Inventory Analysis To illustrate inventory analysis,consider single-use,hot-drink cups for fast-food restaurants.A producer can choose to make the cups using either paper or polystyrene foam.Each stage in the cup’s life cycle produces certain key questions:
• What are the materials required for each type of cup?
• What are the energy requirements to product each type?
• What kinds of effluents and emissions are produced by each?
• What is the recycle potential?
• What are the resources required for ultimate disposal?
Answering these questions defines inventory analysis.Exhibit 17-7 provides answers for the questions based on data reported in a study by Martin Hocking.