The life cycle of a material or process enables one to consider account for the impact of the raw material, the manufacture, the use and disposal steps. The life cycle framework is explained in this video. It describes what happens at each step in the life cycle and why designers should consider the life cycle in the design process. This video is based on the Sustainability Learning Suites created by Jane Qiong Zhang and Linda Vanasupa in association with Julie Zimmerman and Jim Mihelcic.