Which term describes a continuous effect from a product?

• A. Conductivity
• B. Life-cycle analysis
• C. Ripple effect
• D. Ecodesign

Answer: (C)

A continuous effect from a product is described by the ripple effect. It captures how the impact of a product keeps spreading through systems—production, use, disposal, and downstream consequences—long after the initial use, affecting people and the environment over time. Conductivity is about how easily a material carries electricity or heat, a property rather than an ongoing consequence. Life-cycle analysis is a method used to assess all stages of a product’s environmental impact, not the description of that ongoing effect itself. Ecodesign is an approach to designing products to minimize environmental impact, not the continuing chain of effects. So the ripple effect best fits the idea of a continuous, unfolding influence from a product.