This question is about materials used to make drinking cups. Drinking cups can be made from paper, polymers, or glass. Table 1 shows information about cups of the same volume made from each of these materials.
| Feature | Paper | Polymer | Glass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Wood | Crude oil | Sand |
| Number packaged in 1 m31\text{ m}^31 m3 box | 100010001000 | 800800800 | 200200200 |
| Average number of times used | 111 | 150150150 | 200020002000 |
| 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 cups 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 drinking cups. You should refer to the stages of a life cycle assessment (LCA) and use the data provided in Table 1.
Describe how glass cups are produced from sand.