Uncertainty estimation by Monte Carlo simulation applied to life cycle inventory of cordless phones and microscale metallization processes

Abstract

This paper addressed the question whether there is an environmental advantage of using DECT phones instead of GSM phones in offices. The paper also addresses the environmental compatibility of Electrochemical Pattern Replication (ECPR) compared to classical photolithography based microscale metallization (CL) for pattern transfer. Both environmental assessments consider electricity consumption and CO/sub 2/ emissions. The projects undertaken were two comparative studies of DECT phone/GSM phone and ECPR/CL respectively. The research method used was probabilistic uncertainty modelling with a limited number of inventory parameters used in the MATLAB tool. Within the chosen system boundaries and with the uncertainties added to input data, the ECPR is to 100% probability better than CL and the DECT phone is to 90% better than the GSM phone.