This question is about materials used to make grocery shopping bags. Shopping bags can be made from paper, polymer (LDPE), or cotton. Table 1 shows information about bags of equivalent carrying volume made from each of these materials.
| Feature | Paper | Polymer (LDPE) | Cotton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Wood pulp | Crude oil | Cotton crop |
| Number packaged in 1 m3 crate | 1200 | 4500 | 400 |
| Average number of times used | 2 | 50 | 1000 |
| Biodegradable? | Yes | No | Yes |
| Recyclable? | Yes | Yes | No |
Table 1 does not show detailed data regarding energy or water usage. Suggest two distinct stages or activities in the life cycle of these shopping bags where measuring water or energy consumption is necessary to perform a complete life cycle assessment (LCA).
Evaluate the environmental suitability of these three materials for producing shopping bags. You should refer to the stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA) and use the data provided in Table 1.
Describe how poly(ethene) (LDPE) is produced from crude oil.