Understanding Laptop’s Environmental Problems Using Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the environmental impacts

arising from the life cycle of laptops by collecting and synthesizing

data from life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. The research results

shows the impacts of laptops include ozone depletion, potential

global warming, acidification, eutrophication, carcinogenicity,

respiratory effects, ecotoxicity and resource depletion. In particular,

the production of laptop case, integrated circuits and flame

retardants causes major impacts such as ecotoxicity, potential

global warming and fossil fuels depletion. Results of LCA for the

entire life cycle of the laptop Actina 244C10 shows the use phase

accounts for 60% of the total impact and the production phase

accounts for 37%. The transport and endlife treatment accounts for

only 3% of the impacts. As for Dell Inspiron 2500 laptop, the most

important impact is the production phase (account for 62-70%),

remaining 30-38% of the impact is from use phase. In Vietnam, there

are no specific policies related to the management of laptops, so the

propaganda, collection and handling are limite