Evaluation of environmental impacts of mobile phones in India using life cycle assessment technique

The rise in the production, utilization and disposal of mobile phones has created a global concern for environmental sustainability. In the present research, environmental impact evaluation for the different life stages of mobile phones was performed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The study was focused mainly on raw materials extraction and network utilization phase as these two stages are responsible for creating most of the environmental pollution and health hazards. A comparative life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate impacts associated with button- and touch types mobile phones. IMPACT 2002 + ® method was considered to evaluate the environmental impacts. Fifteen mid-point and four damage assessment categories were evaluated. The production phase is the major emission contributing stage to human health, ecosystem quality, climate change and resources categories followed by its utilization phase. Printed circuit board manufacturing contributes to the emission in production phase while electricity consumption in utilization phase. Avoidance of virgin material for the production of mobile phones and its charging is identified as key parameters for improving the environmental performance.