infrastructure is a critical element when comparing the environmental impact of competing digital technologies . Corning executed an LCA of the materials contained in optical fibre and its manufacturing process to assess its environmental impact , quantified as carbon footprint ( CF ). The results from this
Aislin Sullivan
study were compared to the CF of copper based on publicly available data .
It calculated the carbon footprint of one optical fibre to be 2.3 kg CO 2
eq / km , while two 0.5 mm copper wires ( used in Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line ) are estimated to have a carbon footprint of 14 kg CO 2
eq / km – 6x the carbon footprint of fibre over the same length . The latest fibre networks for home users , however , can deliver 2,000 times higher bandwidth over 7x longer distances for the same number of users .
Based on these values , it is estimated that to achieve the same transmission capacity , over the same reach , the twisted copper pair has a carbon footprint up to 85,000x higher than that of an optical fibre .
While this analysis is non-exhaustive and excludes recycling and disposal , as well as other materials and equipment needed to make both cables and operate both networks , it conservatively elevates optical fibre networks over copper from an embodied carbon perspective . This complements the findings of other studies that have confirmed that environmental and economic benefits can be achieved with optical fibre by eliminating active components and simplifying network architecture . Ultimately , studying the embodied carbon that results from the materials and manufacturing of optical fibre helps further improve its environmental performance .
Corning ’ s Cradle-to-Gate LCA study
An LCA is a standard methodology used to quantify the potential environmental impacts of a product or process . It is performed by calculating the GHG emissions associated with the entire life cycle of the product . A commonly used metric that results from an LCA is the global warming potential ( GWP ), also known as CF . To estimate the CF of optical fibre , all substances needed upstream for its production are considered , as well as electricity and other utilities in what is called a Cradle-to-Gate analysis . This considers all the resources needed and emissions caused by raw material extraction (‘ cradle ’), their processing into semi-finished products and final manufacturing into optical fibre that is ready for further distribution (‘ gate ’).
Dr Pushkar Tandon
Corning collected primary data from its production sites and detailed material information to quantify the Cradle-to- Gate impact of its optical fibre and optical fibre cables . Using the calculation method Environmental Footprint 3.0 ( EF3.0 ) and according to the principles and requirements of ISO 14040 and 14044 standards , Corning ’ s LCA study confirmed that the electricity required to manufacture optical fibre is the main source of impact , contributing 70 – 80 % to the overall CF . The study also
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