Flow Modelling of Batteries from Mobile Computing Devices WRAP. September 2015

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1 Flow Modelling of Batteries from Mobile Computing Devices WRAP September 2015

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3 This work was commissioned to help understand the environmental impacts of different battery designs - integrated and userremovable, which could then inform better design specifications relating to product durability, repair, reuse and recycling. WRAP sought to understand the recovery rates and fates of batteries from mobile computing devices (laptops, tablets, and smartphones), drawing out the differences between integrated and user-removable battery designs. This project contributed to the following esap (Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sustainability Action Plan) themes: Extending product durability through design and customer information Gaining greater value from re-use and recycling. Motivations for study (1)

4 Hazardous nature of mobile device Li-ion batteries impact of battery failure can be significant fate & H&S impacts of batteries in AATF processes if they are not removed before shredding aftermarket replacements vary in quality Many reuse organisations prefer userreplaceable batteries to easily extend the life of mobile devices Little evidence to confirm that integrated batteries are a barrier to device reuse. Motivation for the study (2)

5 To undertake an assessment of the management flows and fates of integrated and user removable battery designs for mobile computing devices: Laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Out of scope: Batteries from other electrical and electronic products, including batteries from power tools. Li-ion batteries from products other than mobile computing devices, including digital cameras and camcorders, game consoles and torches. Project scope

6 1. Develop a flow model to predict arisings of batteries at end of use. 2. Gather industry data and indicators to inform the flow model. 3. Complete sensitivity cases to test the model where data references are low quality. Methodology

7 Flow model

8 Key limitations: The model relies on information provided by a small number of industry stakeholders in the battery recycling/compliance and IT asset management sectors. We have not been able to investigate the real difference integrated batteries make (versus user removable batteries) to either reuse or recycling. The baseline model results are indicative only and better data should be substituted when they are available. Data sources and limitations (1)

9 1. Official Batteries Regulations data on batteries placed on the market and waste battery treatment - used as a guide but only provides aggregated data for other chemistries (non Pbacid and NiCd). 2. Eucobat, the European association of national collection schemes for batteries, UK compliance schemes and recyclers were contacted and contributed information, but WRAP was not able to breakdown the aggregated data further. 3. The waste arisings were estimated by taking sales data and mean product lifetime data (from Euromonitor) and applying a Weibull distribution spread. 4. Euromonitor sales data does not include B2B smartphone sales. Estimates for these were made based on B2B laptop sales. 5. The number of replacement battery sales was estimated using one data source; Avicenne Développement, The Portable Rechargeable Battery (PRB) market in Europe ( ), 2010), this was reviewed with several OEMs. 6. Data on the split between collection routes and recycling routes for both the devices as WEEE and the separated batteries, has been difficult to find in any detail. Data sources and limitations (2)

10 Number vs weight split of arisings

11 Split of battery type by device

12 Estimated device waste arising in 2014 split by device year of purchase Battery Arising Estimation (000 s)

13 Test model (base case)

14 2,788 tonnes of portable non-pb-acid/ni-cd batteries were reported as sent for treatment in 2014 (NPWD/AIOBG). 1 This WRAP study estimates that: ~2,500 tonnes of batteries (mostly Li-Ion) arose in 2014 within devices and as separated batteries. Only ~150 tonnes of Li-Ion batteries are recycled (sorted) in the UK just under 6% by weight. Around 75% of batteries by weight remain in reused IT split almost evenly between UK reuse and overseas. Around 15-20% are potentially hoarded or disposed of via non-recycling routes. 1 This figure is potentially an underestimate as there is likely to be an amount of additional recycling that is either unreported or carried out by non-accredited operators. Key Findings (1)

15 Of the estimated 2,500 tonnes of batteries arising in 2014: ~33% are integrated mostly in smartphones and tablets ~67% are user removable mostly in laptops B2B is dominated by user removable batteries in laptops B2C is dominated by integrated batteries in other devices and this trend is likely to continue with devices getting thinner each year. Key Findings (2)

16 For further information, please contact The esap (Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sustainability Action Plan ) team at WRAP: eproducts@wrap.org.uk Webpage for the project Flow modelling of batteries from mobile computing devices :