Understanding Materials and Resource Sustainability in Chemistry
What is sustainable use of natural resources involves careful consideration of material lifecycles, from extraction through disposal. Understanding how different materials are processed, used, and recycled is crucial for environmental protection and resource conservation.
The lifecycle assessment (LCA) of products like plastic and paper bags reveals important insights about sustainable use of resources. Plastic products, derived from crude oil through fractional distillation and polymerization, present challenges in disposal since they aren't biodegradable and occupy landfill space. Paper bags, while biodegradable and recyclable, require significant energy in manufacturing and create substantial waste during production.
Definition: Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through disposal.
Resource extraction and its environmental impact becomes evident when examining manufacturing processes. The extraction of natural resources for materials like plastics and paper can lead to habitat destruction, energy consumption, and pollution. Understanding these impacts helps inform better choices about material use and disposal.
Highlight: Recycling and reusing materials reduces resource depletion, energy consumption, waste generation, and environmental damage.