Carbon footprint of laptops for export from China: empirical results and policy implications

Abstract

a b s t r a c tChina's laptop exports account for more than 70% of global laptop shipments by volume. Laptop is a typical import-and-assembly processing trade product in the machinery and electrical equipmentmanufacturing sector and comprises nearly 60% of China's total export value. The laptop sector is also carbon emissions intensive and contributes heavily to China's carbon emissions problem. To study the laptop sector's impact on carbon emissions, we first developed a carbon footprint map for the product across its supply chain, which allowed us to identify the emission contributions of each component and the production process as a whole. Then, using Simapro software and life cycle inventory data derived from the bottom-up life cycle-analysis method, we calculated the carbon footprint of laptop production. The results show that 33.3% of the carbon emissions from the production of export laptops originate from components produced abroad, while 66.7% is derived mainly from components produced domestically. Finally, we discuss the uncertainties in our approach and the trade policy implications of our research results.

Research Themes, Evolution Trends, and Future Challenges in China’s Carbon Emission Studies

“…Some Chinese researchers have noted that food and beverages often exhibit high carbon footprints, whereas vegetables and plant-based food items tend to have lower carbon footprints [63]. Furthermore, the manufacturing and utilization of electronic products contribute substantially to carbon emissions, underscoring the importance of encouraging sustainable production and recycling practices [64]. Lastly, reducing carbon footprints is notably facilitated by adopting renewable energy sources, high-efficiency insulation materials in construction, and the widespread use of electric vehicles [65].…”

Environmental impacts of domestic resource extraction in China

“…In recent years, most studies using LCA have focused on enterprise-level or factory-level data (Courtonne et al 2015;Burchart-Korol, Korol, and Czaplicka-Kolarz 2016) to quantify the environmental impacts of a product's manufacturing process (Bai et al 2018;Liu et al 2016;Yang et al 2015). Little research has investigated a whole group of natural resources at a regional level (Lopes Silva et al 2015) or national level (Costello, Xue, and Howarth 2015;Van der Voet, Ven Oers, and Nikolic 2004) to quantify their environmental impacts or upstream material flows in a social-economic system.…”