This introduction covers The True Environmental Cost of Your Smartphone within Life Cycle Assessment for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Life Cycle Assessment in Using Resources for GCSE Chemistry with 22 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 1 of 17 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
The True Environmental Cost of Your Smartphone
Your smartphone seems small and harmless, but its environmental story spans the globe. The rare earth elements in its circuits come from mines in Africa and Asia, causing habitat destruction. Manufacturing in Chinese factories produces significant CO₂ emissions. The phone travels thousands of miles to reach you, burning fossil fuels. During its 2-3 year lifespan, it consumes electricity for charging. Finally, it joins the world's fastest-growing waste stream - e-waste. A Life Cycle Assessment reveals that 85% of a smartphone's environmental impact happens BEFORE you even turn it on. This is why we need to look at the whole picture, not just the obvious parts.
Practice questions for Life Cycle Assessment
What does LCA stand for in the context of environmental science?
State two factors that are measured during a life cycle assessment.