Resource and environmental impacts of using second-hand laptop computers: A case study of commercial reuse

André, Hampus; Söderman, Maria Ljunggren; Lundmark, Sonja

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2019.03.050

Cited by 50 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The assumption for the model is a lifespan of 6 years for desktops, 5.5 for laptops and 7 for display devices. At the beginning of the UPC-ReuTIlitza Program, most of computers (both desktops and laptops) received were 3 years old, as most donors find it more convenient to replace their computers for new ones when the typical three-year warranty expires (André et al [57] also highlight the same point). Over the years, the age of the received material has risen to 6 years.…”

Section: Informed Consent Statement: Not Applicablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasing the lifespan of ICT products has a great impact on the reduction of computer manufacture, thereby reducing resource needs and environmental impact [45,[57][58][59]. Based on the studies by Belkhir and Elmeligi [45], Kumar et al [60], Prakash et al [61], and Tecchio et al [62], a 6-year lifespan is assumed for desktops, 5.5 years for laptops and 7 years for CRT and LCD displays.…”

Section: Lifespan Extension Of the Materials Donatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Service-Learning Based Computers Reuse Program

López

2021

Sustainability

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Higher Education Institutions are facing a challenging situation: how to introduce concepts such as Sustainability or the Circular Economy into their curricula. This study presents how to organize a Computer Reuse Program, an educational proposal for the Reuse, Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacture and Recycling of computers into a Curriculum and a case study. The proposal is based in the Service-Learning methodology, by which students develop technical and professional skills while undertaking a project that has a direct and real impact on society. Students work on old or broken computers provided by donors, thereby acquiring technical skills. These now flawlessly functioning computers are donated to NGOs and other non-profit organizations, thus endowing the equipment with a much longer life as well as reducing e-waste, one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. As a case study, this paper presents the UPC Computer Reuse Program, carried out at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC-BarcelonaTech. Since the program started in 2004, some 2500 computers have been donated to 359 different organizations in 29 countries, and more than 5200 students have participated. The paper analyzes the impact of the program on society, on the reduction of e-waste, on the environment and on student awareness regarding social justice and sustainability.

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Section: Informed Consent Statement: Not Applicablementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Lifespan Extension Of the Materials Donatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Service-Learning Based Computers Reuse Program

López

2021

Sustainability

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“…The difference in the distribution stage during the second life cycle originates from the fact that the ready to reuse product is produced locally, while the brand-new product is manufactured and distributed from abroad, mainly Asia." Other research [3] has shown that devices with computational power "similar to that of first-hand consumption" result in an extension of 2-3 years of life with reuse, with an environmental impact of 39%-50% that of the purchase of a new device.…”

Section: Do Circular Devices Really Replace Purchases Of New Devices?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Circular digital devices: lessons about the social and planetary boundaries

Roura

Franquesa

Navarro

et al. 2021

LIMITS Workshop on Computing Within Limits

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The digital world can be part of the solution to the coexistence of people and the planet, with large efficiencies gained through digital solutions, but it is part of the problem too, as it requires vast natural resources for digital devices in terms of participation. The challenge lies in satisfying the demand for digital devices for everyone, particularly for those with scarce resources, while preserving planetary limits. We have implemented and optimised a circular economy ecosystem that -through donation, refurbishment and traceability-delivers locally reused digital devices at a fair economic and environmental cost to citizens in need, providing satisfactory computing services and reducing the demand to manufacture new devices, which instead must be more durable. Following the sourcing of 10,000 computers, 1,000 have been successfully refurbished by local social enterprises and used by citizens in the city of Barcelona as a common good, herein we present an analysis of the achievements, limitations, and conditions of this model, which has already been replicated in other areas. It is feasible, and we also explore its scalability and sustainability in economic, social, and environmental contexts. We identify critical success factors, such as the roles of local public or private donors, social-support organisations, and ecosystem facilitators, in mediating among all actors involved.

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“…Neodymium and cobalt are approximately 10-20 times rarer than strontium, but the methods' characterization factor for strontium was 7 times higher than for cobalt and 300 times higher than for neodymium. A final example is an LCA study of a laptop, where André et al (2019) identified, among other things, a notably high characterization factor for tin in the ReCiPe 2008 method. While silver is approximately 30 times rarer than tin in the crust, tin was considered having 4 times as high impact according to that method.…”

Section: Communicated By Andrea J Russell-vaccarimentioning

confidence: 99%

A crustal scarcity indicator for long-term global elemental resource assessment in LCA

Arvidsson

Söderman

Sandén

et al. 2020

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Purpose How to assess impacts of mineral resources is much discussed in life cycle assessment (LCA). We see a need for, and a lack of, a mineral resource impact assessment method that captures the perspective of long-term global scarcity of elements. Method A midpoint-level mineral resource impact assessment method matching this perspective is proposed, called the crustal scarcity indicator (CSI), with characterization factors called crustal scarcity potentials (CSPs) measured as kg silicon equivalents per kg element. They are based on crustal concentrations, which have been suggested to correlate with several important resource metrics (reserves, reserve base, reserves plus cumulative production, and ore deposits), thereby constituting proxies for long-term global elemental scarcity. Results and discussion Ready-to-use CSPs are provided for 76 elements, through which the CSI can be calculated by multiplying with the respective masses of elements extracted from Earth's crust for a certain product. As follows from their crustal concentrations, the three platinum-group metals iridium, osmium, and rhodium have the highest CSPs, whereas silicon, aluminum, and iron have the lowest CSPs. Conclusion An evaluation of the CSPs and the characterization factors of four other mineral resource impact assessment methods in LCA (the abiotic depletion, the surplus ore, the cumulative exergy demand, and the EPS methods) were conducted. It showed that the CSPs are temporally reliable, calculated in a consistent way, and have a high coverage of elements in comparison. Furthermore, a quantitative comparison with the characterization factors of the four other methods showed that the CSPs reflect long-term global elemental scarcity comparatively well while requiring a minimum of assumptions and input parameters. Recommendations We recommend using the CSI for assessments of long-term global elemental scarcity in LCA. Since the CSI is at the midpoint level, it can be complemented by other mineral resource impact assessment methods (both existing and to be developed) to provide a more comprehensive view of mineral resource impacts in an LCA.

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Resource and environmental impacts of using second-hand laptop computers: A case study of commercial reuse

Cited by 50 publications

References 54 publications

A Service-Learning Based Computers Reuse Program

A Service-Learning Based Computers Reuse Program

Circular digital devices: lessons about the social and planetary boundaries

A crustal scarcity indicator for long-term global elemental resource assessment in LCA

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