Project: Life-Cycle Assessment of Computer Displays
Sponsor: US EPA Design for the Environment Program
Period of Performance: 1998 - 2004
Noteworthy Outcomes
- Developed an innovative life-cycle impact assessment method incorporating chemical ranking and scoring to more widely assess occupational health impacts
- State of California and subsequent federal purchasing guidelines recommending energy saving LCDs, were based in part on project findings.
Summary: Liquid crystal displays are rapidly becoming the dominant display technology. Since their introduction, primarily in laptops, they have become the display of choice in computers, cell phones, and televisions. As liquid crystal displays (LCDs ) began to emerge alongside cathode ray tubes (CRTs) in the desktop computer display market, the electronics industry, government, and the public sought to determine what environmental impacts result from the manufacture and use of both CRT’s and the emerging LCD technology.
In response, the CCP partnered with the U.S. electronics industry, U.S. EPA, academia, and public interest groups to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the display technologies, and to identify opportunities that may exist for environmental improvement throughout the life-cycle of these products. This primary research presented the first ever side-by-side comparison of the life-cycle environmental impacts of 17" CRTs and 15" LCDs, addressing energy and resource consumption, air and water quality impacts, and potential toxicity impacts. The analysis considered both active and passive matrix LCD displays.
Results indicated that the use and manufacture of CRTs result in greater impacts in eighteen of the twenty environmental impact categories evaluated. Manufacturing of the lead frit in the CRT was the dominant driver of environmental impacts in the land and air impact categories, while the production of energy consumed during use of the CRT dominated the air impact categories. LCDs had higher impacts in water quality and aquatic toxicity, due in large part to releases from the LCD manufacturing process. Overall, industry members were surprised at the dominance of energy consumption during the manufacturing of the LCD’s on the overall environmental footprint of LCDs.
LCA results have served as a catalyst for industry activities and environmental improvement. Shortly after publication of the LCA results, Japanese LCD manufacturers joined together in a venture to develop LCD manufacturing technolgies that would greatly reduce energy consumption during LCD production. This venture has since evolved into a new company, funded by eight LCD manufacturers that has been successful in developing high performance and energy saving LCD displays.
In a second effort, the LCD manufactures that participated in the project agreed to an unprecendented exchange of proprietary manufacturing information regarding LCD manufacuring. In particular, the group , including Toshiba, Samsung, and Sharp began to exchange data on releases of CFC-like substances that contribute to global warming in an effort to reduce and mitigate these releases, which were prominent in the LCA results. Other industry efforts evolved out of the study that have led to significant environmnetal improvements throughout the life-cycle.
Collaborators: In addition to the funding organizations listed above, significant contributors to the project in terms of materials, research, or data include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Electronics Industries Alliance
- IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries
- Toshiba
- Hyundai Electronics Industries
- Sony Electronics
- Sharp Corporation
- Polaroid Corporation
- Samsung Electronics
- Techneglas
- Phillips Display Corporation
- Merck- Japan
- Matsushita Electric Industrial Company
- Chisso Corporation
- Iiyama Electric Company
Publications:
- Socolof, M. L., J. G. Overly, and J. R. Geibig. 2005. “Environmental Life-Cycle Impacts of CRT and LCD Desktop Computer Displays.” Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 13, Issues 13-14 November-December.
- Socolof, M. L, J. G. Overly, L. E. Kincaid, and J. R. Geibig. 2001. “Desktop Computer Displays: A Life-Cycle Assessment,” Volume 1 and 2. Washington: USEPA 744-R-01-004a,b, December. (Available online at <http://www.epa.gov/oppt/dfe/pubs/comp-dic/lca/>.)
- Socolof, M. L., L. E. Kincaid, C. Mizuki, G. Schuldt, K. Hart, and D. Singh. 2001. “CRT and LCD Monitor and Process Materials Evaluated for Environmental Improvement.” Journal of the Society for Information Display, Volume 9, Number 1, 45-50.
- Socolof, M. L., J. G. Overly, L. E. Kincaid, D. Singh, and K. Hart. 2000. “Preliminary Life-Cycle Assessment Results for the Design for the Environment Computer Display Project.” IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., San Francisco, CA, May, 290-297.
- Socolof, M. L., M. B. Swanson, L. E. Kincaid, K. Hart, and D. Singh. 1999. “An Environmental Life-Cycle Design Tool for Assessing Product Improvement of CRT and LCD Computer Monitors.” IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., Danvers, MA, May, 232-237.
- Socolof, M. L., L. E. Kincaid, C. Mizuki, G. Schuldt, K. Hart, and D. Singh. 1999. “CRT and LCD Monitor Process Materials Evaluated for Environmental Improvement.” Display Works 99 Manufacturing Technology Conference Digest, San Jose, CA, February.