Product Lifecycle: From Extraction to Recycling
The Product Lifecycle
The product lifecycle encompasses all activities necessary to obtain a product, from raw material extraction to end-of-life management:
- Extraction of raw materials
- Transformation into manufactured objects
- Product manufacturing
- Product utilization
- Recycling
Extraction
We have a variety of raw materials with potential for technical application.
Energetic and Metallic Minerals
Coal and minerals like iron and aluminum are obtained through mining techniques in open-pit or underground mines.
Energetic Rock and Minerals
Granite, marble, slate, and limestone are extracted in large blocks from open-pit quarries. Sand, gravel, and clay form superficial sediments.
Hydrocarbons
Petroleum and natural gas are extracted from deep within the earth’s crust through drilling wells.
Vegetal and Animal Matter
These materials are obtained from living beings and provide us with food.
Processing Industry
Most industrial materials are obtained by combining different raw materials and subjecting them to complex petrochemical processes. This occurs in industries such as steel, metallurgy, petrochemicals, and paper.
Steel and Metallurgy
Different metals (iron, copper, aluminum) are obtained from minerals through high-temperature fusion processes.
Petrochemicals
Oil compounds (liquid and gaseous fuels) are separated by distillation and chemically treated to produce pharmaceuticals or explosives.
Paper Industry
Tree trunks and branches are shredded and mixed to produce paper.
Manufacturing Process of Cars
- Reception of materials and parts
- Embodiment of parts
- Union of parts
- Finished embodiment
- Assembly of parts
- Production control and packaging
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is based on avoiding:
- Resource depletion
- Environmental contamination
- Unequal resource distribution
- Excessive waste generation
It involves using natural resources below capacity, distributing resources according to capacity, and ensuring that contaminant emissions are less than the assimilative capacity.
Natural Resource Saving
Everyone can work towards improving their sustainable consumption habits by applying the 3 Rs: Reduce consumer products, Reuse, and Recycle. Many materials and products that we no longer use can be recovered. Recycling requires separating different types of products and sending them to industries.
Types of Plastics
Plastics are classified by their molecular structure:
Thermoplastics
These can be melted and molded several times. Examples: polyethylene, polystyrene, PVC, acrylic, saturated polyesters, polyvinyl, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, Teflon.
Thermosets
These can only be formed once, as they do not allow for new changes by heat or pressure. Examples: phenolics, amines, epoxy resins, polyester resins.
Elastomers
These have great elasticity. Examples: rubbers, neoprene, silicone, polyurethane.
Plastic Manufacturing Process
Plastic products are mainly manufactured by melting plastic powders or granules and filling molds. The type of plastic used and the desired piece determine the procedure: injection, extrusion, or compression blow molding.