New
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Lesson 2 of 8
  • Year 9

Life Cycle Assessment

I can explain how life cycle assessment is used within design.

Lesson 2 of 8
New
New
  • Year 9

Life Cycle Assessment

I can explain how life cycle assessment is used within design.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. LCA assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life cycle with the aim to reduce the impact.
  2. Designers can make environmentally friendly design decisions by considering the results of LCA.

Keywords

  • Life cycle assessment (LCA) - assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product’s lifecycle

  • Carbon emissions - volume of carbon produced contributing to global warming

  • Design decisions - a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem

Common misconception

Environmental impact only occurs when products are disposed of.

Circular economy and LCA consider the environmental impact at every single stage of a product's life cycle.


To help you plan your year 9 design and technology lesson on: Life Cycle Assessment, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Keep hold of any products that excessively use packaging, such as Easter eggs. Have a look around the school/home for products that 'grow' with the user as examples of sustainable products, such as adjustable chairs/products.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the term to its definition.

Correct Answer:obsolete,a product that is no longer used or useful

a product that is no longer used or useful

Correct Answer:linear economy,products are often used briefly, become obsolete, and become waste

products are often used briefly, become obsolete, and become waste

Correct Answer:circular economy,products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste

products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste

Q2.
In a linear economy, a product’s life cycle can be defined as .

Correct Answer: cradle to grave

Q3.
What do product designers carefully consider when designing products in a circular economy?

Correct answer: environmental impact
product disposal
cost to the customer
latest design trends

Q4.
Which of these is a good example of a product designed for the circular economy?

A disposable, single use coffee cup
A plastic bag at a supermarket checkout
Correct answer: A smartphone designed to be easily repaired and upgraded
A free plastic toy in a children's magazine

Q5.
Which of the following is not a stage of the circular economy?

design/redesign
distribution
repair and maintenance
Correct answer: disposal

Q6.
Which of the following Rs is missing from this list of design considerations in the circular economy: Reuse, Repair, Refuse, Recycle, Reduce, _____?

Replace
Correct answer: Rethink
React
Remove

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
In a life cycle assessment, a product's impact is assessed at every single stage.

ethical
Correct answer: environmental
economic

Q2.
What can you assess at each stage of a life cycle assessment?

Correct answer: source of energy
Correct answer: amount of energy required
Correct answer: amount of pollution and carbon emissions
Correct answer: volume of waste
number of people involved in production

Q3.
What methods for reducing environmental impact could be considered at the distribution stage?

Correct answer: Use hybrid or electric vehicles.
Offer free next-day delivery to customers.
Correct answer: Locate the manufacturing unit in country/county of sale.
Use biodegradable materials in packaging.
Correct answer: Flat pack or stackable products to reduce size.

Q4.
Design decisions at the stage are not required for a single use product.

Correct Answer: repair and maintenance, maintenance and repair, Repair and maintenance, Maintenance and repair