LCA of an Ecolabeled Notebook
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LCA This study investigates social and environmental impacts caused by an ecolabeled notebook along its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to production of basic materials and intermediate products to the final of assembly through to use and disposal. In order to analyse the divers effects of the laptop, a social life cycle an assessment, based on the guidelines for social LCA published by the LCA of an Ecolabeled Notebook UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, and an environmental life cycle Ecolabeled assessment, based on the ISO standards 14040 and 14044, were performed in parallel. Both assessments together provide a holistic overview of positive and negative impacts regarding social and Consideration of Social and Environmental environmental sustainability. Impacts Along the Entire Life Cycle This book contains the complete final report written by GreenDeltaTC on behalf of the Belgian Federal Public Planning Service Sustainable Development. It comprises the methodological background, the social inventory, process modifications with regard to the environmental inventory, and detailed results of the impact assessment phase. Further, a newly Notebook developed social impact assessment method is presented and applied. In addition, recommendations on company and policy level were derived. This work is one of the first case studies in the frame of social life cycle assessment and is thus an important contribution to the further development of this approach. Focus of the investigation is the practical application of the social LCA guidelines by UNEP/SETAC, as well as the Andreas Ciroth assessment of social indicators. Beyond that, the study provides a comparison of social and environmental impacts related to the notebook. Juliane Franze Andreas Ciroth/Juliane ISBN 978-1-4466-0087-0 90000 Franze 9 781446 600870 LCA of an Ecolabeled Notebook Consideration of Social and Environmental Impacts Along the Entire Life Cycle Contractor: GreenDeltaTC GmbH Dr. Andreas Ciroth Dipl.-Ök. Juliane Franze Raumerstrasse 7 10437 Berlin Germany Client: Federal Public Planning Service Sustainable Development FINTO Kruidtuinlaan 50, bus 8 1000 Brussels Belgium February 2011 Copyright © 2011 by GreenDeltaTC GmbH, Berlin All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-4466-0087-0 Ciroth, A./Franze, J.: LCA of an Ecolabeled Notebook – Consideration of Social and Envi- ronmental Impacts Along the Entire Life Cycle, Berlin 2011 This book contains information obtained from divers sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the authors cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all information or consequences of their use. No part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilised in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or herafter invented, in- cluding photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the authors. 2 Content Summary Content Summary ............................................................................................................ 3 Content ............................................................................................................................. 5 List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 9 List of Figures .................................................................................................................. 11 List of Tables ................................................................................................................... 12 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 15 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 18 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 18 1.2 The European Ecolabel ......................................................................................... 19 1.3 Relevance of (Portable) Computers ..................................................................... 20 1.4 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. – a Company Profile ...................................................... 22 2 Goal and Scope ............................................................................................................ 25 2.1 Goal ...................................................................................................................... 25 2.2 Scope .................................................................................................................... 26 2.2.1 Functional Unit ............................................................................................. 26 2.2.2 System Boundaries ....................................................................................... 26 2.2.3 Data Requirements ....................................................................................... 29 2.2.4 Further Methodological Aspects .................................................................. 31 3 Life Cycle Inventories ................................................................................................... 49 3.1 Social Life Cycle Inventory .................................................................................... 49 3.1.1 Raw Material Extraction ............................................................................... 49 3.1.2 Production of Basic Materials ...................................................................... 57 3.1.3 Design of the Laptop by ASUSTeK Computer Inc. ........................................ 60 3.1.4 Production of Pre-Products .......................................................................... 61 3.1.5 Assembly of the Laptop by Company X ........................................................ 71 3.1.6 Recycling of the Laptop ................................................................................ 72 3.2 Environmental Life Cycle Inventory ..................................................................... 75 4 Life Cycle Impact Assessments .................................................................................... 78 4.1 Social Life Cycle Impact Assessment .................................................................... 78 4.1.1 Assessment of Raw Material Extraction Processes ...................................... 80 4.1.2 Production of Basic Materials ...................................................................... 86 4.1.3 Design of the Laptop by ASUSTeK Computer Inc. ........................................ 89 4.1.4 Production of Pre-Products .......................................................................... 90 4.1.5 Assembly of the Laptop by Company X ...................................................... 100 4.1.6 Recycling of the Laptop .............................................................................. 101 4.1.7 Summary of the S-LCIA ............................................................................... 103 4.2 Environmental Life Cycle Impact Assessment .................................................... 108 4.2.1 Midpoint Assessment ................................................................................. 108 3 4.2.2 Endpoint Assessment ................................................................................. 122 5 Data Quality Descriptions .......................................................................................... 124 5.1 Data Quality of the S-LCA ................................................................................... 124 5.2 Data Quality of the E-LCA ................................................................................... 125 6 Interpretation ............................................................................................................ 127 6.1 Interpretation of the S-LCA ................................................................................ 127 6.1.1 Social Hot Spots in the Mining Sector ........................................................ 127 6.1.2 Social Hot Spots in the Production of Basic Materials ............................... 129 6.1.3 Social Hot Spots in the Electronic Sector .................................................... 130 6.1.4 Social Hot Spots in the Recycling Sector ..................................................... 132 6.2 Interpretation of the E-LCA ................................................................................ 134 6.2.1 Main Environmental Impacts ..................................................................... 134 6.2.2 Conclusions Concerning the EU Ecolabel ................................................... 135 6.3 Comparison of the S-LCA and the E-LCA ............................................................ 136 7 Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 137 7.1 Use of S-LCA ....................................................................................................... 137 7.1.1 General Issues ............................................................................................. 137 7.1.2 Methodology-Specific Issues ...................................................................... 138 7.2 Measures on Company Level ............................................................................. 139 7.2.1