Learning Objectives

Be able to recap on research you have completed regarding sustainability

Understand that the 6Rs are the focus of most of the questions on the sustainability exam paper

Know how to properly structure an answer in the exam

Carbon offsetting

This is a method which people / companies are able to offset the impact they have on the environment in terms of their carbon footprint.

Carbon offsetting involves contributing to the development of more ecological methods of energy generation

e.g. a petrol producer funding a wind power farm

Some companies are assigned a certain amount of carbon production per year. E.g. If Ford were allowed to produce 30000000 tonnes and then only

produced 1000000 they could sell the remaining to another company

http://www.bptargetneutral.com/2011/09/how-does-carbon-offsetting-work/

CFCs

Chlorofluorocarbon were developed in the 1930s and were widely used up until the

1980s

They are one of a group of synthetic substances containing chlorine and

bromine.

It was discovered that CFCs are one of the main sources of harm to the ozone layer

e.g. Used to be common in old fridges, and in degreasing solvents

Primary RecyclingAlso known as closed-loop recycling

This is when you take the recycled material and use it again to make the

same product

A second hand item is a form of primary recycling as you are simply

taking the product and using it again.

e.g. An aluminium drinks can being recycled again into another

aluminium drinks can

Secondary / Physical RecyclingThis is when waste

materials are recycled into different types of products.

Some products can be left to biodegrade before being regenerated into something

else.

e.g. Aluminium drinks cans being turned into car parts

Tertiary or chemical recyclingThis is when products are

broken down and reformulated

e.g. Plastic bottles can be recycled into fibres and then respun into fabric for coats

and fabrics

Car tyres can be reused to make wallets, computer

mouse mats

Why Recycle?Rubbish dumps are rapidly filling up all over the world

Why put valuable / useful materials into a landfill when

they could be reused over and over again

Using materials over and over again in most cases uses less energy to produce a product

Why Recycle?• Rubbish dumps are rapidly filling up all over the world

• Why put valuable / useful materials into a landfill when they could be reused over and over again

• Using materials over and over again in most cases uses less energy to produce a product

• Reduces carbon emissions during the production stage of a product

Natural energy sources• Wind power

• Solar Power

• Geothermal

• Hydro power

• Tidal / wave power

Reforestation

This is the restocking of existing forests and woodlands which normally have been depleted

(majority all used up)

Sweatshop

This refers to a working environment / business with poor / dangerous working conditions