to reduce the impact. Designers can make environmentally friendly design decisions by considering the results of LCA.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'life cycle assessment (LCA)'
assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's lifecycle.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Environmental impact only occurs when products are disposed of. Correction: Circular economy and LCA consider the environmental impact at every single stage of a product's life cycle.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Design and technology guide library.