Environmental Impact Analysis of Smartwatch Using SimaPro8 Tools and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) Technique

Abstract

Smartwatch is a wearable electronic device that is widely used all around the world, with multiple functions, such as heart rate monitoring, sleeping monitoring, sport monitoring and so on. It is extremely valuable to find out the environmental impacts of this new generation product. This paper aims to present environmental impact analysis using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with SimaPro8 tools, and Energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) of smartwatches. Further, for green electronics applications, it is meaningful and mandatory to find out whether or not this powerful and widely used device really fulfils the relevant green regulations (such as Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance) for sustainable development. The LCA data collected by using the said software tools were analysed to quantify the key six environmental impacts on global warming, ozone layer depletion, acidification, etc. The data could be well used for better product design, sustainability, as well as generating environmental product declarations, accurate carbon foot-prints. The EDX data on the device further elucidated the satisfaction of meeting the RoHS requirements, and fulfilling the WEEE compliance. In summary, the results have clearly demonstrated the crucial and underlying importance of combined studies of LCA and EDX on the green compliance and sustainability of wearable smartwatches as a case, thus leading to various proposals for improving the design of greener smartwatches and more sustainable wearable devices in general. For example, the avoidance and minimization of using plastic and toxic materials for the constituent components of smartwatches is suggested to create a most feasible method for greener wearable electronic devices in terms of optimizing its carbon foot-print and recyclability, thus effectively achieving the ultimate goal of green electronics for the future.