Life Cycle Analysis of Down Pillows: Use, Maintenance, and Disposal
When buying a product, we often think of how we will use it on a daily basis, but we fail to think about what will happen to the product once it is no longer of use. Down pillows have a high probability of being recycled, unlike many other household items, which creates a lesser impact on the environment. By examining the use, maintenance, and disposal section of the life cycle analysis of down pillows, we gain a better understanding of why recycling materials is so important and what really happens to pillows once we are done using them. Once we understand the impact that product disposal has on the environment, we can begin to make changes to raise our sustainability for future generations.
The fourth stage of the life cycle analysis involves the use of pillows and their impact on the environment as a …show more content…
Fortunately, down pillows can last anywhere from six months to three years (or even longer) when cared for properly, which makes them less harmful to the environment than other household goods. To maintain cleanliness and cut down on dust mites, pillows should be washed every three months. Unfortunately, the delicate nature of the down feathers in the pillows means that they should be dry cleaned, while other pillows may be washed at home. Dry cleaning requires more water, energy, and harsher chemicals (Klein, 2016). Some companies, including the Hilton hotel, have begun using Pillow-Vac technology which extends the life of the pillows and reduces the environmental footprint. The Pillow-Vac restores pillows using germicidal light to kill bacteria which makes the pillow like new. Using this technology drastically cuts the amount of chemical pollution that comes from laundry detergents while also cutting down on energy and water consumption associated with frequent use of washing machines (Gerdes,
When buying a product, we often think of how we will use it on a daily basis, but we fail to think about what will happen to the product once it is no longer of use. Down pillows have a high probability of being recycled, unlike many other household items, which creates a lesser impact on the environment. By examining the use, maintenance, and disposal section of the life cycle analysis of down pillows, we gain a better understanding of why recycling materials is so important and what really happens to pillows once we are done using them. Once we understand the impact that product disposal has on the environment, we can begin to make changes to raise our sustainability for future generations.
The fourth stage of the life cycle analysis involves the use of pillows and their impact on the environment as a …show more content…
Fortunately, down pillows can last anywhere from six months to three years (or even longer) when cared for properly, which makes them less harmful to the environment than other household goods. To maintain cleanliness and cut down on dust mites, pillows should be washed every three months. Unfortunately, the delicate nature of the down feathers in the pillows means that they should be dry cleaned, while other pillows may be washed at home. Dry cleaning requires more water, energy, and harsher chemicals (Klein, 2016). Some companies, including the Hilton hotel, have begun using Pillow-Vac technology which extends the life of the pillows and reduces the environmental footprint. The Pillow-Vac restores pillows using germicidal light to kill bacteria which makes the pillow like new. Using this technology drastically cuts the amount of chemical pollution that comes from laundry detergents while also cutting down on energy and water consumption associated with frequent use of washing machines (Gerdes,