Environmental Science / Unit 9: Waste and Sustainability
9.5 Sustainable Solutions
Notes
Sustainable development meets human needs while protecting ecosystems for the future.
- Circular economy: design products to last, be repaired, and be recycled so waste is minimized, in contrast to a linear "take, make, dispose" model.
- Life cycle analysis (LCA) evaluates a product's environmental impact from raw materials to disposal.
- Green chemistry, extended producer responsibility (companies take back products), and deposit-refund systems reduce waste.
- Sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, efficient transport, and conservation of habitat all contribute.
- Ecotourism can fund conservation, though it must be well managed.
- Environmental justice is the fair treatment of all people in environmental decisions, since polluting facilities have often been placed in low-income and minority communities.
- Individuals can act through consumption choices, voting, and community involvement. Large changes also depend on businesses and governments.
- Example: a bottle deposit program returns money for each bottle, encouraging return and recycling.
Practice
What does a life cycle analysis measure?
LCA looks at the whole life of a product.
A circular economy differs from a linear economy because it:
Linear systems go "take, make, dispose"; circular systems loop materials back.
Environmental justice is the principle that:
It addresses uneven exposure to pollution.
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