The purpose of this site is to illustrate by a simple example the relationship between products and natural systems. 

Throughout history, a tremendous amount of products have been invented and put into production in order to keep us surviving and increase our well-being. However, the convenience provided by these products also has a downside - pollution of air, water and ground, loss of resources and exploitation of land in processes during the product's life cycles. 

For many years the focus of environmental alleviation has been primarily on the processes and the emissions: exhaust gases, wastewater and solid waste. There is, however, one more way, namely to address the products directly. To do this, an understanding of a product's life cycle and the impact that a product has on our environment is necessary. 

Click on "Product" and take a tour through a whiteboard markers life cycle. Explore the exchanges associated with each process, and survey the direct and indirect impacts to natural systems or click on the icons above to review the terms used in this site.

Or Click on the bar below and see how product's impacts can be quantified and analyzed through life cycle assessment.