Mouser Electronics White Paper
Predictions for electronics products across industrial, consumer,
and other sectors are more difficult to ascertain. However, using
the US consumer electronics segment as an example, Fraunhofer
USA has reported that in 2020, 3.3 billion devices in 120 million
homes consumed 176TWh of energy, representing approximately
4.6 percent of total US electricity consumption that year (Figure 3).
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Figure 3: In 2020, consumer electronics accounted for 12 percent of US
residential electricity use. (Source: Fraunhofer USA; created by Mouser
Electronics)
To control both e-waste and electricity demand, global regulations
are tightening, with governments imposing material restrictions
and traceability requirements to the extent that environmental
disclosures are becoming design constraints. Similarly, the
electronics industry itself realizes that ignoring sustainability can
impact performance goals, compliance risk, and product viability.
Life Cycle
Assessment
The increasing focus on sustainability requires a full life cycle
assessment (LCA) for each product introduced (Figure 4). The
LCA must account for both "cradle-to-gate" costs and "cradle-
to-grave" costs. Cradle-to-gate analysis includes the costs of
inputs, such as raw materials (including extraction costs and
energy), as well as factors like water consumption. The cradle-
to-gate analysis accounts for all energy, waste, and emissions
costs up until the product leaves the factory door or gate.
Figure 4: Life cycle assessments track environmental impacts at every stage of a product's life. This includes emissions, energy
usage, and material waste from production to disposal. (Source: STMicroelectronics; modified by Mouser Electronics)
