(Sevilla) Unit 5, Circular Economy and Industrial Leadership
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Directorate B, Growth and Innovation (Sevilla) Unit 5, Circular Economy and Industrial Leadership 1 Guidance for the Assessment of Material Efficiency: Application to smartphones 2 – v 2 Author(s): Mauro Cordella, Felice Alfieri, Javier Sanfélix Date: 6 May 2019 (JRC – B.5) Summary: Improving the material efficiency of products has the potential of bringing added value to the environment and to the economy, by saving resources and avoiding production of waste. However, improved design of products needs to be assisted by appropriate assessment methods. In this context, the Joint Research Centre Directorate B, Circular Economy & Industrial Leadership unit (JRC B.5), has prepared a methodological guide for the assessment of material efficiency of products (GAME). The methodology is based on the analysis of technical and functional aspects of products, as well as on the definition of life cycle assessment scenarios targeting environmental and economic impacts, aiming at two practical targets: To identify key material efficiency aspects of products; To propose tangible improvement measures. This report describe the application of the methodology to the assessment of material efficiency aspects for smartphones, with the aim of compiling a list of possible actions for improving their performance with respect aspects as durability, reparability, upgradability, use of materials and recyclability. The report is structured in the following chapters: 1. Product group definition and characterisation (including: scoping, legislation and testing methods of interest, relevant information on market, user behaviour and products); 2. Identification of hot-spots for material efficiency (based on product- specific information and life cycle considerations); 3. Technical analysis and assessment of material efficiency aspects (e.g. durability, reparability, use and recycling of materials); 4. Definition of possible improvement measures. This is the draft version of the final report, which you are asked to comment by 2 June 2019. Depending on your interest in and familiarity with the subjects covered in the report, you may provide input either to all or some parts and questions of the report, by using the provided commenting form. 1 3 DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are purely those of the authors and may not in 4 any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European 5 Commission. 2 6 7 Table of Contents 8 SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 6 9 LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................. 7 10 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 11 11 1 PRODUCT GROUP DEFINITION ..................................................................... 13 12 1.1 SCOPING ...................................................................................................................... 13 13 1.1.1 Key definitions................................................................................................... 13 14 1.1.2 Product classification ......................................................................................... 14 15 1.1.3 Scope of the study .............................................................................................. 14 16 1.2 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT AND TESTING METHODS ........................................................ 15 17 1.2.1 Safety ................................................................................................................. 15 18 1.2.2 Chemicals .......................................................................................................... 16 19 1.2.3 Materials ............................................................................................................ 18 20 1.2.4 Functional and performance aspects .................................................................. 20 21 1.2.5 End-of-Life of the product ................................................................................. 29 22 1.2.6 Ecolabels and Green Public Procurement .......................................................... 33 23 2 MARKET ............................................................................................................... 36 24 2.1 BASIC MARKET DATA .................................................................................................. 36 25 2.1.1 Market sales ....................................................................................................... 36 26 2.1.2 Market penetration ............................................................................................. 38 27 2.1.3 Market shares by vendor .................................................................................... 39 28 2.1.4 Market shares by operating system .................................................................... 40 29 2.2 KEY ACTORS ................................................................................................................ 41 30 2.3 COSTS .......................................................................................................................... 43 31 2.3.1 Purchase price .................................................................................................... 43 32 2.3.2 Margins .............................................................................................................. 44 33 2.3.3 Repair/refurbishment costs ................................................................................ 47 34 2.3.4 Overview of life cycle costs .............................................................................. 50 35 2.4 MARKET DRIVERS, TRENDS AND CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS ................................. 50 36 2.4.1 Design of the product and provision of extended support and accessories ....... 53 37 2.4.2 Reuse-promoting activities and markets ............................................................ 54 38 3 USER BEHAVIOUR ............................................................................................. 58 39 3.1 CONDITIONS OF USE AND BEHAVIOURAL ASPECTS ..................................................... 58 40 3.1.1 Type of phone and age of users ......................................................................... 58 41 3.1.2 Functionalities.................................................................................................... 59 42 3.1.3 Time and place of use ........................................................................................ 61 43 3.1.4 Purchasing behaviour ......................................................................................... 62 44 3.2 CAUSES OF REPLACEMENT .......................................................................................... 62 45 3.3 PRODUCT'S LIFETIME ................................................................................................... 63 46 4 TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM ASPECTS ...................................... 65 3 47 4.1 TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS .......................................................................................... 65 48 4.1.1 Design and innovation ....................................................................................... 65 49 4.1.2 Functions ........................................................................................................... 66 50 4.1.3 Parts ................................................................................................................... 67 51 4.2 MATERIALS ................................................................................................................. 72 52 4.2.1 Bill of Materials ................................................................................................. 72 53 4.2.2 Critical Raw Materials and minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk 54 areas ................................................................................................................... 75 55 4.2.3 Recycled materials ............................................................................................. 77 56 4.2.4 Other substances of concern .............................................................................. 78 57 4.2.5 Possible measures for reducing impacts of materials ........................................ 79 58 4.3 MANUFACTURE ........................................................................................................... 80 59 4.4 PRODUCT'S LONGEVITY ............................................................................................... 81 60 4.4.1 Limiting states ................................................................................................... 82 61 4.4.2 Durability analysis ............................................................................................. 86 62 4.4.3 Reparability and upgradability analysis ............................................................. 90 63 4.5 END OF LIFE .............................................................................................................. 101 64 4.5.1 End of Life practices ........................................................................................ 101 65 4.5.2 Collection and end of life services ................................................................... 101 66 4.5.3 Recycling process ...........................................................................................