Sustainability

Question 1

What is the Circular economy?

Answer 1

an economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products, especially as a means of continuing production in a sustainable or environmentally friendly way. Mimics environemental processes

Question 2

Examples of Circular economy (recycling)

Answer 2

1) Cycling of materials eg biogeochemical cycles and recycling
2) Design of products for end of life reuse eg vehicles
3) technologies to design new products and improve efficiency of systems- improved designs to increase energy use, reduced material use and enable dismantling for reuse.
4) Seperation of technical and biological materials eg seperating metal from waste for reuse

Question 3

Examples of Circular economy

Answer 3

1) Energy derived from renewable source. eg wind and solar
2) supporting ecosystems eg ecosystem conservation in forestry and fisheries
3) Connected systems where the aste product of one process is the raw material for another eg biogeochemical cycles
4) optimum production rather than maximum production eg MSY dont overdo it!

Question 4

Describe the factors that affect the size of a country’s per capita ecological footprint (4 marks)

Answer 4

• population density eg low pop=greater travel distances for waste collection
• the affluence of a country- means they can buy more consumer goods.
• how developed a country is- may have greater manufacturing industry means increased footprint due to transport
• population size
• environmental awareness eg det choices

Question 5

Explain why an increase in per Capita GDP often reduces the sustainability of lifestyles (4 marks)

Answer 5

• as people get richer they can afford increased goods eg multiple cars.
• larger/multiple houses which requires more energy use.
• increased energy use overall by population eg increase in service industry
• ability to afford new energy-using appliances such as Jacuzzis

Question 6

Suggest two reasons why Oceania has the largest biocapacity per capita although it has the smallest land mass.[2 marks]

Answer 6

Two from:
* small (human) population size
* named habitats eg coral reefs, tropical rainforest (with high
productivity)
* sustainable management of habitats
* conversion of land with low productivity.

Question 7

Describe how ‘Debt for Nature Swaps’ help to conserve biodiversity.
[1 mark]

Answer 7

a country cancels/decreases debt of another country in exchange
for the protection of rainforests

Question 8

Explain how the reduction of FELs (Food energy losses) using methods of material cycling may increase the
sustainability of food production.
[4 marks]

Answer 8

Up to two marks for methods eg:
* anaerobic digestion of crop/animal residue/waste to produce
methane
* animal waste can be used as fertiliser
* leave crop residue in field
* food waste can be composted into fertiliser.
Up to two marks for linked explanations of how the method
increases sustainability eg:
* methane/biogas can be used for energy inputs elsewhere along the
production system reducing extraction of more non-renewable
* reduced fossil fuel energy in manufacture of artificial fertiliser
* reduced eutrophication impacts of artificial fertiliser use
* reduce soil erosion/breakdown to release nutrients.

Question 9

Describe what is meant by the cradle-to-cradle design (1 mark)

Answer 9

Design of products so materials can be reused at the end of useful lives

Question 10

What model does the world currently run on?

Answer 10

A linear model- things are built, used and thrown away

Question 11

Explain how one natural process has influenced a system in human society
where waste products are recycled.
[2 marks]

Answer 11

• named natural process eg decomposition / detritivores in
  biogeochemical cycles
• use of waste product in human systems eg sewage as fertiliser /
  waste food as compost

Question 12

Some recycling systems in human society may not be an example of a
circular economy.
Explain why. [2 marks]

Answer 12

• materials degrade when recycled
• (degraded material) waste has to be disposed
• need for additional materials
• required damaging extraction processes
• energy intensive
• high greenhouse gas emissions / named pollutant

Question 13

Describe two ways that the design of products may make them more recyclable.
[2 marks]

Answer 13

• products easy to dismantle into separate materials (at end of life)
• modular components allowing the recyclability of parts (to extend
  life of the product)
• parts labelled for appropriate reuse / recycling
• materials are easily broken down / recycled
• made out of a single material

Question 14

Explain how recycling reduces named greenhouse gas emissions (4 marks)

Answer 14

• less fossil fuel use in extraction/processing of new materials- reduced carbon dioxide
• less anaerobic respiration of waste in landfill- reduced methane