Preliminary life-cycle assessment results for the design for the environment Computer Display Project

Abstract

A partnership approach to performing an industry-wide environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) of cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) computer monitors is being conducted under the US Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment Program. This approach encourages unbiased data collection and methodology development. Preliminary results from the product use life-cycle stage found that impacts calculated for the manufactured life of a monitor are on the order of 4 times greater than those estimated for an effective (actual) life. Results also found the impacts from CRT use were approximately 2.7 times that of the LCD use and that potential variability in these findings must be considered when comparing use stage impacts to other life-cycle stages.