Developing a carbon footprint calculation method for product life cycle based on low-carbon design: A case study of the STAGE Bluetooth speaker

Abstract

In the field of low-carbon design, the collection and quantitative analysis of carbon footprint data are vital for reducing the environmental impact of products. This paper proposes a carbon footprint calculation method based on the product life cycle, using Cleer’s STAGE Bluetooth speaker as a case study. By integrating greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data from the GaBi database with the life cycle assessment (LCA) theory and the PAS 2050 standard, a carbon emission quantification model and calculation method for Bluetooth speakers have been developed. Results indicate that the STAGE Bluetooth speaker has a total carbon footprint of 227.01 kgCO2e across its life cycle. The use stage contributes the most (72.77%, 165.2 kgCO2e), followed by transportation (25.23%, 57.28 kgCO2e), raw material acquisition (3.78%, 8.6 kgCO2e), and production (1.82%, 4.13 kgCO2e). The recycling of materials results in a net reduction of −3.6% (−8.2 kgCO2e). The research demonstrates that improving energy efficiency and substituting materials are crucial strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of electronic products. This method offers a theoretical basis for low-carbon design in similar products and serves as a reference for assessing the carbon footprint of other electronic devices in industrial applications.