Life Cycle Modeling

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have specific challenges regarding the environmental aspects. The demand for high performance together with the low power consumption requires to involve many different materials, including critical materials, and constrain the design rules. The technical needs for the use of certain materials must be balanced with the environmental burden through e.g. substitution, quantity reduction, resource efficiency and higher recyclability.

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Evaluation of the environmental performance of products requires detailed knowledge of the design, production and the product’s use. Only then is it possible to ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration.

Life-cycle modelling, with LCA or carbon footprint analyses identifies the environmentally relevant life cycle phases and the influential parameters. In addition to issuing  own environmental assessments, expertise in methodology and electronics is used to monitor and review external life-cycle assessments in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 within the evaluation process.

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Our core field of competence is the eco-design of new electronic products in information and communication technology or consumer electronics, lighting, industrial and automotive electronics, and sensor components. We take into account the entire lifecycle of a product from the raw materials, through the production of the components and the assembly, marketing and use phases to recycling and disposal.

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Evaluation of the environmental performance of products requires detailed knowledge of the design, production and the product’s use. Only then is it possible to ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration.

Life-cycle modelling, with LCA or carbon footprint analyses identifies the environmentally relevant life cycle phases and the influential parameters. In addition to issuing  own environmental assessments, expertise in methodology and electronics is used to monitor and review external life-cycle assessments in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 within the evaluation process.

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Depending on the goals and the scope, life-cycle assessments for electrical and electronic equipment can be very complicated and call for a high degree of expertise. In order to ensure reliable results in accordance with ISO 14040:2006, an independent life cycle assessment review is necessary. The scientists of Fraunhofer IZM have considerable expertise in the fields of electronics design, production technologies, materials, and environmental assessment.

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Modular smartphones have the unique ability to upgrade to keep pace with technology’s progress and changing consumer habits. This gives the devices a longer useful life, which means fewer phones need to be produced and their ecological footprint can be reduced.

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Modular smartphones have the unique ability to upgrade to keep pace with technology’s progress and changing consumer habits. This gives the devices a longer useful life, which means fewer phones need to be produced and their ecological footprint can be reduced.

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Electronic devices with a long service life can make an important contribution to a sustainable society. Fraunhofer IZM supports manufacturers in developing these kinds of product concepts, and in optimizing them to be environmentally friendly. The comprehensive life cycle assessment of the modular Fairphone 2 was able to demonstrate the environmental effects of producing a smartphone as well as how a modular approach can lead to a reduced environmental footprint.

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Electric and electronic products of the 21st century have a negative environmental impact during production to end-of-life. The trend is that the use phase of electric products shortens continuously while the number of products is growing. This leads to a fast growth of e-waste. A longer use phase can increase the resource efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts. A great deal of discussion revolves around the so-called “obsolescence”, a shortage of use phase by functional or qualitative deficits.

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Assessing ecological impact throughout the entire lifecycle is the most comprehensive means of evaluating a product’s environmental footprint. However, implementing lifecycle assessment is particularly difficult for small and medium enterprises. Hurdles include the amount of data involved, high costs and a lack of know-how.

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We offer thermal investigations of both - the materials and the systems. In order to be able to characterize thermal interface materials (TIM), a system was set up for determine heat conductivity and thermal resistance depending on the resistance relative to compression force. Infrared measurement techniques measure temperatures without any contact to detect errors in systems or components.

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We combine human-centred design and life-cycle thinking with newest insights from applied research to develop sustainable technologies and products, as well as business, service and ecosystem solutions. ​

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