Guidance for the assessment of material efficiency : application to smartphones

Improving the material efficiency of products has the potential of bringing benefits to the environment and to the economy, by saving resources and avoiding production of waste. However, improved design of products needs to be assisted by appropriate assessment methods. In this context, the Joint Research Centre Directorate B, Circular Economy & Industrial Leadership unit (JRC B.5), prepared a guidance for the assessment of material efficiency of products (GAME) addressing two practical targets: - The identification of key material efficiency aspects of products; - The definition of tangible improvement measures. The guidance, which is described in this report in parallel to its application to smartphones, is based on the analysis of technical and functional aspects of products, as well as on the definition of life cycle assessment scenarios targeting environmental and economic impacts. The product group "smartphones" is used as an illustrative case study to show how to implement this guidance for the analysis. Possible actions for improving the performance of smartphones with respect to material efficiency are investigated. Aspects like durability, reparability, upgradability, recyclability and use of materials are analysed. Resembling the methodology for the ecodesign of energy-related product (MEErP), the analysis was carried out in the following steps: 1. Product group definition - The scope of the analysis is defined, legislative references identified as well as relevant testing methods; 2. Market - The market of the product is characterised, particularly in relation with practices promoting a more circular economy; 3. User behaviour - How consumers use and interact with the product is analysed; 4. Technical aspects - Technical elements for the analysis of material efficiency and system aspects are provided; 5. Material efficiency hotspots - Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost impacts are quantified for alternative scenarios based on the information gathered; 6. Definition of possible design measures for improving material efficiency - Possible measures that could improve the material efficiency of the analysed product are defined.