Circular economies differ from the traditional linear economic model in shifting to a cradle-to-cradle circular model that produces no waste. We can accomplish the goals of circular economies through several possible business models, including product sharing, products-as-services, repair and refurbishment, remanufacturing, by-products and industrial symbiosis, replacement of raw materials with renewable materials, and resource regeneration and recovery.
Acer employs the concept of circular economies and strives to reduce the impact of our products on the environment throughout their life cycles. Through sound design, we make products that are more effective and have longer useful lives while also supporting the reuse of resources in manufacturing.
We carefully consider environmental factors in every stage of the product life cycle. This includes selecting materials during design, through packaging and shipping, to usage and recycling. We hope to work with consumers to reduce environmental impact.
Our green product policy states:
We provide outstanding products that are low in toxins, low pollution, energy-efficient, resource-efficient, and easy to recycle.
We work with our suppliers to go above and beyond global environmental standards and establish a green supply chain.
To make a product sustainable, we must examine its impact on the environment and performance at various stages of development, using this as a basis for enhancing the sustainability of future products. As well as emphasizing product life cycle thinking in our green product policy, Acer has also since 2018 introduced a life cycle assessment analysis into the development of hardware products across product lines in line with the revised ISO 14001 system. Through this, we gain an insight into the environmental impact of these products. To meet the requirements of the EPEAT standard and make our products more competitive in commercial bidding, since 2019, we have also enacted quantitative life cycle assessments for indicator products. In cooperation with the Industrial Technology Research Institute, we carried out full cradle-to-grave life cycle inventory and analysis of this product in line with ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards. Through the DoITPro database (v2019.0003), we undertook second-level data conversion, with the first product for which this was completed being the VX4660G, or Veriton X4660G. In 2020, in addition to desktops, we have expanded this to three major product lines, including notebooks and monitors, across a total of eight models, including the VM6660G, VN6660G, VS6660G, and VZ4660G desktops; the TMP214-52, TMP215-52, and TMP614-51 notebooks; and the B246HYL display. Research results have shown that in terms of both life cycle analysis and product carbon footprint analysis, the two stages with the most significant impact are “raw materials acquisition & component manufacturing” and “product use.” This has led us to set medium-term management goals for product energy efficiency and product raw material use to improve the environmental performance of our products more effectively. For example, the TMP 614, a high-end business notebook, performs better than the Energy Star requirements, saving approximately 21% in electricity (about 5.45 kWh per unit). In the future, we will set medium-term management targets to more effectively improve the environmental performance of our products.
In addition, completed life cycle assessment, including carbon footprint, is also verified by third-party assurance to ensure the accuracy and reliability of both the process and the data, providing an important reference for subsequent improvements to product environmental impact.
In 2021, we completed another life cycle assessment with 3rd party verification of Monitor B247Y and conducted life cycle assessment / product carbon footprint for other products such as B277, B248Y and TMP614-52. In 2022, more product carbon footprint reports including notebook, desktop and monitor will be available.
Product Carbon Footprint Report Life Cycle Assessment Verification Statement
