Before your laptop ever reaches your desk, it’s already responsible for a significant share of its lifetime carbon emissions. For example, raw material extraction, manufacturing processes, and long-haul shipping all generate CO₂. That output frequently exceeds several years of the device’s daily energy use combined. This article looks at why replacing devices too soon increases […]
A computer’s life starts deep underground, in the mines that supply the raw materials powering every chip, screen, and circuit board. Each stage along the way leaves a lasting environmental footprint. Most people never think past the screen in front of them. But every electronic device they own has already travelled through an extraordinary chain […]
Most of us have a drawer full of old electronics we never quite got around to sorting. Take a cracked phone from two upgrades ago, or a charger that no longer fits anything. All of it counts as e-waste, yet most of it never gets treated that way. When electrical and electronic equipment are thrown […]
You’ve probably heard that e-waste is a growing problem. But once you start looking at the numbers, you’ll realise how bad it actually is. In fact, Global electronic waste hit 62 million tonnes in 2022, and it’s still rising. Our team at Chaire-Cycledevie has been researching the life cycle of electronic equipment for over twenty […]
Life cycle assessment (LCA) data provides organisations with insight into the true environmental costs of products. It helps organisations make well-informed technology choices before purchase. The data includes carbon emissions, energy use, and raw material consumption from manufacturing through to disposal. Here at Chaire-Cycledevie, we’ve spent over two decades studying the life cycle of technology […]
Every year, the world produces around 62 million tonnes of electronic waste, which is enough to fill about 1.5 million trucks. Hidden inside that mountain of discarded electronics are millions of laptops that were replaced long before they stopped working. Sadly, many people don’t realise that the highest environmental cost of a laptop often happens […]
According to research, producing electronic devices generates around 580 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually, with manufacturing being the largest contributor. Although most people think it’s the hours spent browsing that rack up the damage, that’s not how it works. Rather, extracting raw materials and assembling components demands enormous energy before your laptop even […]
Replacing devices too early can create unnecessary waste, as manufacturing is often responsible for the largest share of a device’s total carbon footprint. It’s because every new phone, laptop, or tablet requires mining rare materials, energy-intensive production, and global shipping before it even reaches your hands. At Chaire-Cycledevie, we’ve spent over two decades studying the […]
When a computer reaches the end of its life, you either recycle it for parts, send it to another country as e-waste, or simply dump it into a landfill with other old electronics. How you dispose of it determines its environmental impact. Every year, people throw away millions of pieces of electronic equipment without thinking […]
Computer recycling protects the planet by keeping harmful toxins out of landfills and recovering valuable materials that would otherwise require new mining. That’s why what you do with your old laptop or desktop has a bigger impact than you might realise. Let’s be honest, upgrading to a faster machine feels great. But the problem is, […]