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Life Cycle Assessment of ICT

Author

Listed:
  • Jens Malmodin
  • Dag Lundén
  • Åsa Moberg
  • Greger Andersson
  • Mikael Nilsson

Abstract

type="main"> The use of information and communication technology (ICT) is growing throughout society, and new products and solutions are developed at an increasing rate. To enable environmental assessment of specific ICT products and other products that rely on ICT in some way, a more complete, detailed, and up-to-date study based on real measurements is needed. To date, similar studies have not been readily available or fully comprehensive. This study assessed the overall operational electricity use and life-cycle–based carbon footprint (CF) relating to ICT in Sweden, including activities not commonly addressed previously, such as shared data transport networks and data centers and manufacturing of network infrastructure. Specific, detailed inventory data are presented and used for assessment of the Internet Protocol core network, data transmission, operator activities, and access network. These specific data, in combination with secondary, more generic data for end-user equipment, allow a comprehensive overall assessment. The majority of the ICT network CF is the result of end-user equipment, mainly personal computers, followed by third-party enterprise networks and data centers and then access networks. The parts closest to the user proved to be clearly responsible for the majority of the impact. The results are presented for Swedish ICT networks and for ICT networks in general based on a global average electricity mix.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Malmodin & Dag Lundén & Åsa Moberg & Greger Andersson & Mikael Nilsson, 2014. "Life Cycle Assessment of ICT," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 18(6), pages 829-845, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:18:y:2014:i:6:p:829-845
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/jiec.12145
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tova Billstein & Anna Björklund & Tomas Rydberg, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Network Traffic: A Review of Challenges and Possible Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Hanna Pihkola & Mikko Hongisto & Olli Apilo & Mika Lasanen, 2018. "Evaluating the Energy Consumption of Mobile Data Transfer—From Technology Development to Consumer Behaviour and Life Cycle Thinking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Williams, Laurence & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Foxon, Timothy J., 2022. "The energy use implications of 5G: Reviewing whole network operational energy, embodied energy, and indirect effects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    4. Johan Colding & Magnus Colding & Stephan Barthel, 2020. "The smart city model: A new panacea for urban sustainability or unmanageable complexity?," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(1), pages 179-187, January.
    5. Tina Ringenson & Peter Arnfalk & Anna Kramers & Liridona Sopjani, 2018. "Indicators for Promising Accessibility and Mobility Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Christina J. Herden & Ervin Alliu & André Cakici & Thibaut Cormier & Catherine Deguelle & Sahil Gambhir & Caleb Griffiths & Shrishti Gupta & Sahil R. Kamani & Yonca-Selda Kiratli & Máté Kispataki & Gr, 2021. "“Corporate Digital Responsibility”," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 13-29, March.
    7. Valentina Romagnoli & Joachim Felix Aigner & Thomas Berlinghof & Niki Bey & Jan-Markus Rodger & Cordelia Patz, 2020. "Identification and assessment of opportunities and threats for the Circular Economy arising from E-commerce," JRC Research Reports JRC122233, Joint Research Centre.
    8. Roland Hischier, 2018. "Car vs. Packaging—A First, Simple (Environmental) Sustainability Assessment of Our Changing Shopping Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, August.
    9. Yusuke Kishita & Yohei Yamaguchi & Yasushi Umeda & Yoshiyuki Shimoda & Minako Hara & Atsushi Sakurai & Hiroki Oka & Yuriko Tanaka, 2016. "Describing Long-Term Electricity Demand Scenarios in the Telecommunications Industry: A Case Study of Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-16, January.
    10. Michael Martin & David Lazarevic & Charlie Gullström, 2019. "Assessing the Environmental Potential of Collaborative Consumption: Peer-to-Peer Product Sharing in Hammarby Sjöstad, Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.

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