Miljøspecifikationer for elektroniske tele- og dataprodukter
Summary and conclusions
Supply and demand is a central mechanism in the product oriented strategy for pollution prevention. An increased supply of more environmentally friendly products is a natural precondition for the introduction of more environmentally friendly products in society. The retailer plays a significant role in delivering the right supply to the market through environmentally conscious procurement and sales. A newly developed "electronic procurement handbook", which is an Internet based assessment system for telecommunication products, creates transparency and structures Tele Danmark's green procurement of such products for sale in its chain of stores. The system is directed towards procurement of telecommunication products, which are particularly environmentally friendly throughout their life cycle, i.e. from cradle to grave.
Green procurement can be difficult
An environmentally friendly product has a good environmental performance throughout its life cycle. I.e. particularly environmentally friendly raw materials are chosen, the manufacturing of the product is environmentally friendly, the product has a low energy consumption during use, and it can be disposed of without significant environmental problems. With life cycle thinking as the basic paradigm, it can be difficult to pinpoint the particularly successful products, since their characteristics are often both technical and multiple. Procurement decision-makers typically have neither the time nor the skills to study these technical parameters. Therefore, there is a need for targeted support of procurement decision-makers. This is not least true for procurement of complex electronics, where such diverse issues as content of hazardous substances, energy consumption during use, disposal friendliness and the consumption of materials in scarce supply, make up the basis of the decision of their environmental friendliness.
The purpose of this project has been to develop an expert system, which can create clarity concerning the life cycle environmental performance of telecommunication products. Further, the purpose has been to support the dialogue between procurement staff and suppliers and manufacturers, specifically on technical issues. The expert system is intended to structure, organise and standardise this dialogue.
The basic paradigm is life cycle thinking
The project started with the life cycle assessment (LCA) of four typical telecommunication products: A regular phone, a cordless phone, a mobile phone and a telefax machine. The LCAs have been implemented according to the Danish EDIP method (Environmental Design of Industrial Products). The principal environmental parameters were, based on these studies, found to be a range of hazardous substances, energy consumption during use, the disposal friendliness of the products and the consumption of certain materials in scarce supply. The principal environmental parameters are taken into consideration in a life cycle based questionnaire, which Tele Danmark can ask suppliers and manufacturers to fill in for each of the products they sell or wish to sell to Tele Danmark. The answers are assessed and weighted by a dynamic scoring model that reflects the weight of the principal parameters in the life cycle assessment results. Answering, scoring and document handling is all done by an Internet based assessment system in which suppliers and manufacturers may submit information over the Internet, and Tele Danmark's procurement staff can view and correct answers and perform the scoring. The project has also led to a training curriculum, which introduces procurement staff to technical issues, general background and methods, and the Internet system.
Green procurement is made operational
Green procurement of telecommunication products is made operational and transparent for decision-makers through the answering and scoring of questionnaires. The operational aspect is secured by the Internet system, where a common database of filled in questionnaires allows many suppliers or manufacturers and many procurement staff to use the system at the same time. The paper flow is significantly reduced and uniformity is secured with the Internet solution, also uniformity in the assessment of products. The electronic system has been well received by a number of Tele Danmark's product managers and procurement staff, who find the system easy to use in a busy everyday schedule.
Life cycle assessments
The project has resulted in four LCA studies according to the Danish EDIP method, for a regular phone, a cordless phone, a mobile phone and a telefax machine. The detailed LCA results are reported in chapter 2. Below is an example of the LCA results. These profiles are for a mobile phone.
Figure 1. Se her!
LCA environmental profile for a mobile phone.
Apart from the more classical effect contributions from the use life cycle stage, we see here a significant contribution to eco-toxicity and persistent toxicity from the production of materials and components. This life cycle stage has not previously been mapped to such a detail as is the case with these studies, and it is evident that materials and component production indeed do contribute significantly to the life cycle environmental impact. The contribution is primarily caused by the use of hazardous substances for materials themselves or as chemicals in manufacturing.
Figure 2. Se her!
LCA resource depletion profile for a mobile phone.
It can also be seen from the profiles that the effect of disposal is limited. This is because disposal is assumed to take place according to the guidelines set forth by the Danish EPA's departmental order No. 1067 of December 22, 1998, on the handling of waste from electric and electronic products (the Danish electronics disposal act). The conclusion on the "lacking" environmental impact from disposal is that disposal according to the departmental order is nearly environmentally neutral.
The resource depletion profile primarily shows a depletion of material resources, such as copper, tin, gold and palladium, whereas the depletion of energy carriers is less significant. This is fairly typical of microelectronics, and the same general picture is valid for the other telecommunication products studied.
Method for environmental assessment
The project has resulted in a method for environmental assessment of the four telecommunication products in the study. The method is based on a questionnaire, seeking information from suppliers and manufacturers on the following topics:
 | Name of the manufacturer and of the product |
| The manufacturer's environmental performance |
| Eco-labels and energy labels |
| Energy consumption in use |
| Substances and materials in the product |
| The product's disposal friendliness |
| Design issues |
Environmental management practice is addressed, particularly ISO 14001 certification and/or EMAS registration, but the questionnaire also considers the situation of good environmental management practice without certification or registration.
The product scores highly if it is awarded a recognised eco-label or a recognised energy label. The questionnaire specifically asks for the Nordic Swan or the EU Flower amongst the eco-labels and the Energy Star and the Swiss Energie 2000 amongst the energy labels, but also other recognised labels may be put forward. Telecommunication products are generally not well represented in most label schemes, but this may change, and the questionnaire is prepared for that situation.
Electronics are active products that consume electricity during use. The questionnaire asks for the energy consumption under a standardised use scenario, as well as for the nominal wattage in stand-by and/or sleep-mode.
The content of hazardous substances in the product is revealed by specifically asking for the presence of 13 unwanted substances or groups of substances, all know to be present in some electronic products: arsenic, beryllium oxide, lead, brominated flame retardants, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lithium, copper, mercury, nickel, PCB, PVC and selenium. The product's use of materials in scarce supply is uncovered by asking for the following materials: lead, copper, nickel, tin, zinc, gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The present version of the questionnaire is merely qualitative and not fully exhaustive when it comes to substances and materials, but sticks to questions that the supplier or manufacturer has a chance of answering. Later versions of the questionnaire may develop towards a more quantitative framework, eventually leading to a full bill of materials.
The LCA studies showed that disposal in Denmark is relative environmentally neutral if the product can be disassembled into its main components. Therefore, the questionnaire addresses the disassembly friendliness of the product's main components: wire/cord, power supply, electronic display, printed wire board, flame retarded plastic part, house, keyboard or touch board, microphone, loudspeaker, selenium drum, mercury switch, nickel-cadmium battery, NiMH battery, lithium battery, mercury battery, regular battery, colour or toner cartridge.
The options for making design changes is also considered, specifically the possibilities for miniaturisation and upgradeability. This last part of the questionnaire is really meant as the beginning of a dialogue on design improvements, in which the procurement staff also represents the consumers.
The Internet based assessment system
The project has resulted in an Internet based assessment system, the purpose of which is to organise and support an information exchange between procurement staff and suppliers or manufacturers. It is a multiple user system with three types of access: For supplier/manufacturer, for procurement staff and for the system administrator. The system is accessed via the Internet and access is facilitated by user-ID and password, which is administered by the system administrator.
Suppliers and manufacturers can fill in and submit the questionnaire for the products they wish Tele Danmark to purchase. Procurement staff can receive, read and correct answers, as well as perform the scoring of the products. The system administrator can do all of this, plus create new users and change the weightings in the scoring system, according to the preferences of his/her organisation. The system comes in both Danish and English languages. The database, however, is shared between the two versions of the system.
Figure 3. Se her!
The Internet based assessment system.
Education
Procurement decision-makers have seldom the time or the skills necessary to understand the multiple technical parameters that characterise the environmentally friendly product. An educational curriculum was developed as a supplement to the existing knowledge and skills of procurement staff. The curriculum, which is in the form of Powerpoint presentations with notes, is directed towards a one-day course covering issues such as general environmental awareness, environmentally friendly electronics and the use of the Internet system. The course consists of the following modules:
Module 1: Demonstration of the Internet based assessment system.
Module 2: Case exercise on the Internet system.
Module 3: General environmental awareness.
Module 4: What is "Environmentally friendly electronics"?
Module 5: Green Procurement and environmental product declarations.
Module 6: Introduction to the method for environmental assessment.
Module 7: Case exercise on the method for environmental assessment.
The curriculum is integrated into and can be downloaded from the Internet system.
The curriculum is in Danish only.