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Environmental Impact Assessment of Different Strategies for the Remanufacturing of User Electronics

Author

Listed:
  • Angad Mann

    (School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Prateek Saxena

    (School of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi 175005, India)

  • Mohamed Almanei

    (School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Okechukwu Okorie

    (Exeter Centre for the Circular Economy, Streatham Court, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4PU, UK)

  • Konstantinos Salonitis

    (School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK)

Abstract

Over the years, the innovation and development of electrical and electronic equipment have been on a steep rise. Millions of electronics are being sold or discarded every year in the form of waste. Sustainable IT (Green IT or Circular Computing) is one of the most environment-friendly methods of reusing discarded or waste user electronics. The remanufacturing of a computer refers to the disassembly, repair, and upgrade of the original computer to give it a new life, along with a warranty that is as good as a new product. The goal of this work includes studying and assessing the total environmental impact of refurbishing a computer using life cycle assessment (LCA) integrated with discrete event simulation (DES), to compare two business models: (1) a case of centralized remanufacturing where the plants are in the Middle East, which is the hub for receiving waste electronics and distributing remanufactured goods; (2) a case of decentralized remanufacturing where the plants are situated in each continent for over a range of computer models. The environmental assessment was conducted using the openLCA software in combination with the WITNESS Horizon software for the DES. The results show that decentralized remanufacturing is a much more environmentally friendly option for the remanufacturing of computers, and the decentralized remanufacturing operation has a better throughput as well as efficiency, as compared to the centralized remanufacturing operation. The centralized remanufacturing scenario has a climate change impact of 1035.19 kg of CO 2 -Eq, as compared to the decentralized remanufacturing scenario with an impact of 816.12 kg of CO 2 -Eq. In terms of the impact on the marine life, decentralized remanufacturing was found to have 0.28 kg of N-Eq impact, as compared to centralized remanufacturing (0.22 kg of N-Eq). However, this does not give us a complete picture, as the environmental impact of the computer in its previous life remains unknown. Multi life cycle assessment is the assessment process that can be used to get a clearer picture of the ecological footprint of the computer during its multiple life cycles.

Suggested Citation

  • Angad Mann & Prateek Saxena & Mohamed Almanei & Okechukwu Okorie & Konstantinos Salonitis, 2022. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Different Strategies for the Remanufacturing of User Electronics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:7:p:2376-:d:778555
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Piotr Pazowski, 2015. "Green Computing: Latest Practices and Technologies for Ict Sustainability," Managing Intellectual Capital and Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Society: Managing Intellectual Capital and Innovation; Proceedings of the MakeLearn and TIIM Joint International Conference 2,, ToKnowPress.
    2. Prateek Saxena & Panagiotis Stavropoulos & John Kechagias & Konstantinos Salonitis, 2020. "Sustainability Assessment for Manufacturing Operations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nichele Cristina de Freitas Juchneski & Adelaide Maria de Souza Antunes, 2022. "Do the Main Developers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Comply with the Precepts of the Circular Economy Concepts? A Patent-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.
    2. Salma Taqi Ghulam & Hatem Abushammala, 2023. "Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Electronic Waste and Its Impact on Human Health and Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, January.

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