Lifecycle Research

Let’s learn about the ifecycle of products:

  • A lifecyle of a product is like the story of how it is made, how it is used and what happens to it when we are done with it.
  • All products have a lifecycle from aluminium cans, glass bottles, jeans, pencils, footballs to batteries.
  • Recall the stages of a product’s lifecycle: the stages are extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.

 

Activity

Choose one of the engaging activities below to take action: 

  • Global Product Research: Learn the story of a product of your choice.  You can watch one of the videos below and use one of these products to research or choose your own. 
  • Local Product Research: Research the lifecycle of a local or handmade product. To find a product you could visit a local craft store, grocery, farmers market or interview someone you know who sells crafts, baking, farm products, or anything they sell to the public. This is also something that could be done over the phone or via email, as an interview with a local maker.

 

Journaling prompts

Choose one of the topics below to write about:

  • Why is it important to know about the lifecycle of the products we use?
  • Should companies be responsible to take back products and recycle them at the end of their lifecycle? 
  • Tell the story of a product

 

Videos

Check out some of our favourite Lifecycle Research videos:

 

 

Extras

  • How It’s Made Youtube channel – videos on the production step of many things

 

Related Podcast

 

Kahoot