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GCSE DT RevisionSustainability and the 6Rs in DT
Key facts
The 6Rs
- Reduce — use fewer materials, less energy, less waste in production and use. Most impactful R.
- Reuse — design products to be used many times (reusable bottles vs single-use).
- Recycle — process used materials into new raw materials. Saves energy and finite resources.
- Rethink — question whether the product is necessary, or whether a better approach exists.
- Refuse — refuse to buy or use unsustainable products or materials.
- Repair — design products to be easily repaired, extending lifespan. Right to repair movement.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Assesses environmental impact across the entire life of a product.
- Stages: raw material extraction → manufacturing → distribution/use → end of life.
- Each stage: energy used, water used, CO₂ emissions, waste produced.
- Limitations: difficult to quantify some stages, subjective choices, can be manipulated by selective inclusion.
- Used to compare products — e.g. paper vs plastic bag: LCA may show plastic has lower lifetime footprint if reused many times.
Pollution and responsible design
- Atmospheric pollution: CO₂ (greenhouse gas from combustion), NOₓ (acid rain), particulates (global dimming, respiratory disease).
- Oceanic pollution: plastic waste, chemical runoff, oil spills, microplastics entering food chain.
- Carbon footprint = total greenhouse gas emissions of a product or process.
- Fair trade = ethical sourcing ensuring fair pay and safe conditions throughout supply chain.
- Design for disassembly — products separable for repair, reuse, or recycling. Avoid permanently bonded mixed materials.
Exam questions — 4 questions · 10 marks · real AQA 8552 past papers
Extended questions included — read the hint. AI marks against the AQA 8552 mark scheme.
1 markWhich RAQA 8552 Nov 2021 Q3
A company redesigns its packaging to use 30% less plastic. Which of the 6Rs does this represent?
A Recycle
B Reuse
C Reduce
D Rethink
4 marksEvaluate plastic product pollutionAQA 8552 Nov 2020 Q17 style
Analyse the types of pollution caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of plastic products. Give examples. (4 marks)
Hint: Cover both atmospheric AND oceanic pollution with specific examples. Evaluate = make a judgement about overall impact.
+40 XP
4 marksLCA comparison for bagsAQA 8552 style
Describe how a Life Cycle Assessment could compare paper bags and plastic bags. Identify one limitation of LCA as a decision-making tool. (4 marks)
Hint: Cover the four stages for both bag types, show a comparison result, then give ONE specific well-explained limitation.
+40 XP
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