Electronics and the Environment. How can you find the exact environmental impact of a product?

Transcription

1 Electronics and the Environment How can you find the exact environmental impact of a product?

2 Outline ISO LCA LCA and its Phases What we hope the LCA will show us HP Case Study HP Case Study Results

3 We live at a time when emotions and feelings count more than truth, and there is a vast ignorance of science. (James Lovelock). There is a need to have an actual way to measure the environmental impact of products.

4 ISO ISO describes the principles and framework behind life cycle assessment (LCA) including: definition of the goal and scope, the life cycle inventory analysis phase, the life cycle impact assessment phase, the life cycle interpretation phase, reporting and critical review of the LCA and it s limitations We can use the LCA to know where the hot spots are and we can try to minimise values of impact overall.

5 LCA The only sensible way to examine industrial systems is to examine their performance, starting with the extraction of raw materials and tracing all operations until the final disposal of these materials Illustration of LCA phases. These are often interdependent and the results of one phase will inform how other phases are completed. Four main phases of LCA

6 LCA: Goal and scope The object of study is described in terms of a functional unit. Apart from describing the functional unit, the goal and scope should address the overall approach used to establish the system boundaries. The system boundary determines which unit processes are included in the LCA.

7 LCA: Life cycle inventory This involves data collection and modeling of the product system, as well as description and verification of data. This has all data related to environmental (e.g., CO2) and technical quantities for unit processes within the study boundaries. Examples of inputs and outputs quantities include inputs of materials, energy, chemicals and etc - and outputs in air emissions, water emissions or solid waste. Other types of exchanges or interventions such as radiation or land use can also be included. The data must be related to the functional unit defined in the goal and scope definition.

8 LCA: Life cycle impact assessment Aims at evaluating the contribution to impact categories such as global warming, acidification, etc. Impact potentials are calculated based on the LCI results. Then normalization and weighting might be done. Normalization provides a basis for comparing different types of environmental impacts, giving all impacts the same unit. Weighting assigns a weighting factor to each impact depending on their importance.

9 LCA: Interpretation Interpretation is important as an analysis of major contributions, sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis leads to the conclusion whether the goal and scope can be met. We also see what can be learned from the LCA? All conclusions are drafted during this phase.

10 LCA: What are some of the environmental impact categories Among the impact categories that can be considered are: acidification aquatic toxicity eutrophication CO2 human toxicity ozone depletion. Slowly but surely, companies are building sustainable development into their business strategies. New innovative technology has become important for companies to maintain market share in a highly competitive arena. Today consumers have more choice and can exercise their right to environmentally improved products.

11 What we hope the LCA will show us What we hope the LCA will show us are how the use of energy and environmental emissions such as air, water and solid waste are spread, and processes for reduction of impact categories.

12 Life Cycle Study of the HP 96A Cartridge vs. Remanufactured Counterpart The primary objective of this study, conducted by environmental research firm First Environment, was to assess and compare the life cycle environmental impacts of HP LaserJet toner print cartridges and leading remanufactured print cartridges. The results are an environmental comparison of these cartridges across the entire product life cycle: from production to distribution to use to end of life.

13 HP LCA Goal and Scope The primary goal of this study was to compare the impacts of cartridge alternatives: an original HP cartridge recycled through HP s Planet Partners program, and a remanufactured counterpart with various end of life management scenarios. The study considers three different remanufactured cartridge Baseline A remanufactured cartridge representing common remanufacturing practices International Operation Cartridges produced by a remanufacturing operation that is technically sophisticated and services multiple international markets. The cartridges in this scenario are modelled as having high-end quality and reliability. Drill and Fill Operation Cartridges of highly variable quality and reliability produced by a remanufacturing operation that uses the least intensive form of processing

14 Functional Unit To conduct an accurate LCA model under ISO guidelines, the function of the system should be defined so that the inventory results of the model can be understood. Once this function is defined, a functional unit is chosen so that the systems can be compared on the same quantitative basis. The cartridge comparison made in terms of the function of printing pages, The function of the system is defined here as printing to obtain usable pages, The functional unit is defined as the printing of 100 usable monochrome singlesided pages.

15 Overall Study System Boundaries

16 Production System Boundaries

17 96A Cartridge Scenarios

18 96A Cartridge Scenarios

19 96A Cartridge Scenarios

20 96A Cartridge Scenarios

21 96A Cartridge Scenarios

22 Impact Assessment Data Categories The life cycle impact assessment is the part of the LCA aimed at understanding and evaluating the magnitude and significance of the potential environmental impacts of a product system. The list of impacts are within different environmental media (i.e.,air emissions, water effluents, waste, etc.) and endpoints (vegetation, human health, etc.).

23 Life Cycle Impact Assessment Categories

24 HP Results Overall, these environmental impact comparisons, do not favour the HP cartridge or any remanufactured cartridges. The results of the life cycle impact assessment categories for remanufactured cartridges were not significantly less or greater than the HP cartridge in most instances. Therefore, no definitive statement can be made about the environmental benefits of one product type.

25 Global Warming Potential & Total Waste Analysis (Impact from generating 100 usable pages; data specific to UK LCA model) First Environment, Inc.

26 Global Warming Potential & Total Waste Analysis In comparing GWP results, the use stage accounts for a significant majority of the total life cycle impacts for all four cartridges. In comparing total waste results, the volume of waste generated during the use stage accounts for percent of the total waste for all four cartridges. Negative results at the end-of-life stage indicate the net benefits gained from recovery of materials or energy for beneficial use.

27 Conclusions made for HP The goal of this study was to compare the environmental performance of HP LaserJet cartridge, with recycling and remanufactured cartridges. It is seen that waste management concerns are the driver for product choice assuming remanufactured cartridges are better for the environment because they represent recovered material. The results from the comparison do not decidedly favour either cartridge. Therefore no definitive statement can be made about the environmental benefits of one product over the other. However this lack of differentiation is significant, and calls into question the belief that remanufactured cartridges create far less environmental impact than OEM cartridges.

28 Summary There is a need to have an actual way to measure the environmental impact of products. LCA provides us with results that are of use however they should not be considered to be a perfect source of environmental information, relating to the environmental performance of a product or process. As there are limitations to data quality, and this should be taken in account for some factor of error in results.

29 Summary It is important that we have a measure which we can use so as we can see the effect products have on the environment and to get rid of the common misconceptions of certain products being more environmentally friendly than other. ie the belief that remanufactured cartridges create far less environmental impact than OEM cartridges.