[Part 3]- C12- using resources ♻️

• phytomining and bioleaching allow metals to be economically extracted from low-grade ores • this is important because, the Earth’s resources of metal ores are limited

• a life cycle assessment, is an assessment carried out to assess the environmental impacts of products

• the environmental impact of extracting and processing raw materials, is first assessed • the manufacturing and packaging of a product is then assessed • after, the use and operation of the product during its lifetime is assessed • and, the disposal at the end of the product’s life [including transport and distribution] are finally assessed

• extracting and processing raw materials- plastic bags are produced using chemicals from crude oil • but both crude oil and wood need to be chemically processed- which requires large amounts of energy, and releases waste products

• ; crude oil is a non-renewable resource, and extracting crude oil can be harmful to habitats [e.g- an oil leak]

• extracting and processing raw materials- paper bags are made from wood from trees • and trees are renewable, as more can be planted • ; felling trees for wood is destructive to habitats [such as forests]

• but both crude oil and wood need to be chemically processed- which requires large amounts of energy, and releases waste products • but making paper also requires large volumes of water

• use and operation- plastic bags are strong and are often reused [e.g- as bin liners]

• use and operation- paper bags are not as strong as plastic bags, and tend to tear • and paper bags are often only used once, before being thrown away

• disposal at the end of the product’s life- both plastic and paper bags have to be transported to recycling or landfill

• disposal at the end of the product’s life- both plastic and paper bags have to be transported to recycling or landfill • ; paper bags, are often heavier than plastic bags are take more energy to transport

• plastic is non-biodegradable, so it is not broken down by microorganisms • this means, plastic bags remain in the environment for a [very] long time

• paper breaks down quickly especially when it is wet

• plastic bags remain in the environment for a [very] long time, as they are not bio-degradable • this means, plastic can also fill up landfill

• life cycle assessments can measure the use of water, and can also measure the production of some waste products • ; life cycle assessments don’t provide a certainty of how damaging these are to the environment • so, estimates or value judgements sometimes have to be made [that are not accurate]

• life cycle assessments can be bias, to support claims by advertisers

• glass • metals • building materials • clay ceramics • and [most] plastics

• raw materials are often obtained by quarrying or mining; this causes environmental impacts

• quarrying, is the process of removing: rock, sand, gravel or other minerals from the ground in order to use them to produce materials for construction or other uses.

• mining, is the digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock

• quarrying produces large amounts of dust [due to regular blasting] • quarrying destroys habitats • quarrying can lead to an increased number of respiratory conditions [such as asthma]

• mining can release harmful chemicals into the environment • it takes lots of energy to turn the raw materials extracted from mining, into useful products- ;this energy typically comes from limited resources such as fossils fuels, that lead to climate change

• quarrying provides employment • quarrying supports the local economy

• reducing our need for raw materials, by reusing or recycling, helps to save limited resources and energy • ; this also reduces the amount of waste produced- meaning there is a less harmful effect on the environment