Proceedings of ICT for Sustainability 2016

Life Cycle Assessment of a Smartphone

Authors
Mine Ercan, Jens Malmodin, Pernilla Bergmark, Emma Kimfalk, Ellinor Nilsson
Corresponding Author
Mine Ercan
Available Online August 2016.
DOI
10.2991/ict4s-16.2016.15How to use a DOI?
Keywords
ICT, GHG emissions, LCA, life cycle assessment, smartphone, telecommunication
Abstract

It is of interest to understand the life cycle contribution from the use of smartphones including their network usage, as well as to gain knowledge regarding the impact of the smartphone as a device to provide input for network studies. This cradle-to- grave study is based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology as outlined by the ISO14040 series and the supplementing ICT specific LCA standard from ETSI/ITU. The paper provides details regarding data collection, assumptions, methods and results. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis results for selected parameters are presented, including variations due to different secondary data sets. This study calculates the Global Warming Potential (GWP) for the assessed smartphone (a Sony Mobile Z5) including accessories) to 57 kg CO2e for an assumed operating life time of 3 years, excluding the network usage. Results are also presented for other impact categories and as yearly figures. In addition, the distribution of impacts between life cycle stages is provided for the assessed impact categories. Integrated circuit (IC) production is identified as a major contributor to the overall impacts followed by the production of the display. For GWP specifically, overall results are also provided including the network usage

Copyright
© 2016, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Volume Title
Proceedings of ICT for Sustainability 2016
Series
Advances in Computer Science Research
Publication Date
August 2016
ISBN
978-94-6252-224-4
ISSN
2352-538X
DOI
10.2991/ict4s-16.2016.15How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2016, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Mine Ercan
AU  - Jens Malmodin
AU  - Pernilla Bergmark
AU  - Emma Kimfalk
AU  - Ellinor Nilsson
PY  - 2016/08
DA  - 2016/08
TI  - Life Cycle Assessment of a Smartphone
BT  - Proceedings of ICT for Sustainability 2016
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 124
EP  - 133
SN  - 2352-538X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/ict4s-16.2016.15
DO  - 10.2991/ict4s-16.2016.15
ID  - Ercan2016/08
ER  -