Environmental Footprint and Material Efficiency Support for Product Policy - Feasibility study for a standardized method to measure the time taken to extract certain parts from an Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Abstract

A study of the Joint Research Centre – JRC- on material efficiency published in 2012 established a method for the identification and assessment of “hot-spots” for End-of-Life (EoL) treatments of Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), including television, washing machines and imaging equipment. The method has been since then applied to various other product groups (e.g. enterprise servers). The improved extractability of target parts in Energy related Products (ErP) can represent a potential suitable requirement in the context of Ecodesign Directive for various product groups. In the case of measures for the “design for extraction of target parts in ErP” the 2012 JRC study identified the “time for the extraction” as a good proxy to prove the ‘easiness to disassembly’. However, the verification of the application of measures on extractability implies the availability of a method for repeatable measurements. The present report intends to provide scientific evidences on the feasibility of defining extraction times for the disassembly of WEEE and how it should be structured. The development of a standardised method for measuring the time for extraction of product’s target parts should allow the repeatability of measurements and minimizing uncertainty by removing or decreasing the influence of uncontrolled experimental conditions. The report includes a review of the relevant scientific references (including standards and scientific articles), discusses key issues for the measurement of the ‘time for extraction’ of product’s target parts and proposes how such keys issues can be integrated in an exemplary method for the measurement. Key definitions to be provided in the measurement method have been identified and provided for the following terms: target parts, extraction, extraction sequence, extraction time, worker experience, and tools for the extraction of components/parts. This report also establishes possible operating conditions such as testing area and safety requirements to extract parts of WEEE. The dismantling sequence has been identified as a crucial aspect. Detailed provisions on the dismantling sequence have been provided. The testing dismantling sequence has to be pre-defined prior to the product dismantling. Finally, a proposed measurement method has been developed as proof of concept and it is attached in Appendix 1. The method has been structured in order to reflect the framework of a potential international standard.JRC.H.8-Sustainability Assessmen