Activity 1 ICT and Sustainability

Refer to the Activity Manual for activity instructions.

1. Every stage of the ICT lifecycle has an impact on the environment in some way. On the table
below, put ticks in the appropriate boxes in which you think each stage has significant impact
on the four key environmental factors of ICT.
Environmental factors of ICT
Product lifecycle stage Energy GHG emission e-Waste Water consumption
consumption
Material acquisition and pre- Tick Tick Tick
processing
Production Tick Tick Tick Tick
Distribution and storage Tick
Use Tick Tick Tick
End of life Tick

2. Select an ICT product such as laptop, printer, and smart phone, research the ICT lifecycle of
the product and its impact on the environment.
(a) What are the raw materials needed to manufacture the product? Explain how the
extraction of these raw materials has impact on the environment.

Mobile phones use raw materials including plastic, glass, epoxy, and synthetic rubber, copper, tin, silicon,
chrome, aluminium, bronze, liquid crystal, lithium, tantalum, carbon, polycarbonate, gold, silver and iron.

(b) Find out the method or the process to manufacture the product. In what way the method or
process has impact on the environment?
 Raw materials are first purified and refined to make PVC, Steel, Copper etc. This process uses water, other
raw materials and gases, to purify the end product. These processes use energy (coal fired) and release
greenhouse gasses. Processes produce by-products which are toxic waste. Have to be disposed properly
or they end up in waterways, ocean.

(c) How is the product used by the end users? Does the use of the product have impact on the
environment? If so, explain.

Charging the phone uses electricity which uses hydro or coal powered stations. This affects the
environment with an increase in GHG.

(d) What problems will be created to the environment when the product comes to the end of its
useful life?

Plastic waste doesnt break down in landfill. Heavy metals in ground. LCD leakage into ground.

Some materials in mobile phones cant be recycled without releasing harmful substances into the air.

(e) Suggest methods to minimise the impact of the product lifecycle on the environment.

Start manufacturing using recycled raw materials. Improve battery life. Offer a refurbish service option.
Re-flash O/S phones and resell in third world countries.

3. The case study below explores how Qantas is reducing the environmental impact of their ICT
and also using ICT as an enabler to improve the sustainability of their overall operations.
Questions:
3.1 Briefly state the objectives of the first three stages in Fujitsus ICT Sustainability Framework
Strategic alignment, IT assessment and Strategy development.
 Strategic alignment: align ICT sustainability to wider organizational goals.

IT assessment: involve all stakeholders to assess ICT sustainability

Strategy development: undertake baseline energy and emissions assessment and show where energy and
cost savings can occur.

3.2 What has Qantas implemented to reduce power consumption and cost?

It has virtualized it Servers to cut costs and power.

Offices have sensor-controlled lighting and managed print services that minimize printing and paper
consumption.

3.3 How did Qantas monitor energy consumption?

It is monitoring energy consumption using specialist power management software.