HARVESTING of raw materials. can include timber, agriculture, aquaculture, mining.
MANUFACTURING of raw materials into usable products. can include assembling, processing, smelting, pulpmaking.
PACKAGING of product. can include paper, plastic, metals, styrofoam.
DISTRIBUTING products to consumers. can include trucking, shipping, air, railway, manpower.
CONSUMPTION of product by user.
DISPOSAL of waste and unused product by consumer. can include landfills, storage, re-use, recycling.
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each step requires energy. each step is a choice. which step in this chain can YOU impact the most by living a greener lifestyle? how can changing one of these steps also affect the others? are there techniques available to help concerned individuals affect ALL of the steps involved?
young lady, this is EVERYONE’S homework.
For me:
Consumption, disposal & distributing.
Distributing:
XPower Energy Saver – It recycles the wasted electric & cleans the lines. They advertise 25% electric savings. We noticed closer to 50% savings. It was only $250.00. Also came with a 6 month money back guarentee.
Hi Patzky,
I think from the list above, for me it can only be ‘consumption’ and ‘disposal of waste’. We’re big into recycling now over here. It does take a bit more effort but it’s easy to get into the habit of separating cardboard/tins/bottles/newspapers.
Reducing and re-using are other considerations I find myself seriously looking into and trying to follow these days.
We’re also doing our utmost to try to save energy.
Polly
Disposal because I can choose to recycle items and pick those items that come in Recycled packaging. 🙂
Do your own homework.
The only thing YOU (I assume the proverbial "you") can effect directly is your rate of consumption.
Harvesting, manufacturing, packaging and distribution are not under your control, though if you research the products BEFORE you buy at least you make an informed choice based on your green values …
…
… LMAO
… like people are going to do THAT!
Whether your by-products become reused, recycled or garbage depends on how much you are willing to pay in taxes to supplement the cost and make it viable to reuse or recycle.