The process gives information about how environmental issues arise during the life cycle of a product, as it is manufactured and used.
We can see that the diagram highlights the environmental issues at each stage, emphasizing the importance of sustainability throughout the product’s life cycle.
The first stage is Planning and Design, during which the manufacturer develops the product’s design. This leads to the next step, Consumption of Raw Materials and Energy Resources, where the environmental costs of using raw materials and energy are emphasized. Following this, raw materials are processed and transformed into the product, preparing it for Packaging and Distribution.
In the Packaging and Distribution stage, the product is made ready for retail, with an emphasis on minimizing environmental impacts during transportation and packaging. Once delivered, the manufacturer proceeds with selling the product in step 5, which marks the beginning of the Usage stage. Here, consumers use the product, which significantly impacts the environment, particularly through energy consumption. Finally, at the end of its life cycle, the product undergoes Recycling, where efforts are made to reduce waste and promote sustainability.