In the case of a lap-top computer, large amounts of resources are consumed during the production stages - in fact, many times more than the weight of the computer itself - and if the recycling is not done properly there could be significant harm to humans and the environment and the depletion of already scarce metals. All of these processes consume energy and other resources, and most of them emit pollutants to the environment. Figure 2:3 shows in a schematic manner the different stages of a product life-cycle.