Circle of Light The impact of the LED Lifecycle Savannah Carr-Wilson, Elizabeth Drachenberg, Gabrielle Freeman, Ritika Jain, Robyn Kotze, Malgorzata Lekan, Sunanda Mehta, Dann Moreno, Darja Mihailova, Brayton Noll, Sandeep, Sai Siddhartha Nandamuri, Marula Tsagkari, Rongyu Veneta Tzeng Partly funded by: Research by: Cover page designed by Malgorzata Lekan This publication should be cited as: International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics [IIIEE]. (2016). Circle of Light. The impact of the LED Lifecycle. Lund: IIIEE. ISBN 978-91-87357-27-5 CONTENTS Introduction……………………………………………………………………...2 4 Lighting the Paths for Eco-Design: Life Cycle Assessment of Light Sources Malgorzata Lekan 36 Rongyu Veneta Tzeng 12 The After-Light: Digging for Truth: Raw Material The Today and Tomorrow of LED Extraction and Future Potential for LEDs End-of-Life Elizabeth Drachenberg Management Darja Mihailova Savannah Carr-Wilson Sai Siddhartha Nandamuri Gabrielle Freeman Sandeep 28 21 This Little Light of Manufacturing of Mine: Use and LEDs: A Take on Distribution of the Technology LEDs and its Impacts Dann Moreno Ritika Jain Brayton Noll Robyn Kotze Marula Tsagkari Sunanda Mehta Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………44 The IIIEE……………………………………...……………………………......45 The Authors …..……..……..……..……..……..……..……..……..……..……...46 CIRCLE OF LIGHT Introduction Why a Life Cycle Approach to LEDs is Needed his report Circle of Light. The impact of the By following a LED light through its life cycle, T LED Lifecycle uses a life cycle framework some concerns regarding the sustainability of to explore the different phases of Light- such products, often founded in a lack of Emitting Diode (LED) lights. The information knowledge, can be addressed. This report ad- presented in the report will be useful to public dresses impacts from the four stages: raw ma- and private stakeholders as they get ready to terial extraction, manufacturing, use and distri- invest in transformative LED solutions. The bution, and end-of-life. Ultimately, Circle of research was done in the framework of the Light sets the stage for recommendations and Lighting Metropolis Project. guidelines to be elaborated in 2017. By presenting data and information for each For the past 11 years, Professors Mikael Back- stage of a LED’s life cycle, the report can in- man and Thomas Lindhqvist have worked with form stakeholders of the most relevant issues students in the Masters programme in Envi- related to LED technology. Which phase of ronmental Science, Policy and Management the LED life cycle has the most impact? What (MESPOM) studying at the International Insti- should we be concerned about as we choose tute for Industrial Environmental Economics LED technologies? The rapid uptake of LED (IIIEE) at Lund University to apply sustainabil- technology has brought about a transformation ity concepts and strategies to real world chal- in the lighting industry. This transformation lenges. Backman, Lindhqvist, and the Insti- also raises questions about its impacts on the tute’s MESPOM students have been commis- environment and society. While LEDs are pub- sioned by numerous organisations to produce licly perceived to be environmentally friendly, a reports exploring a variety of topics from ener- look at it from a life cycle approach offers an gy efficiency to sustainable cities. in-depth perspective. Lighting Metropolis is the first and most important step toward turning the whole Öresund region into the world’s leading living lab for human centric and smart urban lighting. The project aims to create better light for people in cities and buildings. Light supports secu- rity, accessibility, identity, health, and learning and intelligent solutions that create energy savings, effi- cient and user-friendly cities and new services. 2 INTRODUCTION Some important terms in brief: Light Emitting Diode (LED): A semicon- ductor device that emits light when an electric current is passed through it. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A tool for the systematic evaluation of the environmental aspects of a product or service system through all stages of its life cycle. Semiconductor: A substance, usually a solid chemical element or a compound, that can conduct electricity under specific conditions, making it a good medium for the control of electrical current. End-of-life: Term indicating that the product is in the end of its useful life. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility for the treat- ment or disposal of post-consumer products. Rare earth elements (REEs): A group of 17 elements with unique properties that make them useful in a number of technological products. LED package: The LED die is mounted with- in the package – a combination of lens, and heat sink – which allows for electrical connec- tion and assembly. INTRODUCTION 3 CIRCLE OF LIGHT Lighting the Paths for Eco- Design Life Cycle Assessment of Light Sources Malgorzata Lekan & Rongyu Veneta Tzeng Did you know that… followed by the manufacturing phase, which includes component processing, product as- sembly and packaging. Even though the raw "Today light emitting diodes (LEDs) cut electricity materials extraction phase (e.g. mining bauxite consumption by over 85% compared to incandescent to produce aluminium) as well as the distribu- light bulbs and around 40% compared to fluorescent tion and end-of-life phases account for the lights" lowest share of total environmental impacts "It is projected that the efficacy of LEDs is likely to throughout the entire life cycle of LEDs, more increase by nearly 50% compared to fluorescent lamps complex data is required to unravel and poten- by 2020" tially magnify the actual impacts occurring within these phases. - Goldman Sachs, 2015 he above statements leave no doubt that About LCA Tlight -emitting diodes (LEDs), being the first-entirely commercialised low carbon tech- LCA is a technique for the ‘systematic evalua- nology, are currently the most rapidly develop- tion of the environmental aspects of a product ing type of energy efficient light source globally. or service system through all stages of its life They are not only becoming increasingly af- cycle’ (ISO 14040:2006), starting from the raw fordable, widely applicable and help to reduce material acquisition stage and moving toward overall energy consumption costs, but also last manufacturing, packaging and distribution, use longer (minimum 5 years of continuous use) and ultimately end-of-life stage (EoL). The last and provide a good quality of light. stage contains various ways of handling the end-product, e.g. recycling or landfill disposal. In order to evaluate environmental perfor- Consequently, LCA shows both upstream and mance of LEDs and relate it to other light downstream trade-offs in relation to environ- sources, it is common to use the Life Cycle mental pressures, human health and resource Assessment (LCA) approach, which brings into consumption over a product’s lifecycle. light a ‘bigger picture’ of environmental im- pacts occurring during a given product’s entire The ISO standards (ISO 14040:2006 and ISO lifespan. By reviewing different LCAs of light 14044) distinguish four main phases of a con- sources, this article will highlight that the most ventional process-based LCA, which reflect the significant environmental impacts are associat- complex, macro-scale interactions between a ed with the use phase where a great amount of given product and the environment: energy is being used by a consumer who has 1. Goal definition and scope, which in- control of the product. The use phase is then cludes: main assumptions, limitations, sys- 4 LIGHTING THE PATHS FOR ECO-DESIGN tem boundaries, functional unit and alloca- Even though LCA does not provide a compre- tion methods; hensive overview of local and socio-economic 2. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), which in- impacts associated with a product’s production, cludes large amounts of data on environ- use and disposal phases, it helps to comple- mental inputs and outputs in electronic ment other approaches aimed at identifying of form; environmental hotspots and potential im- 3. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), provement areas in order to promote sustaina- which includes the following impact cate- ble development. gories: LCA of various lighting Global Warming Potential (GWP) Relative measure of how much heat a sources greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere The EU Eco-design Directive (2009/125/EC) Human toxicity Potential (HTP) and its implementing measures are based on a Quantitative toxic equivalency potential to lifecycle approach and impose requirements on express the potential harm of a unit of lighting sources, such as energy efficiency and chemical released into the environment functionality. Consequently, LCA is especially common in the EU lighting sector. Abiotic Resources Depletion Potential Decreasing availability of one particular The following section discusses the main fac- natural resource in relation to another tors, which influence LCA results and their consecutive comparison. Based on these fac- Energy use: tors, key findings of LCAs will be presented. Amount of energy consumed in a process or system Types of bodies conducting 4. Interpretation of results, which includes LCAs, purposes of LCAs and various checks to ensure that the ‘results, data providers data collection methods, assumptions and limitations are transparent and presented Following the review of the published LCAs of in sufficient detail’ so