1BDB rou listen to them on your stereo, play them in your computer, or watch movies on them. Compact discs (CDs) and their faster cousin, digital video discs (DVDs) are everywhere! Only a few millimeters thick, they provide hours of entertainment and hold huge volumes of information. Do you ever stop to think about how CDs and DVDs are made, what materials are used, or what happens to these discs when you don't want them any more? Making products like CDs and DVDs consumes natural resources, produces waste, and uses energy. By learning about product life cycles, you can find out how to reduce the environ- mental impacts and natural resource use associated with products you use every day. When you understand these con- nections, you can make better environmental choices about the products you use, and how you dispose of them. Follow the life cycle of a CD or DVD on this poster to learn more about how these products are made and how you can help reduce their environmental impacts. Materials Processing ifuct A f The entire process of stamping a CD with digital information takes between 5 and 10 seconds. Materials Acquisition CDs and DVDs are made from many different materials, each of which has its own separate life cycle involving ener- gy use and waste. They include: • Aluminum—the most abundant metal element in the Earth's crust. Bauxite ore is the main source of aluminum and is extracted from the Earth. • Polycarbonate—a type of plastic, which is made from crude oil and natural gas extracted from the Earth. • Lacquer—made of acrylic, another type of plastic. • Gold—a metal that is mined from the Earth. • Dyes—chemicals made in a labora- tory, partially from petroleum products that come from the Earth. • Other materials such as water, glass, silver, and nickel. Most mined materials must be processed before manufacturers can use them to make CDs or DVDs. For example: • Bauxite ore is processed into a substance called "alumina" by washing, crushing, dissolving, filtering, and harvesting the materials. Alumina is then turned into aluminum through a process called "smelting." Then the metal is shaped, rolled, or made into a cast. • To make plastics, crude oil from the ground is combined with natural gas and chemicals in a manufacturing or processing plant. More than 5.5 million boxes of software go to landfills and incinerators, plus people throw away millions of music CDs each year! Manufacturing The manufacturing process described here is roughly the same for both CDs and DVDs. • An injection molding machine creates the core of the disc—a 1 -millimeter thick piece of polycarbonate (plastic). Polycarbonate is melted and put in a mold. With several tons of pressure, a stamper embeds tiny indentations, or pits, with digital infor- mation into the plastic mold. A CD-play- er's laser reads these pits when play- ing a CD. • The plastic molds then go through the "metallizer" machine, which coats the CDs with a thin metal _^^^^^^^^^^^^ reflective layer (usually aluminum) through a process called "sputtering." The playback laser reads the informa- tion off of the reflective alu- minum surface. Recycling Reuse, Recycling or Disposal In 1983, when CDs were introduced in the United States, 800,000 discs were sold. By 1990, this number ffi Every month approxi- mately 100,000 pounds of CDs become obsolete (outdated, useless, or unwanted). Purchasing Decisions You constantly make decisions about buying products. One of your decisions probably involves weighing how much y want a product against how much it costs. This poster pro vides information to help you become a more environmentally aware consumer by describing the materials and energy con- sumption required to make CDs and DVDs. You should factor this information into your buying decisions and understand that nearly all of your choices have some environmental trade-offs. You might also want to consider whether the information you think you need on disc is actually available on the Internet. If it is, you; might not need to buy the disc at all! Thinking about these issues will make you a more informed consumer and will help you make decisions that help to protect and preserve our environment. Designing for the Environment For a product to come into existence, it must be designed. And that design can have as much of an impact on the envi- ronment as any other step in a products life cycle. For example, designers can plan for a product to be easily made from recycled materials, thus reducing the need to mine or gather raw materials. Most industries, including high-tech industries, have developed voluntary standards that many manufacturers fol- low when designing and manufacturing new products. These standards help make products as environmentally sound as is technologically possible. These standards also change as rapidly developing new technologies become available. Reuse • Minor scratches can be repaired by rubbing a mild abrasive (such as toothpaste) on the non-label side of a disc in a circular motion from Useful Life • The CD then receives a layer of lacquer as a pro- tective coating against scratching and corrosion. • Most CDs are screen printed with one to five different colors for a decorative label. Screen printing involves the use of many materials, including stencils, queegees, and inks. CDs and DVDs are created with materials that are extremely stable. If properly stored and handled, most discs will last for decades— and probably centuries. Certain conditions, such as high humidity, or extended periods of high temperatures, rapid temperature changes, and expo- sure to certain types of light, can damage discs and shorten their useful life. Taking care of your discs by keeping them out of direct sunlight and away from heat and water will help them last longer. Not only will you save money, but you will also reduce the discs' environmental impacts by preventing waste. Transportation/ Distribution Once discs are packaged, they are ready to be sent to distribution centers, retail outlets, or other locations. Transportation by plane, truck, or rail requires the use of fossil fuels for ener- gy, which contribute to climate change. Packaging CDs and DVDs are packaged in clear or colored plastic cases (jewel cases) or cardboard boxes—that are then covered with plastic shrink wrap. This packaging can be made from recycled or raw materials. For example, the plastic used can be from recycled bottles or from crude oil and natural gas extracted from the Earth and combined with chemicals. ------- Why Are Product Life Cycles Important? Each day, we use hundreds of products: clothes, shoes, books, newspapers, notebook paper, CD/DVD players, video games, cell phones, and TVs. Have you ever thought about what these products are made of, where their parts come from, or what happens to them when we're finished with them? Have you ever thought about the impact each of the products we use has on our environment? Looking at a product's life cycle helps us understand the connec- tions between the Earth's natural resources, energy use, climate change, and waste. Product life cycles focus on the processes involved in the entire production system—from extracting and processing raw materials, through the product's final use by consumers, recyclers, and disposers. By learning about product life cycles, we can see where and how everyone can collaborate to reduce the environmental impacts and natural resource use associated with a product. When we understand these connec- tions, we can be better environmental stewards. What Is a Life Cycle? Just as living things are born, get older, and die, products also have a life cycle. Each stage of a product's development affects our environment in different ways—from the way we use products to the quantities of products we buy. Similarly, what we do with a product when we are finished with it has environmental effects. The stages of a product's life cycle usually include: Design: Engineers, designers, manufacturers, and others get ideas for products and then have to manufacture them. Most product designs are researched and tested before they are mass-produced. A product's initial design affects each stage of its life cycle, and therefore, its impact on our environment. For example, products designed to be reused instead of thrown out prevent waste and conserve natural resources. Materials Acquisition: Whether man-made or naturally occurring, all products are made from some raw materials. "Virgin" materials, such as trees or iron ore, are directly harvested or mined from the Earth, which causes climate change, uses large amounts of energy, and depletes our natural resources. Making new products from materials that were used in another product—known as recycled or recovered materials—can reduce pollution, energy use, and the amount of raw materials we need to take from the Earth. For exam- ple, using recycled steel products instead of mining virgin iron ore saves 1,400 pounds of coal, 120 pounds of limestone, and enough energy to power more than 18 million homes for one yearl Materials Processing: Once materials are extracted from the Earth, they must be converted into a form that can be used to make products. For example, trees contribute the wood from which paper is made. The wood is made into paper from sever- al different manufacturing processes. Each separate process creates waste and consumes energy. For example, making one ton of recycled paper uses 64 percent less energy and 50 per- cent less water; reduces air pollution by 74 percent; saves 1 7 trees; and creates five times more jobs than manufacturing one ton of paper products from virgin wood pulp. Manufacturing: Products are made in factories that use a great deal of energy. Manufacturing processes also create waste and often contribute to global climate change. Glass bev- erage containers, for example, can be used an infinite number of times, over and over again. More than 41 billion glass con- tainers are made each year; recycling only one of those saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours. Imagine the energy savings from recycling all 41 billion containers. What's more, making 1 ton of glass from 50 percent recycled materials saves 250 pounds of mining waste. Packaging: Many products are packaged in paper or plastic, which also undergo separate manufacturing processes that use energy and consume natural resources. While packaging can serve several important functions, such as preventing tamper- ing, providing information, and preserving hygienic integrity and freshness, sometimes packaging is excessive. Distribution: Manufactured products are transported in trucks, planes, trains, and ships to different locations where they are sold. Materials and parts used to make products are also trans- ported to different places at earlier stages in the life cycle. All of these forms of transportation use energy and generate green- house gases, which contribute to global climate change. Use: The way products are used impacts our environment. Reusable, durable, and recyclable products conserve natural resources, use less energy, and create less waste than dispos- able, single-use products. For example, fluorescent lamps reduce energy consumption because they are four to five times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. Reducing energy use also cuts down on power plant emissions that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, and smog. Properly caring for products also increases their useful life, so remember to read and follow the cleaning, operating, and maintenance instructions for the products you own—especially tires on your bicycles and other vehicles. Reuse/Recycling: Recycling or remanufacturing products into new ones saves energy and reduces the amount of raw materials that have to be used in the manufacturing process. When products are reused or recycled, their life does not end; instead, it becomes a continuous cycle. For example, one pound of recycled paper can make six new cereal boxes, and five recycled soda bottles can make enough fiber fill to stuff a ski jacket. Disposal: Throwing products in the trash ends their useful life. We simply lose these valuable resources outright. If we recycled all our morning newspapers, we could save 41,000 trees a day, and we could keep 6 million tons of waste out of landfills. Crafty CDs and Designer DVDs Do you own CDs or DVDs that you don't use anymore? Does your family receive software CDs in the mail that you don't want or need? Instead of throwing these discs away, why not use them to create something fun for yourself or a gift for a friend? For a simple sun • Two discs (CDs or DVDs) • Fine fishing line or thread • Glue or Tape Directions: 1. Cut the thread or fishing line to the length you want, and glue to the printed side of one disc. 2. Wth more glue or double- sided tape, stick the two discs together, shiny sides out. 3. Hang in a sunny window and enjoy the beautiful col- ors of the prism. At least six CDs or DVDs Three to six feet of strong cord (a dark color is best) A stopper like a washer for the suncatcher, or bell for the windchime - larger than the diameter of the hole in the CD - for each pair of discs. Directions: 1. Glue or tape each pair of discs together (be sure to leave the hole open). If you are going to hang your cre- ation outside, use weatherproof glue or adhe- sive. 2. Thread a stopper (or bell) onto the line, and secure it about 1 inch from one end with a sturdy knot. 3. Thread the first pair of CDs onto the line so that it rests on top of the stopper (or bell). 4. Thread another stopper (or bell) onto the line about 1 inch from the CDs and secure with a sturdy knot. 5. Repeat step 3 and 4 at intervals of about 3-5 inch- es, or whatever looks good to you. 6. Hang your creation by a window and enjoy! Drink Coasters You will need: • Four discs (CDs or DVDs) • Self-stick felt (to keep the coasters from sliding) about 1/4 inch in diameter. You can buy felt this size or buy bigger pieces and cut them down. Directions: 1. If need be, cut the felt into small round pieces about 1/4 inch in diameter. 2. Turn over the discs so the shiny side is facing down and the printed side towards you. 3. Stick 8 pieces of felt evenly spread around the disc 4. Turn the disc back over and place your glass or bowl on your new coaster. Organize CD/DVD Reuse Events • Set up a CD/DVD Swap Day at School • Create a library devoted to CD/DVD-sharing • Organize a CD/DVD recycling collection for community service or fund-raising projects Cycle Scramble Use the clue provided to help you unscramble the fc T. RINGIV Recycling products reduces the arr &TA Reducing 4. FILE LYCE A product1 f a product can preven ; an important goal of understanding a produ & LATURNA Products are made fr< & DIGENS The ofa 7. Making a product wit :S, SCIDESION Making informed 9.EDTAXTEK Raw IO.BLEADUR Buy! eral stages, including design s its affect on the environment. reduces its impact on the environment. ng products can help pre ) make products have to be om the Earth, which creates po The Big Debate: Reuse, Recycle, or Dispose? CDs and DVDs are complicated products, which makes recycling or disposing of them just as complicated. This activity examines options for reusing, recycling, or dispos- ing of CDs and DVDs at the end of their useful life. It can be a research project for individuals or assigned to teams for discussion. 1. What are some end-of-life options for CDs/DVDs? List the options and discuss the pros and cons of each. 2. Give a rough estimate of how long the components of a CD/DVD would last in a landfill. Use the chart below as a guideline: Banana/orange peel Leather Newspaper Aluminum can Plastic bottle . Glass bottle 2-5 weeks 1 year up to 50 years 80-100 years 100-200 years 1,000,000 years 3. Find out what CD/DVD manufacturers, recyclers, and local authorities have to say about end-of-life options for CDs/DVDs. • Conduct Internet research or call the company that pro- duced your CD/DVD. Find out what it considers to be the useful life of the CD/DVD. Ask what the policy is for accept- ing its CDs/DVDs back for recycling or remanufacturing. • Find out what your school does with its CDs/DVDs at the end of their useful life. • Contact a local recycling center and ask if it accepts old CDs/DVDs. • Contact a CD/DVD recycler to learn about its recycling practices and what products are made from recycled CDs/DVDs. • Contact your local waste management agency and ask what its policy is regarding discarded CDs/DVDs. 4. After conducting this research, write a summary of your find- ings, including who you contacted, the date, and what information you obtained. Or, present the results to your classmates and discuss what you view to be a good end-of- life choice for CDs/DVDs. Scavenaer Hunt Look around your home for the following life cycle-related items. Check off each item as you find it - how many can you find? This symbol stands for a type of plastic that can often be recycled and made into carpet- ing, automobile bumpers, or insulation for ^ 1 ski coats and sleeping bags. PETE Item that you use at least three times before throwing it out. Item made from four different materials (e.g. wood, steel, plastic, aluminum, copper) Recycling bin. Something that can be composted—meaning it can break down, or decompose, into soil. Besides a CD, an item you can donate to charily instead of throwing away when you no longer want to use it. A product made from recycled paper. A product with excess packaging. dcm. This symbol stands for a type of plastic that can be recycled and made into traffic cones, toys, and laundry detergent containers. HOPE An item that is biodegradable—capable of being used as food by other living things and eventually gets turned into soil. Reusable container—can be used over and over again to store food or other items. It has a long, useful life. Item that you use once and then throw out. A plastic, paper, and canvas bag. Which of these has the longest useful lifespan? A product made from recycled glass. *2ou Cent Life Cycle Web Sites U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Product Stewardship Program Explains the life cycle environmental impacts of products. www.epa.gov/epr U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Engineering Program Advocates designing products with their entire life cycle in mind. www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenengineering/ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Design for the Environment www.epa.gov/dfe United Nations Environment Programme, Life Cycle Initiative www.unepie.org/pc/sustain/lca/lca.htm Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Life Cycle Assessment Advisory Group www.setac.org/lca.html American Plastics Council "Life Cycle of a Plastic Product" www.plasti csresource.com/disposa l/life_cycle_feature The Steel Recycling Institute "Steel Recycling Life Cycle" www.recycle-steel.org (Go to "Educarion," "Community Activity Shears/ "Steel Recycling Lite Cy-le") Other Life Cycle Materials "The Life Cycle of Everyday Stuff" (curriculum and poster) www.nsta.org/pubs/nstapress/pbl54x/faq2.asp National Science Teachers Association 1840 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201 "The Quest for Less: A Teacher's Guide to Reducing, Reusing, Recycling." Unit 1: Product Life Cycles, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste. www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/quest/unit-l .htm To order: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/pub-q.htm or call 800 424-9346. "A Web-Based Course Module on Automobile Recycling." Chapter 4: Closing the Loop. Georgia Institute of Technology's Environmentally Conscious Design mimel .marc.gatech.edu/courseware/auto2/Default.htm "The Life of a Hamburger: Play the Hamburger Game!" (Covers paper and plastic packaging) The Plastic Bag Association www.plasticbag.com/KIDS/hamburger/play.html Recycling Loop Poster: "Where Does Your Homework Go?" American Forest and Paper Association/Project Learning Tree Order at no cost at www.afandpa.org/kids_educators/index.html (Click on "Teacher Tools'--, "Recycling Loop Poster''-) CD/DVD Recycling Web Sites Compact Disc Recycling Resources The National Recycling Coalition, Inc. This page provides a list of all the companies that recycle or remanufacture CDs. www.nrc-recycle.org/ Go to the drop-down menu on the home page entitled, "How Do I Recycle?/- then go to CD-ROMs. Plug-in to Recycling Program www.plugintorecycling.org EPA, in partnership with Best Buy, AT&T Wireless, Dell, Panasonic, Sony, Sharp, Recycle America (part of Waste Management, Inc.), and nxtcycle, is helping consumers of electronic products tap into a net- work of recycling opportunities nationwide. Sony's CD Recycling Web page www.sony.co.jp/en/Sonylnfo/Environment/ecoplaza/ recycle_c.html AuralTech CD Refinishing Specialists www.nsynch.com/--auraltech/index.htm GreenDisk Recycled Disks Web page www.greendisk.com/ Green Disk's mission is to create recycled products from obsolete soft- ware. The company primarily accepts old CDs from corporations. -icy Response ------- |