With the increasing demand for information technology, the production of new computers has become one of the most important industrial sectors worldwide. At the same time, however, there is a growing environmental threat of greenhouse gas emissions and water and air pollution.
Among the various methods of assessing the environmental impact of computer manufacturing, one of the key concepts is the carbon footprint. Carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, emitted throughout a product's life cycle - from raw material extraction, production, distribution, to the final stage of use and disposal.
New computer production accounts for a large share of the global carbon footprint, according to the study. It is estimated that the production of one laptop can emit 200 to 400 kg of carbon dioxide, and the production of one desktop up to 800 kg. For smartphones, the carbon footprint is about 50 kg per unit.
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