COMP 2923 A2
Impact of IT Consumables
Danny Silver
JSOCS, Acadia University
Sales of computers is Staggering
Computer Manufacturing
• Average 24 kg desktop computer with display
• Requires 10 times its weight in fossil fuels and
chemicals to manufacture
• Automobile or refrigerator, requires 1-2 times
their weight in fossil fuels
• One desktop and 17-inch CRT monitor uses:
– 240 kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1,500
kg of water – a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials.
Computer Manufacturing
• The combination of
– high-energy manufacturing process
– short lifespan of computer use
• Raises computer lifetime environment-related
energy impacts to about the same level as a
refrigerator
Carbon Footprint of Computers
• http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corpcomm/environment_carbon_footprint_products
Packaging
• Green Packaging: Waste Not, Want Not
– http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/gre
en-packaging-waste-not-want-not/
EPEAT
• Managed by the Green Electronics Council,
Portlans, Oregon
• EPEAT is a comprehensive global
environmental rating system that helps
purchasers identify greener computers and
other electronics
• http://www.epeat.net/about-epeat/
• http://www.epeat.net
Recycling End-of-Life
Electronic Equipment
• Natural Resurces Canada - Recycling End-ofLife Electronic Equipment
– http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/miningmaterials/markets/recycling/8422
• Dell -Legal & Regulatory Compliance
– http://www.dell.com/learn/ca/en/cacorp1/corpcomm/canada-recycling-laws
Workshop
• Who makes the most environmentally friendly
IT:
• Samsung
• Apple
• Dell
• Others ??
The Impact of Printers
• Printers (like most PC components) have three
stages in the product life cycle – each with
different environmental impacts:
– Creation – extraction of raw materials and
manufacture of the printer
– Use – the use of consumables
– Disposal – recyle, reuse
Source: http://businesslatitude.blogspot.com/2008/01/its-new-year-and-amongmy-many-new.html
Printer Creation
• Many printer companies (Xerox, Canon, HP, Epson,
Bother and Lexmark) have environmental policies
and management plans that deal with sourcing raw
materials and the manufacturing process (meet ISO
14001 environmental practices) :
– Make energy efficient printers
– Use recycled plastics and parts
– Have a program for end-of-life disposal of
cartridges and printer bodies
Paper Consumption
• Paper is the biggest cause of printer-related carbon
emissions
– 500 pack of paper responsible for 30.5 lbs of released CO2
– Carbon Rally.com - http://www.carbonrally.com/challenges/
• Buy recycled - for drafts, recycled paper works great
• Use both sides of the paper before putting it into the
recycle bin
– Collect paper with print on one side for use in dedicated
‘drafts’ printer (refilled/recycled cartridges, draft ink
setting)
• Recycle your paper in the blue bins / bags
Methods of Reducing Paper and
other PC Consumables
• Add a standard email footer asking people not to print
unnecessarily *THINK GREEN – READ IT ON THE SCREEN*
• Change default printer settings to be double sided printing
• Replace older printers with more efficient devices such as
Multi-Functions Printers (MFPs)
• Replace faxes with paperless solutions such as fax-to-email
• Replace copiers with scanners (scan and email)
• Replace paper memos with email
• Switch customer and supplier communications to email and
extranet systems such as e-billing, e-purchasing
Source:
http://www.myecoworld.net/green_computing/green_computing.aspx
Paper Consumption
• Paper over-consumption: An Intervention
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adtSq1UZRxg
• How to Reduce Your Paper Waste
•
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Reduce-Your-Paper-Waste-148694844
Reduce Printer Use
• Ask your self “Do I need to print at all?”
• Replace hardcopies with appropriate archive
and backup systems
• Print to PDF/JPG/XPS files to check the layout
of your doc - often much quicker than printing
• Become friends with the draft function of the
printer settings.
Printer Consumable
Ink Consumables:
• Most businesses recycle laser toner cartridges
• Ink jet cartridges can be recycled too
• Refilled for costs savings or the components recycled
• Set up a draft printer for non-critical prints
• Don't use colour unless you really need it
• Buy a printer that enables the colour cartridges to be
separated
Printer Disposal
• Printers are not made for the landfill
• Most of the major manufactures / stores will
accept your printer
– Recondition the printer for second hand use or
separate the printer components for recycling
• Avoid “recyclers” who ship to other countries
Do you have any of this at home?
Computer Disposal
• Monitors and PCs contain significant
quantities of heavy metals such as:
– lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium
• Pose potential health risks to production
workers and environmental risks to water
supplies near landfills where they are
eventually dumped
Printer Consumable
Ink Consumables
• Planet Ark will take any cartridge you have - toner or
ink jet - in their “Cartridges 4 Planet Ark” program
(http://www.planetark.org.au/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/5/story.htm).
• 50% of cartridges receive are sent back to the major
manufactures and the cartridge and ink recycled
• 50% get separated into components and made into
products like e-wood (ink used to colour the
“wood”)
Recycling IT Hardware
• How to safely dispose of IT equipment
– http://www.businessgreen.com/businessgreen/video/2251118/businessgreen-com-top-tips
• Electronic Recycling Problems / Solutions
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHTWRYXy2gE&feature=fvw
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5dW8OPBTw&feature=related
• Secure Destruction of IT Components
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9HWbBZ8Spw
Prior Studies
• Environmental Impact of Computer Information
Technology in an Institutional Setting: A Case Study
at the University of Guelph
– http://www.uoguelph.ca/isc/documents/050602environcs
_000.pdf
• Managing the environmental impact of information
and communications technology (ICT)
– http://www.finance.gov.au/agimo-archive/better-practicechecklists/docs/Environment_Checklist.pdf