Letters: Life cycle analysis
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Professor E. H Billett Sir: To design objects for long life or for short life is not always obvious ("Recyling becomes a throwaway concept", 29 November). Much depends on the result of life cycle analysis.
There is a class of consumer products where most of the environmental damage occurs in the"use" phase and where technology is changing quite fast. Examples would be washing machines and cars. In these cases, it is important that older products should be scrapped so that they can be replaced with less damaging new products. Design for longevity is important only in those products where the production or disposal phases are most important.
Only life cycle analysis can give guidance to the most environmentally sensitive solutions to the design of consumer products.
Yours faithfully, E. H. BILLETT Dean and Head of Design Brunel University Egham, Surrey 7 December
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments