Every product has a story – not just from the day you buy it, but from the very moment its raw materials are taken from nature until it reaches the end of its life. This story is called the product life cycle.
By mapping a product’s life cycle, we can see the impact it has on the environment at every stage:
- Resource Extraction – Where do the materials come from? Are they renewable (like bamboo) or non-renewable (like oil-based plastics)? How are they mined, harvested, or extracted?
- Manufacturing – How is the product made? Does it require a lot of energy, chemicals, or water? Is it produced by machines, by hand, or both?
- Transportation & Packaging – How far does it travel from factory to customer? What kind of packaging is used, and can it be recycled or reused?
- Use – Who uses it, and for how long? Does it require electricity, batteries, or other resources? Is it easy to repair or upgrade?
- End of Life – What happens when it’s no longer useful? Can it be recycled, reused, or composted? Could it be redesigned to create zero waste, for example with a cradle to cradle approach?
Understanding these stages helps us spot opportunities to make products more sustainable – using better materials, designing for repair, reducing transport distances, and ensuring they don’t end up in landfill.
As part of our Three Voices in Green Erasmus+ KA2 project, our students are working on their own product life cycle map presentations. They will research and present the full journey of a product they choose, from raw materials to disposal or reuse.
At least three students from each partner school will present their life cycle maps during the project meeting in Žilina, Slovakia in October 2025.
Lifecycle product presentations
Download: Set of presentations