11: Sustainability Flashcards
What is the environmental impact of new media?
Greenpeace estimates that Apple and Samsung’s total greenhouse gas emissions equals to approximately 35 million tonnes, the same as Slovakia.
The entire ICT industry accounts for 2.5% to 3% of total greenhouse emissions and this figure is growing
By comparison, the airline industry accounts for 5%
Our use of ICTs is also an issue:
One google search uses: .2g to 7g of CO2
One average spam email uses: .3g of CO2
Given that the world produces/receives an estimated 62 trillion spam messages a year this CO2 use equals driving around the world 1.6 million times
What is the electricity usage of new media?
Use of electricity
Digital devices and networks used 1.5 to 2% of the world’s power consumption over the years 2008 to 2011; equivalent to the aviation industry
This is set to grow to 3% by 2020
Air-conditioning needed to cold the equipment adds to the consumption
Google’s data centre operations alone use the same amount of electricity as San Francisco
While Google claims to use the smallest carbon footprint possible, many other companies do not
Amazon and Apple look for the cheaper, not the most environmentally friendly energy sources
Facebook located 3 of its centres in places where 60% of the electricity derives from coal
There are an estimated three million data centres in operation around the world
Elaborate on the e-waste that new media generates.
E-waste is one of the fastest growing categories of waste, this includes wastes incurred during production and at the end of the product life cycle.
41.8 million tonnes produced in 2014, growing from between 4.5 and 5% per year. Very little of this e-waste is recycled.
2012 figures show the following:
EU 35%, US 29%, JPN 24-30%, Canada 12%, Singapore 6%, Australia 1%
Where is e-waste exported to?
Much is exported to countries with lax regulatory regimes
75% of global production according to Greenpeace
Labelled as second hand equipment
90% of US exports are labelled in this way
India, China, Nigeria (Ghana) and the Philippines are key destinations
Why are e-waste and e-waste exports growing?
Life span of ICTs has dropped from 4 to 6 years in 1997 to 2 years in 2005
Replacement rather than repair of faulty devices is now the norm
Regulatory controls in places like the EU and USA make disposing of e-waste more expensive than shipping it overseas
Recycling certain components in environmentally friendly ways is difficult and hence inherently expensive
CRTs, LEDs, circuit boards
Large populations of low-skilled and vulnerable people in target countries. The international poverty line is set at US$1.90/day
Where is Agbogbloshie?
Agbogbloshie
Part of Accra, Ghana
Low-income area
Considered among the top-ten most toxic sites in the world
Describe the flow of e-waste.
E-waste is shipped from North America, Europe and East Asia to large ports in Africa: Lagos, Bizarte, or Durban. From these ports it is shipped to Accra
In Accra 5% is processed formally by dealers and wholesalers who operate servicing stations and used computer shops
The rest is dumped, with scavengers collecting the bits and pieces they think they can sell to:
The used computer shops
Middlemen mediating between them and those in the business of extracting materials that can be recycled
Scrap dealers
What are the health impacts of e-waste?
We know little about the long-term effect of exposure to many of the materials comprising e-waste
We also know little about the how these materials spread spatially from their initial location.
Toxics found in e-waste workers
Elevated concentrations in adults:
In blood:
- Cobalt, chronium, selenium, copper
In urine: Carcinogenic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
In breast milk: Carcinogenic biphenyls (PCBs) that can harm the immune and reproductive systems, lead to neuro-developmental disorders)
Elevated concentrations in children:
Lead, mercury, cadmium, PAHs (can cause neuro-developmental disorders)
What are the environmental impacts of e-waste?
Toxins move …
Into the soil where they are absorbed by plants and eventually animals such as chickens, goats, and cattle
½ of soil samples in one study (100 samples total) had lead levels higher than US standards allow
Into the water where they are absorbed into plants and eventually fish
Into the air (through burning)
Aluminium, copper, iron, lead found on site at concentrations 4x US standard limits
Are the e-waste workers aware of the health implications?
Many are unaware of the health implications of their work
Many rely on self-treatment and traditional healers for any sickness they experience
Most do not use protective masks, gloves, goggles
Many report headaches, nausea, insomnia, and respiratory problems
What are the economic aspects that e-waste produce?
Economic aspects
Employs 4500 to 6000 people (200,000 in entire country)
Most are migrants from impoverished north
The lowest level of the industry (scavengers) earn 3.5x the minimum wage
The industry repairs local ICT equipment and assembles “new” equipment from e-waste
What can we do - upstream and downstream?
Upstream
Curb growth of e-waste
Replace toxic materials
Eliminate bad design
Downstream
Build proper recycling infrastructure
Be sensitive to local conditions
Describe the certification scheme: Responsible Recyclers. What must the companies who wish to be certified do?
Certification schemes
Responsible Recyclers
Developed by the US EPA in conjunction with public and private stakeholders in 2008, updated in 2013
Companies wishing to be certified need to demonstrate that they follow R2 practice standards through an independent initial evaluation and periodic audits afterwards
20 countries have facilities to allow for R2 certification
Describe the certification scheme: E-stewards. Who did they partner?
Certification schemes
E-stewards
Developed out of the Basel Action Network (NGO) e-Steward Pledge established in 2003
Initially involved 40 recycling companies in the US and Canada
In 2006 partnered with US EPA’s R2 efforts
But disagreed on final version as they believed it allows recyclers to violate the national laws of importing states and that it also allows for toxins to be dumped in solid waste disposal sites
13 recyclers approached BAN in 2009 to create a new stricter standard
Have their own certification system in place now
What is extended producer responsibility?
Extended producer responsibility
Manufacturers and brand owners are made responsible for their products (and packaging) throughout the product life cycle, including, disposal and recycling
In France there are 14 compulsory EPR schemes, including ones for:
packaging, electrical and electronic goods, batteries, etc
In Japan, manufacturers are being held responsible for using recycled materials and parts in their new products
