College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Materials Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Materials Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Materials Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Materials Engineering
Date
6-2021
Primary Advisor
Jean Lee, College of Engineering, Materials Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
A life cycle assessment of an iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit was performed to determine the environmental impacts of iFixit’s best-selling toolkit. SimaPro software was used to measure three impact categories: energy usage, water consumption, and global warming potential. This project provides quantitative data on the resources required for repairing devices through use of the toolkit to ultimately reduce the global e-waste stream by re-using electronics. Using the cut-off method, global warming potential of the kit was 4.1 kg of CO2 equivalents, water consumption was 1.5 m3, and energy usage was 73.9 MJ. Major contributors to these impact categories were the bit case, tool roll, bits, and magnetic mat. Following these results, the At Point of Substitution (APOS) and consequential methods were tested to ensure the accuracy of the cut-off results. The APOS method produced data within 4% of cut-off and the consequential method produced data within 25% of cut-off, which verifies the validity of the initial cut-off trial. Generally, modern smartphones produce between 45 and 77 kg of CO2 equivalents during their manufacture. Considering the most common forms of repair, broken screens and dead batteries, comparing a new phone to replacement part estimates shows the iFixit kit can save between 38 and 71 kg CO2 for a screen and between 29 and 61 kg CO2 for a battery.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/matesp/241