The eHome 5 is the first product where this aspect has been analysed
Following its strategy of continuous improvement and commitment to sustainability, Circontrol has begun calculating the carbon footprint of its products. The first charger analysed under this premise is the home charging station eHome 5. The information provided allows for the improvement of manufacturing processes and helps to achieve the sustainability objectives set by the company, following the line of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the United Nations Global Compact, to which Circontrol is a signatory.
What does the carbon footprint analyse?
The calculation of the carbon footprint is a complex process that takes into account all the environmental impacts of a product during all stages of its existence, including its manufacturing, useful life, and end of life. This involves the materials used, the transformation process into a manufactured product, transportation, its use, and final management.
This calculation is never done to compare products with each other, as their end uses will, in many cases, have a very significant importance in the final result. Companies use this information internally to see the evolution of their products over time.
The carbon footprint of eHome 5
It should be noted that EV chargers do not directly generate CO2 emissions during their operation. However, their footprint depends directly on the energy source that powers them. In this case, the eHome 5 offers many facilities to the end user to generate fewer emissions derived from the origin of energy, thanks to its integration with photovoltaic self-generation infrastructures. In this sense, the growth in the use of renewable energies will contribute to reducing emissions during the product’s use phase. In fact, this is the phase where the eHome 5 has been calculated to have the biggest impact in terms of CO2 emissions.
Regarding manufacturing, Circontrol’s emissions are very low, as most of the energy comes from photovoltaic self-generation, and the remainder has a certified green origin. Additionally, most suppliers of the components needed to manufacture the eHome 5 are local, being largely from the same area where the factory is located. There are only 3 suppliers from outside Spain, all three being of European origin.
Finally, regarding the end of its useful life, the eHome 5 has been designed to be able to recycle its components appropriately to minimise its environmental impact. The recycling of electronic components allows for the recovery and reuse of valuable materials and reduces the need for natural resource extraction.
These processes reaffirm Circontrol’s commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement of its processes, not only from a product perspective, but also in contributing to creating a more sustainable world.
eHome 5 carbon footprint has been calculated using the platform GREEN COPILOT thanks to a program by Clúster d’Automoció de Catalunya (CIAC).
