The devices and technology we use every day—from smartphones to USB cables—have a hidden environmental cost. The information and communications technology (ICT) sector is growing rapidly and is estimated to account for 2-4% of global carbon emissions, comparable to the aviation industry. This number is expected to rise sharply as the demand for AI and cloud computing grows, which require large data centers and energy-intensive hardware. Additionally, short product lifecycles mean that we’re replacing devices more frequently, further driving up emissions.
Every time a new phone or laptop is manufactured, raw materials like copper and aluminum are mined, often at great environmental cost. Even small items like USB cables play a role in this larger picture.
To understand the carbon footprint of a USB cable we have to look at all the emissions that went into making it. To do this Syllucid has done a life cycle assessment of one of its products to trace the emissions involved in making a USB cable - and where they came from.
Let’s dive right in.

Lifecycle Analysis of a USB Cable
To make this analysis we used a shorter version of our standard USB-C cable, which is shorter than your average cable at just 10 cm. The carbon footprint of this Syllucid USB-C cable has been assessed at 176 g CO₂e per unit, spanning its entire lifecycle. So from the moment the individual materials for the cable were mined till the moment it was disposed of.
A longer average USB cable of about 1,2 meters emits somewhere between 250-350 g CO₂e. Depending on its length that can be higher or lower. That is roughly similar to the emissions caused by an avocado or a pair of socks.
The lifecycle of a cable is divided into four key stages: raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, and disposal.
1. Raw Material Extraction: The Biggest Contributor
The raw material extraction phase is responsible for 74.38% of the cable’s total carbon footprint or 0.131 kg CO₂e. That makes it the largest contributor by far. The primary contributors are the energy intensive processes needed to mine and process materials such as copper, aluminum, and plastics. The minerals especially use enormous amounts of energy during the mining and refining process.
- Copper Mining: Copper is crucial for the cable’s conductors. However, mining and refining copper demand enormous amounts of energy, typically from fossil fuels like diesel, which results in high greenhouse gas emissions.
- Aluminum Production: Aluminum is used for shielding layers, but its production is notoriously energy-intensive due to the smelting and minding process
2. Manufacturing: A Smaller, Yet Significant Impact
The production process contributes 21.23% (0.037 kg CO₂e) of the cable’s total carbon footprint. This stage includes steps like wire drawing, insulation, and assembly. By using energy-efficient methods and recycled inputs, manufacturers can reduce emissions during this phase.
3. Distribution: Surprisingly Minimal
Shipping accounts for only 1.77% (0.0031 kg CO₂e) of the cable’s total emissions. At Syllucid, our cables are shipped via sea freight and local trucking—a less carbon-intensive combination compared to air freight.
4. Disposal: The End of the Lifecycle
The disposal stage contributes just 2.97% (0.005 kg CO₂e). Materials such as plastics and metals are partially recycled, incinerated, or sent to landfills. While recycling reduces emissions for future products, global waste management systems still have significant room for improvement.
Why Raw Materials Matter Most
What is not factored in here are the secondary emissions that stem from deforestation or other environmental damage that come from the mining of raw materials. We are only counting the emission that were directly involved in making the cable. However, the secondary emissions are significant and we are taking them very seriously.
It is clear from this analysis that raw material extraction is the most carbon-intensive stage of a USB cable’s lifecycle. While production, shipping, and disposal contribute smaller shares of the overall footprint, addressing the environmental impact of raw materials offers the greatest opportunity for reducing emissions.
Syllucid’s approach to reducing emissions
This is why using recycled materials and durable designs are the most important ways to reduce the Co2 footprint of a USB cable. Recycled materials have a much lower co2 footprint and durable designs help to avoid using new materials by simply keeping the product you already have.
To combat the high emissions of virgin materials, Syllucid incorporates recycled materials into its cables. For example, 63.2% of each cable’s weight consists of certified recycled materials, reducing the overall carbon footprint by 9.28%. Syllucid also employs efficient manufacturing processes to minimise emissions during the production phase and Products are shipped via sea freight and local trucking, which are less carbon-intensive compared to air freight.
Most importantly we use a durable design to ensure that you can keep your cable for a long time and offer a 5 year warranty. On top of that we are engaged in reforestation in areas affected by mining and are sourcing Fairtrade Gold for our supply chain to reduce the environmental damage caused by deforestation.
Make a Sustainable Choice Today
Now that you know the carbon footprint of a USB cable, the most crucial thing you can do is to try and keep them for as long as possible. By choosing durable tech products, like Syllucid's cables you can take a simple but powerful step toward reducing the environmental cost of your devices. Explore our full range of sustainable cables and make a conscious decision to minimise your carbon footprint.
Keywords: USB cable carbon footprint, sustainable tech products, eco-friendly USB cables, lifecycle analysis, recycled materials, ICT carbon emissions, Syllucid USB-C cable.