Embodied carbon emissions of ICT devices assessed by different approaches

The global embodied greenhouse gas emissions of mobile communication user devices, such as tablets, smartphones, feature phones, laptops, desktop PCs, PC displays, and customer premises equipment, were estimated to be 180 Mt CO2e in 2020. The embodied emissions were studied by applying three different approaches using life cycle assessment / product carbon footprint data, supply chain data, or reported vendor data.

Research paper

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The supply chain approach is considered to give a reasonable overall result, while the LCA/PCF approach helps in allocation of the total to the different equipment types. Representative values for embodied carbon emissions are for example: smartphones 50 kg CO2e, laptop PC 100 kg CO2e and CPE 30 kg CO2e.

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Embodied carbon emissions of ICT devices

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