Life cycle analysisToday's Learning Objectives

1. Understand the life cycle of a product from raw material to disposal.

2. Understand the six R’s of recycling.3. Evaluate the life cycle of a kinder egg.4. Explain ways that you could minimise the

negative effects a kinder egg has on the environment.

Key words; Life cycle, 6 R’s of Recycling, Disposal

Product life cycleA product life cycle is the complete life of a product from raw materials, manufacture, use and disposal.

In every stage energy can be used in either collecting raw materials, manufacturing the products, transporting and when the product is actually in use.

An increasing problem is what to do with products at the end of their life and when they are is disposed of.

The 6 R’s of recycling

ReduceRethinkReuseRecycleRepairRefuse

The 6 R’s6 R’s Description

Reuse Take an existing product that's become waste and use the material or parts for another purpose.

Reduce Minimise the amount of material or energy you use.

Repair When a product breaks down or doesn't function properly, try to fix it.

Rethink Ask we can sustain our current way of life and the way we design and make products.

Refuse Don't use a material or buy a product if you think you don't need it or if its unsuitable.

Recycle Take an existing product that has become waste and reprocess the material to use in a new product.

Kinder Eggs – Life cycleGroup 1 – Look at the life cycle of the chocolate.

Group 2 – Look at the life cycle of the packaging - Tin foil, plastic capsule and the instructions.

Group 3 – The toy.

In your groups discuss how you could improve the environmental impact of the product at each step of the life cycle.

Use and think about the 6 R’s of recycling.

Bit of Maths

Last year 400,000 kinder eggs were sold in the UK last year.

The weight of the tin foil on a singular kinder egg is 0.76g. What is the total weight of all the tin foil from all the kinder eggs?

Give your answer in Kg

The plastic capsule and the toy on average weigh 12g. What is the total weight of these parts?

Give your answer in tonnes

Remember 1000g = 1Kg and 1000Kg = tonne

The answers

400,000 x 0.76g = 304,000g = 304Kg

400,000 x 12g = 4800000g = 4800Kg = 4.8 tonnes

Final question

Do you think Kinder have looked to make their product environmentally friendly or maximise profit?