A Case Study of Electronic Products from a Plastic Bag Perspective

The semiconductor industry plays a crucial role in the world of electronics manufacturing, and the energy consumption involved in producing semiconductor components is a topic of increasing environmental concern. By equating this energy use to the number of plastic bags it represents, we can gain a unique perspective on the environmental impact of these devices. For this article, we aim to compare major items like RAM, SSDs, and motherboards and finally focus on a gaming PC case.

Energy Consumption in DRAM Chip Manufacturing:

The production of a typical DRAM chip, a common memory component in gaming PCs, involves several energy-intensive stages:

• 5.8 MJ for silicon wafer production.
• 2.3 MJ for etching chemicals.
• 27.0 MJ for chip fabrication.
• 5.8 MJ for assembly.
• 0.17 MJ for assembly materials.

This totals 41 MJ per chip[1]. When we consider that a typical gaming PC might have 32 chipsets of RAM (2 slots of 16 chipsets), the energy consumption multiplies accordingly.

Plastic Bag Equivalency of Electronic Components:

Using a conversion rate of 25 kJ of energy to produce one plastic bag [2], we can estimate the environmental impact of various components:

• SDRAM Chipset: 41 MJ, equivalent to approximately 1,850 plastic bags.
• Laptop Memory (8 Chipsets): Around 1,850 x 8 = 14,800 plastic bags.
• PC Memory (16 Chipsets): Around 1,850 x 16 = 29,600 plastic bags.
• Server Memory (36 Chipsets): Around 1,850 x 36 = 66,600 plastic bags.
• SSD (4 Flash Memories): Around 1,850 x 4= 7400 plastic bags, assuming similar energy consumption as DRAM chipsets.
• CPU (Intel Core i3/i5/i7 dual-core): Estimated at 51.32 MJ, equivalent to around 2,316 plastic bags.
• GPU: Assuming it uses four times the energy of an SDRAM chipset, equivalent to approximately 1,850 x 4 = 7,400 plastic bags.

Motherboard Manufacturing:

The production of a typical gaming PC's motherboard, such as the B75, is also a significant contributor to the energy cost. The PCB fabrication, component soldering, and assembly are estimated to consume between 20 to 150 MJ, which can be translated into several hundred plastic bags, depending on the complexity of the board.

Additional Components:

Other essential components of a gaming PC, like the case, power supply, WiFi card, and cooling fans, also contribute to the total energy consumption, albeit to a lesser extent compared to the core electronic components. The energy used in their production, while not as high as the CPU or GPU, adds to the overall environmental footprint.

Total Energy Consumption and Plastic Bag Equivalency:

Now, let's calculate the total energy used in manufacturing the entire gaming PC with the specified components:

• RAM: 1312 MJ
• Motherboard: 85 MJ (estimated midpoint value)
• GPU: 164 MJ
• CPU: 51.32 MJ
• SSD: 164 MJ
• Other Components: 50 MJ (approximate)

Adding these values together, the rough estimate for the total energy used in manufacturing the gaming PC is approximately 3,138.32 MJ. To put this in perspective, this energy consumption is equivalent to producing about 125532.8 plastic bags.

XUM: Change for Good

At XUM, our mantra is "Change for Good." We are committed to sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact. On average, our company produces 50,000 PC RAM builds and 10,000 SSD RAM builds per month. This commitment translates into a significant positive environmental impact. If we calculate the energy saved by using energy-efficient manufacturing processes and materials, it would be equivalent to saving a substantial number of plastic bags in a year.

Calculation for Equivalent Plastic Bags Saved by XUM:

Let's calculate the energy savings achieved by XUM in a year based on our typical monthly production:

• PC RAM: 50,000 builds/month x 29,600 plastic bags/build = 1,480,000,000 plastic bags/year
• SSD RAM: 10,000 builds/month x 1,822 plastic bags/build = 74,000,000 plastic bags/year

In total, XUM's commitment to sustainable manufacturing saves the environment from the equivalent of over 1.5 billion plastic bags per year. This exemplifies our dedication to "Change for Good" and underscores the positive impact that environmentally conscious practices can have in the electronics industry.

1. Williams, Ayres & Heller, Environ. Sci. & Tech., 2002
2. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/291023/scho0711buan-e-e.pdf

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