In this section of my Weebly I will be talking about the the life cycle and eventual recycling/ reuse of glass bottles
Timeline
Step 1.
Raise and Extract- Silica, Sodium Carbonate,and Calcium Carbonate (Sand, Soda, and Lime), are the components that make up glass bottles. Since sand is plentiful, easy to mine and relatively easy to process, it is the primary ore source of silicon. The metamorphic rock, quartzite, is another source Large natural deposits of Sodium Carbonate found in 1938, such as the one near Green River, Wyoming. Calcium carbonate occurs as argonite, calcite and dolomite. The carbonite minerals form the rock types: limestone, chalk, marble, travertine, tufa, and others. These components are brought in for production. |
Step 2.
Process- New materials are gathered and prepared for manufacturing, while the recycled ones are cleaned, crushed, and melted to be made ready for mixing with new materials |
Step 3.
Manufacture- The new recycled material is mixed with water and that solution is put into a furnace set at over 1400 degrees Celsius for about four hours. once they are done, the glass is allowed to cool enough to molded into the shape of a bottle. once it is done cooling it is reheated 600 degrees and cooled again for added strength. |
Step 4.
Use- Glass bottles are used in restaurants, liquor stores/ distilleries, and in your homes to keep various liquids in. Most are disposed of after the first use, but some recycle and reuse them. |
Step 5.
Dispose- Bottles that are just thrown away in the garbage and sent to landfills will sit there virtually forever because they take a VERY long time to biodegrade. That is why it is very important to recycle them. Bottle are 100% recyclable, meaning they are potentially very good for the earth when recycled.
Dispose- Bottles that are just thrown away in the garbage and sent to landfills will sit there virtually forever because they take a VERY long time to biodegrade. That is why it is very important to recycle them. Bottle are 100% recyclable, meaning they are potentially very good for the earth when recycled.
SOURCES
Google images
https://prezi.com/hjvz1msyaitv/glass-bottle-life-cycle/
http://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-database/silica/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate#Geological_sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate
Google images
https://prezi.com/hjvz1msyaitv/glass-bottle-life-cycle/
http://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-database/silica/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate#Geological_sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate
Conclusion Questions
1. What is meant by product life cycle?
A products life cycle is the time between the production and the disposal of the product.
2. Why is it important for companies who make products to research and determine a products life cycle?
Companies that can predict their products life cycle can determine how they can make it more environmentally friendly
3. What would you change about your product? Why?
I would change the durability and environmental factor so that it will not break as easily, and so it biodegrades quivker if/when it is thrown away.
4. Do you think your product will evolve or become obsolete over time? Why?
I think that glass bottles will eventually become replaced by bottles made from other materials. This is because glass isn't the best material for reuse.
5. What is a trade-off?
A trade off is when one must sacrifice one thing for the sake of another thing, usually more important than the item being traded
6. Do you think that trade-offs were made during the design phase of your product?
Trade-offs may have been made to sacrifice durability for cost, or materials for environmental impact
7. Why is it important to recycle?
It is important to recycle glass bottles because if disposed of incorrectly, they can become a hazard on roads, streets, and the environment. the shards of broken glass can pop tires, cut people or animals, and they don't biodegrade for millions of years.
8. How do product designers play a role in recycling?
Designers gather the used bottles and make them into new ones. They also provided the design that allowed them to be recyclable.
9. What role does society play in the recycling effort?
People in restaurants, or individual consumers put their used bottles in recycling containers.
10. What can you do to help?
We can recycle the glass bottles into other products or simply put them into recycling bins.
A products life cycle is the time between the production and the disposal of the product.
2. Why is it important for companies who make products to research and determine a products life cycle?
Companies that can predict their products life cycle can determine how they can make it more environmentally friendly
3. What would you change about your product? Why?
I would change the durability and environmental factor so that it will not break as easily, and so it biodegrades quivker if/when it is thrown away.
4. Do you think your product will evolve or become obsolete over time? Why?
I think that glass bottles will eventually become replaced by bottles made from other materials. This is because glass isn't the best material for reuse.
5. What is a trade-off?
A trade off is when one must sacrifice one thing for the sake of another thing, usually more important than the item being traded
6. Do you think that trade-offs were made during the design phase of your product?
Trade-offs may have been made to sacrifice durability for cost, or materials for environmental impact
7. Why is it important to recycle?
It is important to recycle glass bottles because if disposed of incorrectly, they can become a hazard on roads, streets, and the environment. the shards of broken glass can pop tires, cut people or animals, and they don't biodegrade for millions of years.
8. How do product designers play a role in recycling?
Designers gather the used bottles and make them into new ones. They also provided the design that allowed them to be recyclable.
9. What role does society play in the recycling effort?
People in restaurants, or individual consumers put their used bottles in recycling containers.
10. What can you do to help?
We can recycle the glass bottles into other products or simply put them into recycling bins.