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The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified the electronics industry as one of 8 sectors which together account for more than 50% of global carbon emissions. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of California have found that GHG emissions from electronic devices and their associated e-scrap increased by 53% between 2014 and 2020, with 580 metric tons emitted in 2020, or around 4% of total global GHG emissions. With the current growth rate of the industry, the UCI researchers estimate that emissions from the industry, if unchecked by regulation, will reach around 852 million tons by 2030.
As global efforts to reduce emissions increase, leading industry players such as Flex are responding by both participating in and complying with evolving carbon accounting regulations and practices.
In this second blog post in a series describing how Flex Power Modules is improving the sustainability of its operations, we focus on the research and development process.
R&D and the sustainability challenge
The U.S. EPA estimates that between 70% and 80% of the environmental impact of a product is determined during the R&D phase of the product lifecycle, highlighting the importance of a sustainable approach to R&D. At the same time, the WEF reports that 77% of the electronics industry’s emissions are Scope 3 emissions, meaning they are attributable to the supply chain, including both upstream and downstream activities.
It is therefore not sufficient for industry leaders such as Flex to control Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, we have a responsibility for the sustainability of our entire supply chain. Our R&D function, at the front-end of the development process, plays a key role in controlling Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions by designing for sustainability across the lifecycle of a product.
