The raw materials for cans and bottles are extracted from Earth and transported to manufacturing facilities where they are refined, molded, and repackaged before being transported to other facilities to be filled with food, drink, household goods, or other useful things for your use. More transportation takes them to your local store where they are stored and possibly air conditioned before you pick them up to use them. Removing materials from landfills and moving them back into the consumption cycle (recycling!) helps cut energy use from this process.

Students will explore possible options for finding and using renewable resources, and will consider options for reusing materials that would otherwise be recycled or thrown away. From its source to you, each and every material you touch requires energy at every stage of its lifecycle.