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Life Cycle Analysis of an iPhone
Introduction
This LCA is intended to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the production, use, and disposal of a widget, which is a small electronic device that is used for various purposes. The goal of this study is to identify the environmental hotspots associated with the widget's life cycle, and to make recommendations for improvements.
Life Cycle Stages:
The iPhones life cycle is divided into three stages: raw material extraction, production, and end-of-life. The following table provides a summary of the environmental impacts associated with each stage.
Stage
Environmental Impact
Raw material extraction
Biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water pollution
Production
Air pollution, water pollution, energy consumption
End-of-life
Solid waste generation, hazardous waste generation
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems. It provides a framework for organizations to identify and control their environmental impacts and to improve their environmental performance. Obtaining ISO 14001 certification demonstrates that an organization is committed to environmental protection and is taking steps to minimize its environmental impact (American Society for Quality, 2022). The value of ISO 14001 certification in an iPhone's life cycle analysis is that it provides assurance that the company is following international standards for environmental management. This includes setting and achieving environmental targets, implementing an environmental management system, and conducting regular internal and external audits. Companies that are ISO 14001 certified are committed to reducing their environmental impacts, and this can be a useful tool for consumers who are looking to make more environmentally-friendly purchasing decisions.
Apple has ISO 14001 certification, and states it clearly on its website: Apple operates manufacturing facilities in Cork, Ireland, and we certify 100% of these facilities with ISO 14001 (Environment, 2022).
Life Cycle
The first stage of an iPhone's life cycle is the extraction of raw materials. The main materials used in the production of an iPhone...…emissions from vehicles, ships, and airplanes. The usage phase includes both energy and water consumption throughout the phones life, which can have an impact on the environment through emissions, wastewater, and other waste.
Finally, the Disposal phase has a considerable environmental cost. The complex parts of the phone must be separated for recycling or must be disposed of in landfills, releasing toxic gases and materials into the air and soil. However, pollution prevention techniques could reduce pollution substitution, as Lee and Bi (2019) point out.
In conclusion, an iPhone's life cycle has significant environmental impacts at each stage, from the extraction of raw materials to the disposal or recycling of the product. From a qualitative and quantitative perspective, the use of energy, transportation emissions, and water resources are the main environmental impacts. Companies that are ISO 14001 certified can be an assurance that the company is following international standards for environmental management, and this…
References
American Society for Quality. (2022). Learn about quality: What is ISO 14001? Retrieved from https://asq.org/quality-resources/learn-about-quality
Dupont, R., Ganesan, K., & Theodore, L. (2016). Pollution prevention: sustainability, industrial ecology, and green engineering. CRC Press.
Environment. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/environment/answers/
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