Life Cycle of a Product
For this project, I had to describe and research the lifecycle of a product. The product I chose was a plastic water bottle.
Timeline
Raise and Extract- energy is used to extract the water from a natural spring.
Process- energy is required for the processing and filtering of the water before it can be packaged and shipped to stores.
Manufacture- additional energy is required to make the water bottle. The actual plastic is made from various chemicals and corn or petroleum. It then goes to the water bottle plant where the sheets of plastic are cut, stacked and fused into round hollow, plastic sheets. These hollow sheets are then fed into a molding device that essentially blow-molds them into the shape of the bottle. The molding device sets the sheets into the mold, heats the plastic, and injects an air current into the plastic. This air current expands the plastic until it forms against the mold. The plastic takes the shape of the mold as it cools. The water bottle cap is formed of the same process...it just condenses the plastic sheet to form a more thick and opaque cap.
Use- the product is then transported to stores for people to purchase. It stays at the store as long as it is still usable and non-damaged. Most water bottles of normal size (16.9 oz.) are packaged in cases of 25,30 and/or 35. They are also sold individually.
Dispose- when the product is no longer of use, we dispose of it. This happens when a water bottle has been drank and the bottle no longer has a purpose. So most people throw them out, but plastic water bottles can be recycled and reused to make other things...which is a better alternative for the environment.
Process- energy is required for the processing and filtering of the water before it can be packaged and shipped to stores.
Manufacture- additional energy is required to make the water bottle. The actual plastic is made from various chemicals and corn or petroleum. It then goes to the water bottle plant where the sheets of plastic are cut, stacked and fused into round hollow, plastic sheets. These hollow sheets are then fed into a molding device that essentially blow-molds them into the shape of the bottle. The molding device sets the sheets into the mold, heats the plastic, and injects an air current into the plastic. This air current expands the plastic until it forms against the mold. The plastic takes the shape of the mold as it cools. The water bottle cap is formed of the same process...it just condenses the plastic sheet to form a more thick and opaque cap.
Use- the product is then transported to stores for people to purchase. It stays at the store as long as it is still usable and non-damaged. Most water bottles of normal size (16.9 oz.) are packaged in cases of 25,30 and/or 35. They are also sold individually.
Dispose- when the product is no longer of use, we dispose of it. This happens when a water bottle has been drank and the bottle no longer has a purpose. So most people throw them out, but plastic water bottles can be recycled and reused to make other things...which is a better alternative for the environment.
Creative Recycling- instead of throwing away an empty water bottle it can be recycled and be made into art. On the right is a picture of an octopus and flower made out of plastic water bottles.
Creative Reuse- instead of throwing away an empty water bottle after you drink it you can reuse it for another function. On the right is a picture of a plant in a pot made out of the bottom of a plastic water bottle and a shed made completely (not counting the wood beams) out of water bottles!
Conclusion Questions
1.) What is meant by product lifecycle?
Total product life cycle refers to all of the processes that lead to the creation of the product, the actual use of the product, and what happens after the consumer discards it.
2.) Why is it important for companies who make products to research and determine a product’s potential lifecycle?
It is important for companies to research and determine a product's lifecycle because they need to know how much energy and resources are needed to raise/extract, process, and manufacture the product and whether or not it pays off in use and disposal. They need to make sure that their product has a "good" lifecycle in which they make a profit and have a positive impact.
3.) What would you change about your product? Why?
I would change the thickness of the water bottle. In my opinion, the plastic water bottle is really thick to me and if they used 50% less plastic it would be more efficient in terms of money, time and the environment. The same amount of plastic they use to make 50 water bottles could make 75 with less plastic. Therefore more bottles would sell (more money), less time for plastic to mold (saving time) and that would mean 50% less plastic in the landfill (helping the environment) .
4.) Do you think your product will evolve or become obsolete over time? Why?
I think my product will evolve because it holds an essential compound needed by every living organism, from plants to humans. Almost all people use water bottles and all of them drink water. Water bottles allow a person to store water in a lightweight, easy to use container, which is both convenient and healthy. Plastic, however, isn't good for the environment so I think overtime water bottles might evolve into a different material but they will still be used.
5.) What is a trade-off?
A trade-off of using plastic water bottles is the fact that they are made out of plastic and that isn't a very good material for the environment. This is because plastic is not bio-degradable which means it can't be broken down by the earth and mineralized into the soil. So the plastic just pollutes the earth.
6.) Do you think that trade-offs were made during the design phase of your product?
Yes, it's the plastic that isn't good for the environment and that is what is used when making the bottles in the beginning design and creating stages of the product.
7.) Why is it important to recycle?
It is important to recycle because it helps slow down how much pollution and trash is all over the earth. This helps the earth and environment that we live in stay clean and healthy and so that it can stay that way for future generations because they shouldn't have to deal with the consequences of our pollution.
8.) How do product designers play a role in recycling?
Product designers play a role in recycling because they design the actual product that people use, and therefore choose the material in which the product will be made out of. So they can choose a material that is recyclable like plastic, cardboard, paper, glass etc. Or even bio-degradable materials such as paper products and organic food (apples, pears etc.).
9.) What role does society play in the recycling effort?
Society is the way most people follow...whatever society thinks toward that topic...that's what most other people will think too. In recent years society has really started taking into consideration all the thing we do and use that damage the earth. For example, in recent years, companies have come out with new "green" and "eco-friendly" products that are either recyclable, made without harsh chemicals and pollutants etc. Without society behind recycling...a lot less what be happening in favor of it.
10.) What can you do to help?
I can do my part to help by recycling all of my plastic, cardboard, glass and other materials so it doesn't end up in the ocean somewhere or stuck in a landfill. I can also reuse some products...like plastic water bottles for other things. I can also not litter or throw trash anywhere but in a trash can to keep littering to a minimum.
Total product life cycle refers to all of the processes that lead to the creation of the product, the actual use of the product, and what happens after the consumer discards it.
2.) Why is it important for companies who make products to research and determine a product’s potential lifecycle?
It is important for companies to research and determine a product's lifecycle because they need to know how much energy and resources are needed to raise/extract, process, and manufacture the product and whether or not it pays off in use and disposal. They need to make sure that their product has a "good" lifecycle in which they make a profit and have a positive impact.
3.) What would you change about your product? Why?
I would change the thickness of the water bottle. In my opinion, the plastic water bottle is really thick to me and if they used 50% less plastic it would be more efficient in terms of money, time and the environment. The same amount of plastic they use to make 50 water bottles could make 75 with less plastic. Therefore more bottles would sell (more money), less time for plastic to mold (saving time) and that would mean 50% less plastic in the landfill (helping the environment) .
4.) Do you think your product will evolve or become obsolete over time? Why?
I think my product will evolve because it holds an essential compound needed by every living organism, from plants to humans. Almost all people use water bottles and all of them drink water. Water bottles allow a person to store water in a lightweight, easy to use container, which is both convenient and healthy. Plastic, however, isn't good for the environment so I think overtime water bottles might evolve into a different material but they will still be used.
5.) What is a trade-off?
A trade-off of using plastic water bottles is the fact that they are made out of plastic and that isn't a very good material for the environment. This is because plastic is not bio-degradable which means it can't be broken down by the earth and mineralized into the soil. So the plastic just pollutes the earth.
6.) Do you think that trade-offs were made during the design phase of your product?
Yes, it's the plastic that isn't good for the environment and that is what is used when making the bottles in the beginning design and creating stages of the product.
7.) Why is it important to recycle?
It is important to recycle because it helps slow down how much pollution and trash is all over the earth. This helps the earth and environment that we live in stay clean and healthy and so that it can stay that way for future generations because they shouldn't have to deal with the consequences of our pollution.
8.) How do product designers play a role in recycling?
Product designers play a role in recycling because they design the actual product that people use, and therefore choose the material in which the product will be made out of. So they can choose a material that is recyclable like plastic, cardboard, paper, glass etc. Or even bio-degradable materials such as paper products and organic food (apples, pears etc.).
9.) What role does society play in the recycling effort?
Society is the way most people follow...whatever society thinks toward that topic...that's what most other people will think too. In recent years society has really started taking into consideration all the thing we do and use that damage the earth. For example, in recent years, companies have come out with new "green" and "eco-friendly" products that are either recyclable, made without harsh chemicals and pollutants etc. Without society behind recycling...a lot less what be happening in favor of it.
10.) What can you do to help?
I can do my part to help by recycling all of my plastic, cardboard, glass and other materials so it doesn't end up in the ocean somewhere or stuck in a landfill. I can also reuse some products...like plastic water bottles for other things. I can also not litter or throw trash anywhere but in a trash can to keep littering to a minimum.