Life Cycle Analysis - What is it and How to Do it

Product lifecycle 

The product I have chosen for this assignment is vinegar. This product is basically an alcoholic liquid, which is allowed to sour. Some of its common uses include flavoring and preserving foods. It is also used as an ingredient in marinades and salad dressings. 

Origin 

The Babylonians were the first people to use vinegar for conservation and as a condiment. So, the product dates back 5000 years ago. Also, its traces were present in Egyptian urns during 3000 BC. As of the Renaissance period, vinegar manufacturing had become a lucrative business in France and Great Britain. This business burgeoned and become highly profitable by 1673, the parliament established an Act to tax vinegar-beer. Today, the production of vinegar has spread into numerous other world countries. In fact, in the United States, cider vinegar production is the cornerstone of domestic and farm economy. 

Design and Manufacture 

Vinegar is manufactured from various diluted alcoholic products. However, the primary ingredients are wine, rice and beer. Some distilled vinegar is produced from wood products like beech. Gooey film is the mother of vinegar. It is normally on the surface of the alcohol product and it acts as a natural carbohydrate known as cellulose. This film contains the highest amounts of acetobacters. It is removed and added to batches of alcohol in order to expedite the vinegar formation process. Often, fruits and herbs are used to flavor vinegar. Some of the most commonly used herbs are basil, garlic and tarragon. And fruits used include lemons, cherries and raspberries. 

Transported, Sale, Use, and Dispose 

Vinegar is mainly used in pickling or as a cooking ingredient. On the shelves, it is sold as a liquid. Due to its acidic nature, this product does not require refrigeration and it is self-preserving. Certain types of vinegar, precisely white distilled vinegar are likely to remain unchanged for a long period of time. 

Generally, vinegar is transported in varying grain strengths or in tanker trailers. Transporting vinegar in concentrated form is advantageous because it reduces costs and storage space without compromising quality. The concentration level is normally indicated by the grainage, tanker or grain strength. Then, the concentrated vinegar is diluted to the required strengths during processing. Vinegar is bio-disposable and hence it is easily flushed down a drain for disposal. The economic, environmental, and ethical costs and benefits of vinegar 

Vinegar has numerous environmental benefits. Besides its culinary uses, vinegar is also used as a primary ingredient in numerous green cleaning products. Vinegar is normally manufactured using organic fruits, grains and based on organic guidelines. This makes it highly natural and biodegradable. Therefore, this is the best choice when doing outdoor cleaning such as wiping patio furniture, car washing and cleaning exterior windows. From an economic perspective, vinegar is the cheapest green cleaning product. One cup can be bought for less than a dollar. Therefore, besides being eco-friendly, this product is also wallet-friendly. And buying vinegar in bulk sizes can help save a lot of money. 

Although vinegar has its benefits, it also has its costs as well. Vinegar can affect human health. For instance, its high acidity level can cause caustic burns to the stomach and esophagus. As we have seen, vinegar is used for flavoring and preserving foods. From an ethical standpoint, it may be hard to know what is in some vinegar products. Laboratory investigations of commercially available vinegar reveals that the amounts of ingredients listed on the labels did not match the laboratory findings. So, from this, it is impossible to tell what commercial vinegars really contain. 

Conclusively, vinegar is an acidic product used as an ingredient in flavoring and preserving foods. Using it in moderate measures is probably not harmful. For best results, it is advisable to avoid excessive consumption and to always dilute with something before taking it.