7/31/2019 EcoLogic :: Lesson plan: Product Life Cycle
Analysis
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Produced by the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, with assistance from
the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.
LESSON PLAN PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
ANALYSIS
This unit explains that products have life cycles that can be
studied to estimate the ecological impact of the
product. Students are challenged to research and qualitatively
analyse the life cycle of one product, and then
create an alternative design that could meet the same need with
lower ecological impact.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
clarifythedifferencebetweenhumanneedsandwants.
researchandassessthelifecycleofaproduct,listinginputsandoutputs.
compareandcontrastresourcesthatarerenewableornon-renewable.
listguidelinesforchoosingormakingsustainableproducts
applythoseguidelinestotheredesignofaproductanditslifecycle
ResourcesPacketofpotatochipsinaluminiumfoilpacket
EcoLogic: creating a sustainable
future,byMcEwenS,PowerhousePublishing,2004.Chapter2
Thelifecycleofapacketofchipsisdescribedonpages24to26.
Guidelinesforchoosingsustainableproductsareonpages28to31.
WorksheetProductlifecycle
Photosbauxite,alumina,aluminiumandpackaging,potatoes,salt,oil
PowerhouseMuseumsustainabledesigndatabase
Starting point
Howmanypeoplelikepotatochips?Howmanyofusknowwhereourchipscomefrom?Whatsreallyinapacketofchips?Itsnotjustthecontentsbutthepackagingaswell.
Allmanufactureditemsaremadefromplantsoranimals,waterand/orminedresourcessuchasmetals,
stone, and crude oil.
Apacketofchipscontainspotatoes,sunoweroil,salt,aluminium(madefromminedbauxiteandcoal),
plastic,inksanddyes.Thealuminiumistransportedaroundtheworld.Everythingelsegetsdrivenaround
thecountry.Aretheresourcesusedtomakeapacketofchipsrenewableornonrenewable?
Arenewableresourceisonethatcanbereplacedegpotatoes,sunowersandwindpower.
Activities
Discussthelifecycleofapacketofpotatochips.
Introducethenotionofdesignasapowerfultoolforreducingtheimpactofeachpersononthe
environment.Innovationindesignateverystageinthelifecyclecanhaveenormouscumulativeeffects.
Thereareanumberofwaystodesignforecologicalsustainability.
reduce the volume of resources used by creating lightweight
designs to minimise the amount of material
in a product. For example: cars
reducedependenceonenergyfromfossilfuels.Usesolarorwindpower.Forexample:solar-powered
radio
reduce waste. For example: use rechargeable batteries
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reuseitems.egpackagejamincontainersthatcanbedrinkingglasseswhenthejamisnished.
recycleanduserecycledmaterials.Forexample:abeaniemadefromolddrinkbottles,cricketballsmade
fromwinecorks
designforlonglife.Forexample:durablebackpack
designforshortlife.Forexample:biodegradablepackaging.
Askstudentstopickaproductthattheyneedorwantintheirlives.Askthemtodoalifecycleanalysisofthatproductandcompletetheproductlifecycleworksheet.
Whatistheproductmadefrom?
Wheredidthecomponentscomefrom?
Whomadeit?
Wherewasitmade?
Howisitpackaged?
Howisittransportedtomarket?
Whatarealltheinputsandtheoutputsoftheproduct?
Whatwillhappentotheproductattheendofitslife?
Askstudentstodrawadetailedproductlifecycle.
Askstudentstoinvestigateanalternativewaytomeetthesameneedorwantusingfewerresources.Could
theproductbemadeusingfewermaterialsorbepoweredmoresustainably?Investigatefuturetrendsin
materialsandtechnologies.Designaprototypesolution.
