Technology life cycle assessmentsViktor Arvidsson

Life cycle assessments (LCA)

EricssonTransports

Office & manufacturing sitesBusiness travel

Use phaseProducts energy

consumptionOffices & stores

Vehicle fleet

Scope: our products/services life cycle

Supply chainManufacturing & office sites

TransportsRaw materials & chemicals

End of lifeCollection/treatmentRecycling of metals

LandfillResource depletion

LCA standards: ISO 14040, 14044

CO2 emission per mobile subscriber

Now about 20-25 kg CO2 per year – Same as driving a car for 1 hour

1985

100

50

150

25

200

Ann

ual C

O2

/sub

scrib

er

[kg]

Year

AMPS

GSMWCDMA

1990 20001995 2005 2010

Ericsson networks, LCA based data

Benefits of doing LCA

› Getting a complete, holistic picture (including manufacturing and end-of-life-treatment)

› LCAs gives strength in any environmental communication with authorities, customers, etc.

› All emissions can be included, not just CO2, for the whole supply chain, from concrete in tower fundaments to ICs used in mobile phones

Ericsson life cycle carbon footprint

2008, based on Life Cycle AssessmentsMton CO2e

LCA of mobile broadband

Annual kg CO2e / average subscriber in WCDMA/HSPA network

Manufacturing

Core networkOperatorRBS operationRBS siteMobile phone Core networkOperatorRBS operationMobile phoneuse

2001: 55 kg2005: 35 kg2007: 25 kg

2001: 55 kg2005: 35 kg2007: 25 kg

Total CO2e:

0

10

20

40

30

Annual kg CO2 / average PC unit (world average)

Operation

Manufacturing

LCA of fixed broadband / PC

& Transport

0

50

100

150

200

250

PC manufacturing

PC use Modem Access Transmission "Internet“ and data centers

Carbon emissions from ICTStudy performed by Ericsson Research (2007)

0

100

200

300

400

500

PCindustry

Datacenters

Fixedtelecom

Mobiletelecom

Operation of end-user equipment

Network operation

Manufacturing &business overheads

million ton CO e2

ICT and climate change

Buildings8%

Industry19%

Waste3%

Agriculture14%

Forestry17%

Transport & Travel

13%

Energy supply

26%

ICT: 1.4% CO2e

2% CO2

Global CO2e 2007:49 billion ton7.4 ton per capita

Global carbon emissionsreported by IPCC (2007)

ICT services and APPLICATIONS

› Teleworking, flexi-working› Virtual communication, virtual presence› m/e-commerce, ”Internet shopping”› From products to services dematerialization

and to digital media dematerialization› m/e-health, m/e-governance, m/e-learning,

etc.› Smart manufacturing and transport systems› Smart buildings and the future smart electric

grid› Information, monitoring and control› ”21st Century Infrastructure”

ICT can substitute, reduce and make the remaining use of buildings, vehicles, etc. much more efficient - LCA is the method to prove it

ICT reduction potential (estimates)

› Smart 2020 -15% (ICT about 2%)› WWF -22% (ICT about 2%)› ”Climate Positive”

5% 10% 20%

The ICT lever can give large momentum to reductions

Conclusions› ICT respresents about 2% of the world’s CO2

emissions

› The 21st century infrastructure that ICT has created can deliver basic services that contribute to sustainable development for the world's population

› LCA is the method to be used when validating the environemntal impact and reduction potentials from existing and future ICT services and applications