The Environmental Footprint of a Product & The Time and Energy it Costs to Use it
I often hear about Life-Cycle Assessments (LCA) for products, which analyse their environmental footprint from "cradle to cradle" (production to disposal). Recently, I wondered if I could apply this perspective to my own life. How much time, energy, and emotional resources do the things I use daily actually cost me?
What Is a Life Cycle Assessment?
An LCA evaluates the resources required throughout a product’s lifecycle —from production and transport to use and disposal. Factors like durability, recyclability, and energy consumption play a key role. But what does this mean for users? How do the ecological and social costs of a product impact our personal lives?
Example: A Kettle and Its Environmental Footprint
At a meetup hosted by oose eG in Hamburg, I learned how to conduct an LCA using the SysLM modeling language. A kettle was used to illustrate the impact of material choices — like lead or cadmium alloys — and lifespan on the environment. At the same time, the product's quality directly affects my personal energy balance. A device that releases toxic substances compromises my health, and one that breaks down quickly costs me time and nerves. I picture hotline marathons and the frustrating hunt for replacement parts.
The Black Box of Digital Products and Services
Digital products like streaming services or AI systems make it even harder to assess their environmental and personal resource impacts. What happens in the backend remains invisible to us. Behind a simple click lie complex processes: data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, data is transmitted globally, and devices eventually become e-waste.
For example, one hour of video streaming produces 100–175 grams of CO₂ — the equivalent of driving one kilometer by car. Streaming over mobile networks is even worse, consuming up to 90 grams of CO₂ per hour. And AI? A single request to models like ChatGPT uses about three times as much energy as a Google search.
Hidden Costs: Attention and Lifespan
This is where my concept of Personal Attention Assessment comes into play — a term I might have invented. Living in an attention economy, it’s vital to occasionally evaluate the human resources — time, energy, attention — that digital products demand from us. I’ve felt this acutely with increasingly opaque subscription models.
For example, a printer manufacturer recently remotely disabled the cartridges in my purchased printer after I canceled my subscription. Instead of owning a product outright, I now have one that continually drains my resources — both financially and emotionally. I’d prefer to pay for software and apps once and own them for life, like a bicycle or a soccer ball. I have no interest in products transforming into intangible "services" that I can barely evaluate or control.
I Am the Product
Subscription services demand my attention to a degree that outweighs their benefits. I have to deal with features that were included at the time of purchase but suddenly require additional payment. I must keep up with changes in terms of use that could affect the future security of my personal data. And I constantly need to manage contract cancellations on time.
These hidden extra costs are now attached to almost all digital products. Each interaction creates a well-documented stream of personal data. Eventually, it becomes clear: I am the product.
The Reclamation
I dream of a world where I’m not constantly enticed to binge-use. I can no longer manage the overwhelming number of files, service contracts, or digital subscriptions in my life. Thanks, I’ve had enough! Or, as Judith Holofernes and the German band Wir sind Helden famously put it: "I want my life back!"
We should all learn to calculate the marginal costs of the attention economy. The concept of Life Cycle Assessment is a useful mental framework for anyone being managed by their subscriptions rather than the other way around. It’s worth asking: What are the real costs of online services? Do they improve our quality of life or increase our autonomy? How would your evaluation matrix look for such an analysis?
We need to break free from dependency on big corporations. Netflix can’t seriously be the only answer to a stressful day.