ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)

Technical Specification
Environmental Engineering (EE);
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of ICT equipment,
networks and services;
General methodology and common requirements

2 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)

Reference
DTS/EE-00014
Keywords
ICT, LCA, methodology, network, service
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3 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 6
Foreword . 6
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 8
2 References . 8
2.1 Normative references . 8
2.2 Informative references . 8
3 Definitions and abbreviations . 9
3.1 Definitions . 9
3.2 Abbreviations . 12
4 General Description . 14
4.1 Compliance to the present document. 14
4.2 Comparisons of results . 14
5 Methodological framework . 14
5.1 General requirements . 14
5.1.1 Life cycle stages . 15
5.1.2 Handling of software . 15
5.1.3 Operating Lifetime . 16
5.2 Goal and Scope definition . 16
5.2.1 Functional unit . 16
5.2.1.1 General . 16
5.2.1.2 ICT equipment . 17
5.2.1.3 Networks . 17
5.2.1.4 Services . 17
5.2.2 System boundaries . 17
5.2.2.1 General . 17
5.2.2.1.1 The use of unit processes . 20
5.2.2.2 ICT equipment . 22
5.2.2.2.1 General . 22
5.2.2.2.2 Equipment Raw materials acquisition . 22
5.2.2.2.3 Production . 22
5.2.2.2.4 Use . 24
5.2.2.2.5 End-of-life treatment (EoLT) . 25
5.2.2.3 Networks . 26
5.2.2.4 Services . 27
5.2.3 Cut-off rules . 27
5.2.4 Data Quality Requirements . 28
5.2.4.1 General . 28
5.2.4.2 Specific requirements on data and data sources . 29
5.3 Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) . 30
5.3.1 Data collection . 30
5.3.1.1 General . 30
5.3.1.2 Energy consumption during use stage . 31
5.3.2 Data calculation . 31
5.3.3 Allocation of data . 31
5.3.3.1 General . 31
5.3.3.1.1 Allocation rules for generic processes . 31
5.3.3.1.2 Allocation rules for allocation of support activities between projects/product systems . 31
5.3.3.1.3 Allocation rules for facility data . 32
5.3.3.1.4 Allocation rules for transports . 32
5.3.3.1.5 Allocation rules for recycling . 32
5.3.3.2 ICT equipment . 32
5.3.3.3 Net wor k . 32
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4 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
5.3.3.4 Services . 33
5.4 Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) . 33
5.5 Life Cycle Interpretation . 35
5.5.1 General . 35
5.5.2 Uncertainty . 36
5.5.3 Sensitivity analysis . 36
5.6 Comparative LCA between ICT and reference product systems. 36
6 Reporting . 37
6.1 General . 37
6.2 ICT equipment . 38
6.2.1 Total result . 38
6.2.2 System boundaries . 40
6.2.2.1 Life cycle stages, unit processes and generic processes . 40
6.2.2.3 Raw material acquisition . 40
6.2.2.4 Production . 40
6.2.2.5 Use . 41
6.2.2.6 EoLT . 41
6.2.3 LCI results . 41
6.3 Network . 41
6.3.1 Total result . 41
6.4 Services . 43
6.4.1 Total result . 43
7 Critical review . 45
Annex A (normative): Generic processes . 46
Annex B (normative): Part types and Assembly unit processes . 47
Annex C (normative): EoLT processes . . 49
Annex D (normative): List of Raw materials . 50
Annex E (normative): List of elementary flows in LCA of ICT . 52
Annex F (normative): Reporting formats . 55
Annex G (normative): Support activities . 62
Annex H (informative): Life cycle stages overview . 63
Annex I (informative): Examples of Equipment and black box modules . 64
I.1 End-user Equipment . 64
I.2 CPE. 64
I.3 Network site Equipment (from base station sites to data centres) . 64
I.4 Examples of ICT specific black box modules . 65
I.5 Site support Equipment . 65
Annex J (informative): Examples of Networks and Network Equipment . 66
Annex K (informative): Uncertainties of Life Cycle Assessments for ICT Equipment,
networks and services . 67
K.1 General . 67
K.2 Some important uncertainty sources for different life . 68
Annex L (informative): Opportunities and limitations in the use of LCA for ICT Equipment,
Networks and Services . 69
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5 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
Annex M (informative): Example of data quality indicators . 71
Annex N (informative): Examples of Allocation Procedures . 72
N.1 Examples for Allocation Procedures for Recycling of Materials . 72
N.1.1 Example of the 100/0 and 0/100 methods . 72
N.1.2 Example of the 50/50 method and combination of 100/0 and 50/50 . 73
Annex O (informative): Examples of application of the present document . 74
O.1 General . 74
O.2 Radio Base Station . 74
O.3 Mobile phone . 90
O.4 Networks . 106
O.4.1 Fibre To The Home . 106
O.4.2 3G mobile network of operator . 121
O.5 Services . 130
O.5.1 Video conference . 130
O.5.1 An ICT logistic service based on static positioning using a 3G mobile network and its reduction
potential . 146
Annex P (informative): Summary of recommendations and options . 153
Annex Q (informative): Bibliography . 154
History . 155

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6 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (http://ipr.etsi.org).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This Technical Specification (TS) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Environmental Engineering (EE).
Introduction
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a system analytical method and model by which the potential
environmental effects related to ICT Equipment, Networks, and Services can be estimated. LCAs have a cradle-to-grave
scope where the life cycle stages, i.e. raw material acquisition, production, use, and end-of-life are included. Transports
and energy supply are moreover included in each life-cycle stage.
ISO has standardized the LCA methodology. In the present document, ICT specific additions to the ISO 14040 [1] and
ISO 14044 [2] standards will be described. As addition to the ISO 14040 [1] and ISO 14044 [2] standards, the European
Commission has published a handbook that gives detailed guidance on all the steps required to conduct an LCA [i.2].
This handbook will also be referred to with special ICT considerations in mind.
The present document will help LCA practitioners to perform and report their LCAs of ICT Equipment, Networks and
Services in a uniform and transparent manner. It is possible to use the present document to get guidance on what to
consider in an LCA on three levels: ICT Equipment, Networks, and Services.
The following ICT LCA applications are the most frequently used ones, but others may be identified and used as well:
• Assessment of product system environmental loadings.
• Assessment of primary energy consumption.
• Identification of life cycle stages with high significance.
• Comparisons of specific ICT Equipment, Networks, or Services.
ETSI
Reporting
Comparative assertion between
ICT and non-ICT services
Life Cycle Interpretation
Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)
Goal and scope definition
General requirements
7 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
The structure of this LCA methodology specification for ICT Equipment, Networks, and Services is shown in Figure 1.
Services
Network
Equipment
Figure 1: Structure of LCA methodology specification
for ICT Equipment,Networks and Services
In accordance with ISO 14040 [1] and ISO 14044 [2], the present document consists of the following parts:
• General requirements: High level requirements of LCAs.
• Goal and scope definition: Requirements on functional unit, system boundaries and data quality.
• Life Cycle Inventory (LCI): Requirements on data collection, calculation and allocation.
• Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA): Requirements on impact categories.
• Life Cycle Interpretation: Requirements on interpretation of results.
• Comparative Assertion between ICT and reference product systems.
• Reporting: Requirements on reporting.
All applicable parts are then divided into the three main applicable product system categories; ICT Equipment,
Networks, and Services.
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8 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
1 Scope
The present document aims to:
• harmonize the LCAs of ICT Equipment, Networks and Services;
• increase the quality of the LCA by adding ICT specific requirements to those of ISO 14040 [1] and
ISO 14044 [2];
• facilitate communication of LCAs of ICT Equipment, Networks and Services;
• increase the credibility of LCAs of ICT Equipment, Networks and Services.
While recognizing ISO 14040 [1] and ISO 14044 [2] as normative references, the present document establishes generic
and specific requirements for LCA of ICT Equipment, Networks and Services. The present document is valid for all
types of Equipment which is/could be part of a Network including end-user Equipment.
2 References
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
reference document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
http://docbox.etsi.org/Reference.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
2.1 Normative references
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
[1] ISO 14040 (2006): "Environmental management -- Life cycle assessment -- Principles and
framework".
[2] ISO 14044 (2006): "Environmental management -- Life cycle assessment -- Requirements and
guidelines".
2.2 Informative references
The following referenced documents are not necessary for the application of the present document but they assist the
user with regard to a particular subject area.
[i.1] ETSI TS 102 706 (V1.1.1): "Environmental Engineering (EE) Energy Efficiency of Wireless
Access Network Equipment".
[i.2] European Commission Joint Research Centre (2011) International Reference Life Cycle Data
(ILCD) System Handbook: "General Guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed Guidance".
st
1 edn., Dictus Publishing (17 June 2011).
[i.3] European Commission Joint Research Centre (2011) International Reference Life Cycle Data
System (ILCD) Handbook: "Framework and Requirements for Life Cycle Impact Assessment
Models and Indicators". 1st edn. Dictus Publishing (17 June 2011).
[i.4] ETSI ES 202 336-1: "Environmental Engineering (EE);Monitoring and Control Interface for
Infrastructure Equipment (Power, Cooling and Building Environment Systems used in
Telecommunication Networks) Part 1: Generic Interface".
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9 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
3 Definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 14040 [1], ISO 14044 [2], the ILCD
Handbook, Table 1 [i.2] and the following apply.
active area: area of the display or touch panel which is useful for touch or viewing
black box module: device, system or object which can be viewed solely in terms of its input, output and transfer
characteristics without any knowledge of its internal workings
NOTE: In this context the black box module may consist of several part categories such as integrated circuits,
mechanics, cables etc, e.g. a power module on a PCBA.
commercial lifetime: time the equipment is owned before a new one is bought to replace it (often used to estimate
lifetime for consumer products)
Customer-Premises Equipment (CPE): any terminal and associated ICT Equipment located at a subscriber's premises
and connected with a carrier's telecommunication channel(s) at the NTPs CPE covers also home office equipment
cut-off: amount of energy or material flow or the level of environmental significance associated with unit processes or
product system excluded from the study
NOTE: Unit processes excluded from the studied product system in an LCA.
data gap: LCI flows excluded from a unit process within the studied product system
depreciation time: time during which a (new) revenue-generating asset reaches its residual economic value
NOTE: Legal lifetime.
end-user equipment: any device that can connect to CPE or Networks
EXAMPLE: Laptop, mobile phone.
NOTE: See clause J.1 for examples.
extended operating lifetime: aggregated duration of the actual use periods of the first user and consecutive use periods
associated with extended use
extended use: equipment is used again by a new user or in a new context potentially with refurbishment
fresh water: water from river, lakes or subsoil water
generic data: data from any relevant data source which need not be specific for ICT applications and processes
NOTE: Generic data are always secondary.
ICT Equipment: tangible equipment deriving from or making use of technologies devoted to or concerned with:
• the acquisition, storage, manipulation (including transformation), management, movement, control, display,
switching, interchange, transmission or reception of a diversity of data;
• the development and use of the hardware, software, and procedures associated with this delivery; and
• the representation, transfer, interpretation, and processing of data among persons, places, and machines, noting
that the meaning assigned to the data is preserved during these operations.
ICT manufacturer: organisation which has the financial and organisational control of the design and production of an
ICT Equipment
ICT specific EoLT: any disassembly/dismantling/shredding/recycling process which needs special adaptation for
handling of ICT equipment
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10 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
ICT specific infrastructure: basic structures needed for the operation of the Equipment, Network or Service
EXAMPLE: Antenna towers, cabling systems.
infrastructure: basic structures needed for the operation of the society
EXAMPLE: Transportation systems, buildings and power plants.
land use: human exploitation of land for agricultural, industrial, residential and recreational purposes
LCA practitioner: person(s) or organization(s) performing an LCA
life cycle stage: One of several consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system
mandatory activity: unit process which is significant to the result and therefore needs to be included
natural resource: material source, such as wood, water, or a mineral deposit, that occurs in a natural state
network: set of nodes and links that provide physical or over the air information and communication connections
between two or more defined points
Network Termination Points (NTP): point established in a building or complex to separate CPE from telephone
company equipment
node: point in a Network topology at which lines intersect or branch
operator: organization operating Networks and ICT Equipment
operating lifetime: duration of the actual use period (consisting of both active and non-active periods) for the first user
NOTE: Storage time is not included in operating lifetime.
optional activity: unit process which can be left out of the LCA because of low significance, low precision, general
lack of data or other practical reasons
organizational data: data that describe central characteristics of organizations, their internal structures and processes as
well as their behaviour as corporate actors in different social and economic contexts
other EoLT: any disassembly/dismantling/shredding/recycling process which does not need special adaptation for
handling of ICT equipment but could be used for any kind of equipment
part: constituent of ICT Equipment and Support Equipment
EXAMPLE: Cable.
part category: classified part type
EXAMPLE: Fibre cable.
primary data: quantified value of a unit process or an activity within the product system obtained from a direct
measurement or a calculation based on direct measurements at its original source
NOTE 1: In practice, primary data may be emission factors and/or activity data.
NOTE 2: Primary data includes site-specific data, i.e. data from one specific unit process within a site; and
site-average data, i.e. representative averages of site-specific data collected from organizations within the
product system which operate equivalent processes.
primary energy: natural resources which can be used for energy production
primary raw material: material which origins from natural resources
process category: classified process type
EXAMPLE: Landfill, Air, Ship and Train.
processed materials: raw materials which have been physically and/or chemically changed by humans
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11 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
public data: data which is available to the public without access being restricted by requirements on membership,
none-disclosure agreements, or similar
ratio of recycled raw material content: amount of recycled raw material in relation to the amount of primary raw
material used as input to production
raw material: primary or secondary raw material that is used to produce a Part or Equipment
raw material extraction: production of extracted raw materials used in raw material processing
raw material processing: production of processed raw materials used in Part production
raw material recycling: production of raw materials from recycled products
recommended activity: unit process which could be significant to the result should be included in the LCA
recycling rate of disposed raw material: rate with which disposed equipment ends up in a recycling process is part of
the scope of the LCA
reference product system: (basically non-ICT but can also be ICT) system which is replaced by ICT
EXAMPLE: Traditional Service which is replaced by an ICT Service.
re-use: equipment is used again partially or as a whole potentially involving refurbishing in the EoLT
secondary raw material: material which origins from recycled primary raw materials
secondary data: quantified value of a unit process or an activity within the product system obtained from sources other
than direct measurement at its original source
NOTE: Such sources can include databases (a list of LCA databases (publicly available and licence based)
provided by the EU can be found at http://lca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/lcainfohub/databaseList.vm), published
literature, national inventories, and other generic sources.
service (application): use of ICT Equipment and/or Networks to provide value to one or more users
service provider: organization operating a service (could be the same organization as the operator organization)
specific data: data emerging from, ICT specific applications and processes
NOTE: This data could be either primary or secondary.
storage time: time which the equipment is stored before and after its use stage
support activity: activities supporting unit processes associated with the function of the Equipment, Network or
Service
NOTE: Examples of support activities are activities directly associated with the product system such as
marketing, development and sales and also more general activities of the organization such as data
support, communication, and financial support.
Support Equipment: A device, system or object needed to realize the function of support the use of ICT Equipment
EXAMPLE: Equipment for power supply and temperature regulation.
NOTE: See ES 202 336-1 [i.4] for explanation which defines support equipment for networks as infrastructure
equipment.
the 100/0 method: allocation method that allocates the primary Raw Material Acquisition processes fully to the studied
product system, i.e. no recycled Raw Material is assumed as input to the studied life cycle
NOTE: No recycling is assumed to occur at End-of-Life.
the 0/100 method: allocation method that allocates 0 % of the primary Raw Material Acquisition processes to the
studied product system, i.e. 100 % recycled Raw Material is assumed as input to the studied life cycle
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12 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
the 50/50 method: allocation method that allocates the primary Raw Material Acquisition processes equally to the
introducer (initial life cycle that introduces the primary Raw Material) and the "depleter" (the last lifecycle in which the
Raw Material is not recycled) i.e. the recycling of Raw Materials is allocated equally to the studied life cycle and the
product system losing/introducing the material
traffic: total volume of cells, blocks, frames, packets, calls, messages, or other units of data carried over a circuit or
Network, or processed through a switch, router, or other system
unit process: smallest element considered in the life cycle inventory analysis for which input and output data are
quantified (refer to ISO)
EXAMPLE: Part unit process such as IC Encapsulation and Display module assembly.
3.2 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
3G Third generation telecom networks
4G Fourth generation telecom networks
BGA Ball Grid Array
BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand
BOM Bill of Materials
BSC Base Station Control site
CAS Chemical Abstracts Service
CATV Cable Access Television
CC Climate Change
CED Cumulative Energy Demand
CFC Chloro Fluoro Carbons
CN Core Network
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand
CODEC COmpression/DECompression
CPE Customer Premises Equipment
CPU Central Processing Unit
DALY Disability Adjusted Life Years
DB Dichlorobenzene
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
DSLAM Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
EA Eutrophication Aquatic
EHW Environmentally Hazardous Waste
EIO-LCA Economic Input Output LCA
ELU Environmental Load Unit
EOL End Of Life
EoLT End of Life Treatment
ET Eutrophication Terrestrial
ETFW Ecotoxicity Freshwater
FTTH Fibre To The Home
FWT Fixed Wireless Terminal
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
GHG Green House Gas
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GPS Global Positioning System
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
GWP Global Warming Potential
HFC Hydro Fluoro Carbons
HGW Home Gateway
HLR Home Location Record
HT Human Toxicity
HTC Human Toxicity Cancer effects
HTNC Human Toxicity Non-Cancer effects
HW Hardware
IC Integrated Circuit
ICT Information and Communication Technology
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13 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
ILCD International Reference Life Cycle Data System
IP Internet Protocol
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPTV Internet Protocol Television
IRE Ionizing Radiation Ecosystems
IRH Ionizing Radiation Human health
LAN Local Area Network
LCA Life Cycle Assessment
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
LCI Life Cycle Inventory
LCIA Life Cycle Impact Assessment
LED Light Emitting Devices
LNG Liquified Natural Gas
LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas
LTE Long Term Evolution
LU Land Use
MGW Media Gateway
MJ Megajoule
MSC Mobile Switching Center
OD Ozone Depletion
ODP Ozone Depletion Potential Indicator
OLT Optical Line Terminal
ONU Optical Network Unit
PAH Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon
PCB Printed Circuit Boards
PCBA Printed Circuit Board Assembly
PDA Personal Digital Assistant
PDH Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy
PDP Plasma Display Panel
PMMA Polymethyl-Methacrylate
POF Photochemical Ozone Formation
PWB Printed Wiring Board
RAN Radio Access Networks
RBS Radio Base Station
RDMR Resource Depletion Mineral Resources
RDW Resource Depletion Water
RI/PM Respiratory Inorganics/Particulate Matter
RMD Natural Resources Depletion Indicator
RNC Radio Network Controller
SAC Sn/Ag/Cu alloys
SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
SMS Short Messaging Service
SMT Surface Mounting Technology
STB Set Top Box
STM Synchronous Transport Module
SW Software
TOE Total Oil Equivalent
UE User Equipment
UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply
USD United States Dollar
USGS United States Geological Survey
WAN Wide Area Network
WDM Wavelength Division Multiplexer
WE Water Eutrophication Indicator
WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
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14 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
4 General Description
This is a clause about compliance and comparisons. First it is recommended to study ISO 14040 [1], Section 4.1.
4.1 Compliance to the present document
The present document contains requirements (denoted as mandatory or by the use of the word shall), recommendations
(denoted by the use of the word should), and options (denoted as optional or by the use of the word may).
Recommendations and options are summarized in clause 8.
Full compliance towards the present document can be claimed if all mandatory requirements are fulfilled.
LCAs can also partially comply to the present document by complying to the majority of mandatory shall requirements,
but not being able to fulfil all due to data gaps, lack of transparency in data bases and so forth.
In both cases the fundamental LCA principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, accuracy, and transparency shall
guide the practitioner.
It is acknowledged that full compliance to the present document may not be possible, especially for Network and
Service level, where some data may be based on already published LCAs, which, especially initially, may not be in
accordance with the present document.
The compliance statement contained in the report should disclose and explain the use of such data and why full set of
data are not available.
4.2 Comparisons of results
It is important to realise that comparisons of results (absolute and relative values) between LCAs are beyond the scope
of the present document, as such comparisons would require that the assumptions and context of each LCA are exactly
equivalent.
LCA can be performed and presented by different individuals/organizations or by the same individual/organization.
However, comparisons of LCA results obtained by the same individual/organization who uses:
i) the present document;
ii) the same LCA tool; and
iii) the same LCI databases for all comparables are supported by the present document. A third-party review is
also needed if the comparison result is to be externally communicated.
In case of comparative assessment between ICT Equipment LCAs the operational lifetime shall be set equal.
Differences in lifetime could only be accepted if they reflect differences in actual characteristics.
5 Methodological framework
5.1 General requirements
When performing an ICT related LCA, the requirements of the present document apply as well as those of
ISO 14040 [1] and ISO 14044 [2]. I.e. all three standards have to be taken into account.
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15 ETSI TS 103 199 V1.1.1 (2011-11)
5.1.1 Life cycle stages
The following life cycle stages (also shown in Figure 2) in the present document apply to ICT Equipment, Networks and
Services and shall be assessed as applicable in LCAs based on the present document:
a) Equipment Raw material acquisition which is composed by:
- Raw material extraction.
- Raw material processing.
b) Production which is composed by:
- ICT Equipment production.
- Support Equipment production.
c) Use which is composed by:
- ICT Equipment Use.
- Support Equipment Use.
- Operator support activities.
- Service Provider support Activities.
d) Equipment End of Life Treatment:
- Re-use.
- ICT specific EoLT.
- Other EoLT.
Transports and energy supplies shall be included in all life cycle stages. It is important that all transports within and
between life cycle stages are included in the assessment, especially transports of equipment between production and use
stages shall be taken into account. The data collected shall be structured in such a way that transports could be reported
transparently as far as possible.
NOTE: The assessment of raw materials acquisition is generally based on generic databases. At this stage such
databases often do not report transports transparently.
It is optional to include the construction of plants in which ICT or Support Equipment is manufactured. The life cycle
stages are further described in clause 5.2.2.
5.1.2 Handling of software
From the perspective of the present document software shall be considered as well as hardware.
Any ICT Equipment or Network or Services uses both hardware and software which both impacts, e.g. the production
and use stages. For the production stage software development impacts the amount of persons involved in the
development work and thus impacts
...