Band 6+: Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The diagram below shows the environmental issues raised by a product over its life cycle. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The picture shows the life cycle of a product that is shown through 7 different steps. Throughout these steps, there are also environmental problems that occur that is shown and will be discussed.

Planning and design is the first step of the product life cycle. Afterwards, the product will go into production. In this process resources like materials and energy are required. The need hints a possibility of an environmental problem in the early life cycle of the product, since they need to exhaust natural resources. After the product is made, packaging and distribution is done so that the product can be sold. After successful sales, the product arrives at the customer’s hand. When customers are done with the product, they will either throw it away, or they will recycle the product. Having the product to be recycled can continue the life cycle to be reproduced as new materials.

In conclusion, the picture above helps us to understand the complete cycle of a product, including the possibility of an environmental matters in between of the steps. In the end, the product can also come back as a recycled materials, if not disposed.