Answers to the life of a paper cup

1. How many steps are shown from start to finish for a paper cup?

• There are 13 steps from start to finish of the life of a paper cup.

  1. Cut down trees
  2. Transport lumber
  3. Trees debarked and chipped
  4. Transport chips
  5. Chips converted to pulp
  6. Pulp bleached
  7. Transport pulp
  8. Pulp to paper
  9. Paper to cups
  10. Cups packaged and delivered to commons
  11. Cups used in commons
  12. Cups thrown out
  13. Cups transported to landfill

2. How many times are trucks used?

• At least 5 times, but maybe more if some factories only do one part of the manufacturing process.

3. What are some of the other side-effects of producing a paper cup?

• Some cups still containing liquid contaminate the entire bin.
• Also, labour costs of cleaners that pick up the rubbish need to be taken into account when thinking about the energy used.
• Trees that are cut down will have an impact on the wildlife that lives there.
• Trucks crowd the roads and pollute the atmosphere.
• Smoke from the factories destroys the environment.

4. What category from “Green Your Scene” does the life of a paper cup relate to?

• It relates to all 6 themes.

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