The life-cycle of a product is often long and complicated. It covers all the areas from the extraction of natural resources, through their design, manufacture, assembly, marketing, distribution, sale and use to their eventual disposal as waste. For example, a washing machine has environmental impacts through the materials it is made of such as steel and plastic the energy, water and detergents consumed during its use, and when it is finally disposed of as waste at the end of its life.
So wirken sich z.B. Waschmaschinen auf die Umwelt durch die Materialien aus, aus denen sie hergestellt sind (Stahl, Kunststoff), durch den Energie-, Wasser- und Waschmittelverbrauch während der Nutzung, sowie als Abfall am Ende ihres Lebenszyklus bei der endgültigen Entsorgung.