Variables that affect the environmental performance of small electrical and electronic equipment. Methodology and case study

Abstract

This paper provides a methodology to identify the variables that affect the environmental performance of the life cycle of small electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Different environmental indicators were contemplated as response variables, and five covariates were considered to potentially affect the life cycle of equipment: material weight, distribution, power, frequency of use and end-of-life. Different values per covariate were assumed. For material weight, power and frequency of use, three different levels were considered for each one: low, average and high. For distribution, three different distances were taken by simulating national, European and international distribution. For end-of-life, different scenarios were considered: using the equipment until the end of its life span, repairing it (assuming different repair types) or replacing it with a new one if it breaks before the end of its life span. The environmental impacts of each scenario obtained by combining these covariates were calculated by applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology using mid- and end-point impact assessment methods. The obtained environmental indicators were modelled by Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) to identify the variables that affect the environmental performance. The methodology was applied to a sample of 10 categories of small household EEE. The results revealed that one general pattern was associated with all these categories: the covariates that statistically more affected the environmental impact of their life cycle were, in this order, frequency of use and power, followed by end-of-life strategies and material weight.