This question is about materials used to make takeaway food containers. These containers can be made from cardboard, polypropylene, or stainless steel. Table 1 shows information about containers of the exact same capacity made from each of these materials.
| Feature | Cardboard | Polypropylene | Stainless steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Wood | Crude oil | Iron ore |
| Number packaged in 1 m3 shipping container | 1500 | 500 | 100 |
| Average number of times used | 1 | 50 | 4000 |
| Biodegradable? | Yes | No | No |
| Recyclable? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Table 1 does not show information about energy or water usage. Suggest two stages or activities in the life cycle of these containers where energy or water usage measurement is required to perform a complete life cycle assessment (LCA).
Evaluate the suitability of these three materials for making takeaway food containers. You should refer to the stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA) and use the data provided in Table 1.
Describe how steel is produced from iron ore.