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Evolving materials, attributes, and functionality in consumer electronics: Case study of laptop computers

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  • Kasulaitis, Barbara V.
  • Babbitt, Callie W.
  • Kahhat, Ramzy
  • Williams, Eric
  • Ryen, Erinn G.

Abstract

There is increasing interest in assessing the environmental impacts of consumer electronics using methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA). Both assessment methods depend on quantifying the materials and parts contained in these products, i.e., the bill of Attributes (BOA). While there has been significant work to develop commercial and public databases detailing material and energy flows in production processes, there have been no comparable efforts to characterize BOA. Further, such assessment is complicated by rapidly evolving production processes and product design and consumption trends. This study was undertaken to assess the degree of change in product attributes commonly used as inputs for LCA for a common consumer electronic product: laptop computers. The analysis includes (1) temporal evolution of BOA for a consistent product type over multiple generations (14.1″ laptops) and (2) variability in a fixed year within a product type (laptops of different sizes). In total, eleven laptop computers were disassembled and characterized based on function, components, and materials. In addition, the study included measurement of silicon die area for all product motherboards and thirty dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cards produced over the period 1999–2011.

Suggested Citation

  • Kasulaitis, Barbara V. & Babbitt, Callie W. & Kahhat, Ramzy & Williams, Eric & Ryen, Erinn G., 2015. "Evolving materials, attributes, and functionality in consumer electronics: Case study of laptop computers," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 1-10.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:100:y:2015:i:c:p:1-10
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.03.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Teehan & Milind Kandlikar, 2012. "Sources of Variation in Life Cycle Assessments of Desktop Computers," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(s1), pages 182-194, April.
    2. Binswanger, Mathias, 2001. "Technological progress and sustainable development: what about the rebound effect?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 119-132, January.
    3. Carl W. Lam & Seong‐Rin Lim & Julie M. Schoenung, 2013. "Linking Material Flow Analysis with Environmental Impact Potential," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(2), pages 299-309, April.
    4. Marechal, François & Favrat, Daniel & Jochem, Eberhard, 2005. "Energy in the perspective of the sustainable development: The 2000W society challenge," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 245-262.
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    1. Hans Ronald Krikke & Mark Sayers & Lizzie Smith, 2025. "Should Recovery Strategies Be Reuse or Recycling Based? A Case Study on Discarded Electronics in Melbourne, Australia," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-34, April.
    2. Marco Gusukuma & Ramzy Kahhat & Kathia Cáceres, 2022. "Evolution of the stock of electrical and electronic equipment in the Peruvian residential sector," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(3), pages 952-963, June.
    3. Milovantseva, Natalia & Fitzpatrick, Colin, 2015. "Barriers to electronics reuse of transboundary e-waste shipment regulations: An evaluation based on industry experiences," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 170-177.
    4. Tsiliyannis, Christos Aristeides, 2015. "Sustainability by cyclic manufacturing: Assessment of resource preservation under uncertain growth and returns," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 155-170.
    5. Compagnoni, Marco & Santini, Erica, 2025. "The evolution of the EU electronics market and its impact on direct material consumption: Lessons from the past," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).

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