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Scientific Article details

Title Combining technical, environmental, social and economic aspects in a life-cycle ecodesign methodology: An integrated approach for an electronic toy
ID_Doc 17743
Authors Margallo, M; Ruiz-Salmon, I; Laso, J; Bala, A; Colomé, R; Gazulla, C; Fullana-i-Palmer, P; Aldaco, R
Title Combining technical, environmental, social and economic aspects in a life-cycle ecodesign methodology: An integrated approach for an electronic toy
Year 2021
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123452
Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyse the environmental impacts of the Conector (R) Enciclopedia, and to recommend and apply improvement strategies based on eco-design principles. For this purpose, the work develops a methodology that integrates life cycle assessment (LCA) and eco-design. The LCA was performed using the GaBi 9.2 software and the CML 2002 method. To evaluate the influence of the operating hours of the toy two use scenarios were defined: 'minimum use' and 'continuous use'. The comparison was made on a common functional unit of 'hour of use'. Results showed that the environmental impact of the original toy was heavily dependent on the use phase, given the comparatively large impact caused by employed batteries. Beside the batteries, the electrical and electronic circuit and the game board were the components with the greatest environmental impact in the production stage. Based on the environmental profile of the toy, different strategies were identified, proposed to the company and developed in an eco-designed toy version. The new eco-designed version of the toy achieved approximately 50% impact reductions in all impact categories in the production stage, with very small investments. Despite the environmental benefits found in the eco-design product, the paper concludes that also the consumer acceptance and the technical and economic viability should be considered, trying to maximize the ecoefficiency of the solutions. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author Keywords Eco-design; Electronic equipment; Life cycle assessment; Sustainability; Toy
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000595260600002
WoS Category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
Research Area Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
PDF https://repositorio.unican.es/xmlui/bitstream/10902/19206/3/CombiningTechnicalEnvironmentalSocial.pdf
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