Which term describes the concept of considering environmental impact across the entire life cycle from raw material extraction to disposal?

• A. Eco-design
• B. End-of-pipe technologies
• C. Cradle to cradle
• D. Cradle to grave

Answer: (D)

The main concept being tested is life-cycle thinking—assessing a product’s environmental impact from the starting point of raw material extraction all the way through manufacturing, use, and final disposal. This full-scope view is described by cradle to grave, which follows the product through every stage of its life until it is discarded or recycled. Cradle to cradle, by contrast, imagines designs that keep materials cycling in closed loops, aiming to eliminate waste rather than simply map the entire life cycle. Eco-design is a broader approach to reducing environmental impact in the design process but doesn’t by itself specify the entire life-cycle span. End-of-pipe technologies focus on treating pollution after it’s created, not on considering the product’s whole life cycle. So the term that best fits the description is cradle to grave.