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# Long description

Figure 14 is a cartoon diagram of the environmental impacts of a typical clothes washing machine throughout the life cycle using four distinct time periods each shown as a boxed drawing. The four steps are named raw material extraction and processing, manufacture of components and assembly of washing machine, distribution and use, and lastly disposal and recycling. In the first stage raw materials such as wood, copper, steel, iron, aluminium, plastic, and concrete are shown being collected together for use in the washing machine assembly. The cartoon also gives information about the typical weight of each of the materials, for example, concrete is 22 kilograms whereas copper consumes 2.7 kilograms per machine. In the manufacturing and assembly process the cartoon shows the individual components coming together to be constructed into a recognisable washing machine. The components include the steel frame, cabinet, base, pump, hose, heater, motor, clutch, control unit, washing tub, electrical wires and small electrical parts. After construction the white good is delivered either directly to the end user or via some intermediary channel such as a department store. During the in-use phase within a typical household the boxed cartoon shows the main inputs and outputs which create the majority of the life cycle impact as the washing machine requires the most energy and water during this period of approximately 5–7 years. Inputs shown in the cartoon include water, energy, detergents, dirty clothes, along with spare parts and servicing labour. Outputs include clean clothes, dirty water, and broken parts along with the less obvious motion, heat and noise. The fourth and final cartoon box shows the disposal and recycling of the worn-out washing machine. It shows that some components are recycled (such as steel) and are fed back into the washing machine life cycle in the raw materials processing in the first stage. Other parts are incinerated or dumped in a landfill.