Streamlined Life Cycle Analysis: Personal Computer Display and CPU Premanufacturing 1,1 Material Choice 0 No recycled materials are used. Many TRI chemicals are used for microchip, printed circuit board, and display. Brominated flame retardants are controlled in the European Union. 1,2 Energy Use 0 Extra-high grade materials for microchip require vacuum distillation which is very energy intensive. Virgin aluminum is required which is energy intensive to extract. 1,3 Solid Residues 1 All incoming materials are from virgin ores, creating substantial waste residues. Si wafer chain is only 0.9% efficient. 1,4 Liquid Residues 1 Some metals from virgin ores can cause substantial acid mine drainage. 1,5 Gaseous Residues 0 Very high energy use and other materials use lead to substantial emissions of toxic, smog-producing , and greenhouse gases into the environment. Product Manufacture 2,1 Material Choice 1 Not a (0) because the computer does not contain “relatively large amounts” of restricted, toxic, and/or radioactive. However, the use of toxic material is not avoided, virgin material is not minimized, and many chemicals are involved in manufacture. 2,2 Energy Use 0 Energy use in production is very high for electonics and moderate for conventional materials. If we examine energy use during the manufacture of individual parts of the computer: microchip (0), printed circuit board (3), cathode ray tube (2), LCD (0), other bulk material (3) 2,3 Solid Residues 2 There are solid residues from plating processes. Printed circuit boards yield 46 lbs of waste for 4 lbs of finished product. If we examine solid residues during the manufacture of individual parts of the computer: microchip (2), printed circuit board (2), cathode ray tube (1) considering the lead, LCD (2), other bulk material (2) 2,4 Liquid Residues 1 Approximately 31 lbs of waste liquid chemicals for 1 ounce of product including plating solutions and cleaning fluids. Very high volumes of water are also used. If we examine liquid residues during the manufacture of individual parts of the computer: microchip (1) because of history of pollution and use of solvents and vapor processes which coat everything, printed circuit board (0) because of high levels of waste acids and formaldehyde, CRT (2) neutral, other bulk materials (2)2,5 Gaseous Residues 2 Manufacturing energy use and processes lead to substantial emissions of toxic, smog-producing, and greenhouse gases into the environment. If we examine gaseous residues during the manufacture of individual parts of the computer:microchip (0) because of PFCs, printed circuit board (2) although PBDE flame retardants are used, CRT (2) neutral, other bulk materials (2) . Product Packaging and Transport 3,1 Material Choice 2 Packaging does consist of 3 or more types of materials, but is optimized for weight/volume efficiency. There is available recycling infrastructure, but I don’t know if packaging is made of recycled materials. 3,2 Energy Use 2 Product packaging and distribution/installation are designed to minimize costs which may be used as a proxy to minimizing energy and labor in this case. Distribution infrastructure already in place is used and involves long distance travel. 3,3 Solid Residues 2 Product packaging is easy to separate and does not require special disposal. However, volume and weight are not minimized, neither is diversity, and there are no arrangements to take back product packaging after use. 3,4 Liquid Residues 4 Little or no liquid residue is generated during packaging, transportation, or installation. 3,5 Gaseous Residues 2 Gaseous emissions are released by transport vehicles, but distribution routes are minimized for cost. Product Use (excluding printing) 4,1 Material Choice 4 Product use and product maintenance requires virtually no consumables. 4,2 Energy Use 2 Product is designed to minimize energy use while in service, under repair; energy saving features have been incorporated, and energy use may displayed if programmed while in use. However, only 25% of computers are correctly power managed. (LCDS require 60-70% less energy than CRTs) 4,3 Solid Residues 4 Product generates no or relative minor amounts of solid residue during use or from repair efforts. (Excluding printing functions.) 4,4 Liquid Residues 4 Product generates no or relative minor amounts of liquid residue duringuse or from repair efforts. 4,5 Gaseous Residues 3 No emissions are directly associated with the use of computers. However, gaseous emissions are associated with energy production for use of computers. Product End-of-Life 5,1 Material Choice 0 Product contains significant quantities of mercury, lead, and flame retardants that are not clearly identifiable or easily removable. (How is “significant quantities defined?”) 5,2 Energy Use 1 The product is not designed for energy-efficiency in recycling, or for high-level reuse of materials. Also, the transport of recycling is energy intensive because of weight/volume and location of suitable facilities. 5,3 Solid Residues 1 Dissimilar materials are joined together is ways that are difficult to reverse and the product overall is difficult to disassemble. While many plastic components are labeled, recycling electronic plastics is not cost effective. Short life-cycle of computers compounds these problems. 5,4 Liquid Residues 3 Product contains no operating liquids and minimal cleaning agents are necessary for reconditioning. (Not including printing functions.) 5,5 Gaseous Residues 3 Product contains no substances lost to evaporation/sublimation and no volatile substances are used for refurbishment. Life Stage Materials Energy Solid Liquid Gaseous Total Premanufacture 0 0 1 1 0 2 Product Manufacture 1 0 2 1 2 6 Product Delivery 2 2 2 4 2 12 Product Use 4 2 4 4 3 17 Recycling 0 1 1 3 3 8 Total 7 5 10 13