Etteplan supports Symbicon’s journey towards more environmentally conscious product development

Symbicon designs, develops, and manufactures large LCD-based digital advertising and information display solutions for both indoor and outdoor use under the IconOne® brand. Symbicon is a pioneer in designing and manufacturing digital information displays. Their operations began in 2005, and products have been delivered to over 40 countries worldwide.

Symbicon is the pioneer in designing and manufacturing digital information displays since 2005, being the first to market with patented, large, and cost-effective LCD products for demanding indoor and outdoor applications. Now, in line with its strategy, the company aims to be a trailblazer in assessing the environmental impacts of its products and services.

Implementing the Life Cycle Assessment from cradle-to-gate

Symbicon was interested in understanding the environmental performance of two LCD displays made from different materials to utilize the information produced both in customer communications and internally in product development. This study was conducted in collaboration with Etteplan, which carried out life cycle assessments for the products with cradle-to-gate system boundary, following general life cycle assessment standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, carbon footprint standard ISO 14067, and, where applicable, product category rules EN 50693:2019 for life cycle assessments of electronic and electrical products and systems. The cradle-to-gate system boundary covered environmental impacts from the production of raw materials and components, their transportation, installation activities, and operations.

The life cycle assessment examined, in addition to the global warming potential, four other most significant environmental impact categories: acidification, eutrophication (soil), depletion of abiotic resources (fossil resources), and ground-level ozone formation. With this study, Symbicon gained valuable insights of the environmental impacts of their products from a cradle-to-gate perspective, was able to identify the most critical life cycle stages and single contributors to environmental impacts, and received information for product development.

Critical review ensures the reliability of the results and public communication

The report produced as a result of the study was directed to a third, independent party for critical review. This critical review enables Symbicon to communicate results more freely to stakeholders, such as customers.

"With Etteplan's help, we have been able to better participate in the projects of large international customers by providing transparent information about the environmental impacts of our products."

-Kalle Heikkinen, R&D and Production Development Manager at Symbicon

According to Heli Kumpulainen, Senior Consultant at Etteplan, the project emphasized the importance of cooperation. "We were able to provide the client with extensive new information about environmental impacts, life cycle assessment, and the associated processes. Because the work was directed toward critical assessment, we also gained valuable insights from a methodological perspective."