Why repairability now defines sustainable computing
Laptop emissions come from metals, screens, and chips. Thin sealed designs shorten lifespan. Repairable machines reverse this trend.
Three ideas dominate.
Energy efficiency per watt.
Apple silicon leads due to high performance with low power. Fanless designs reduce failure points.
Repair and upgrade access.
Replaceable RAM and storage extend useful life. ThinkPad and Acer Aspire models perform well. Soldered parts score lower.
Material circularity.
Recycled aluminium and ocean bound plastics reduce extraction. Dell and HP integrate closed loop plastics at scale.
Metrics used in ranking
Performance per watt.
Repair and upgrade access.
Recycled material share.
Manufacturing emissions reduction processes.
Expected resale value.
Laptop Rankings
| Product | Manufacturer | India Sales Rank | Scope 1 Proxy (kg CO2e/unit) | Scope 2 Proxy (kg CO2e/unit) | Scope 3 Proxy (kg CO2e/unit) | Energy Efficiency / Intensity Proxy | Water Intensity Proxy (L/unit) | Material Circularity (%) | Packaging Material | Packaging CO2e (kg/unit) | Waste or E-waste (kg/unit) | Company Renewable Energy (%) | Social/Safety Proxy | BRSR Available | Sustainability Report Available | Data Confidence | Estimation Basis | Primary Reference Link | Subjective Sustainability Factor | Final Sustainability Score (0–100) | Final Sustainability Rating (1–5) |
| MacBook Air M1 | Apple | 1 | 12 | 10 | 120 | Very High | 1200 | 75 | Aluminium | 2.2 | 0.35 | 100 | NA | Y | Y | High | Apple LCA | https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/macbook_air/MacBookAir_M1_PER_Nov2020.pdf | Fanless M‑series efficiency → very low power draw & long life. | 94.6 | 5 |
| MacBook Air M2 | Apple | 2 | 12 | 10 | 125 | Very High | 1250 | 77 | Aluminium | 2.3 | 0.36 | 100 | NA | Y | Y | High | Apple LCA | https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/macbook_air/MacBookAir_M2_PER_July2022.pdf | Highly efficient M‑series; long usable lifespan. | 92.37 | 5 |
| MacBook Pro 14 | Apple | 3 | 14 | 12 | 150 | Very High | 1400 | 78 | Aluminium | 2.6 | 0.4 | 100 | NA | Y | Y | High | Apple LCA | https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/macbook_pro_14/MacBookPro14_PER_Oct2021.pdf | High performance with excellent efficiency; long pro lifecycle. | 74.58 | 4 |
| Dell XPS 13 | Dell | 4 | 13 | 12 | 145 | High | 1350 | 74 | Aluminium | 2.5 | 0.38 | 50 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Dell ESG | https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/about-us/sustainability.htm | Good spare‑parts ecosystem; moderate repairability. | 73.18 | 4 |
| HP Pavilion 15 | HP | 5 | 15 | 14 | 160 | Medium | 1500 | 65 | Plastic/Metal | 2.8 | 0.45 | 67 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | HP ESG | https://www.hp.com/sustainable-impact.html | Uses some PCR plastics; design largely non‑modular. | 54.87 | 3 |
| HP Envy 13 | HP | 6 | 14 | 13 | 150 | High | 1400 | 70 | Aluminium | 2.6 | 0.4 | 67 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | HP ESG | https://www.hp.com/sustainable-impact.html | Partial recycled materials; moderate repairability. | 66.81 | 3 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 | Lenovo | 7 | 15 | 14 | 158 | Medium | 1480 | 62 | Plastic | 2.9 | 0.46 | 25 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | ICT avg | https://www.lenovo.com/sustainability | Average repairability; limited upgrade scope. | 50.22 | 3 |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim | Lenovo | 8 | 13 | 12 | 145 | High | 1350 | 70 | Aluminium | 2.5 | 0.38 | 25 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Lenovo ESG | https://www.lenovo.com/sustainability | Slim design trades repairability for lower material mass. | 69.35 | 3 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E14 | Lenovo | 9 | 14 | 13 | 150 | High | 1400 | 68 | Plastic/Metal | 2.6 | 0.4 | 25 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Lenovo ESG | https://www.lenovo.com/sustainability | Highly repairable; strong spare ecosystem. | 61.78 | 3 |
| Acer Swift 3 | Acer | 11 | 13 | 12 | 145 | High | 1350 | 68 | Aluminium | 2.5 | 0.38 | 10 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | OEM proxy | https://www.acer.com/corporate/sustainability | Lightweight design; limited repair access. | 67.17 | 3 |
| ASUS ZenBook 14 | ASUS | 13 | 13 | 12 | 145 | High | 1350 | 70 | Aluminium | 2.5 | 0.38 | 20 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | ASUS ESG | https://www.asus.com/sustainability | Premium slim build; limited repairability. | 68.82 | 3 |
| Dell Inspiron 14 | Dell | 14 | 14 | 13 | 155 | Medium | 1450 | 64 | Plastic/Metal | 2.7 | 0.44 | 50 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Dell ESG | https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/about-us/sustainability.htm | Spare availability good; glued parts limit repair ease. | 59.41 | 3 |
| Dell Vostro 15 | Dell | 15 | 15 | 14 | 160 | Medium | 1500 | 63 | Plastic/Metal | 2.9 | 0.46 | 50 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Dell ESG | https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/about-us/sustainability.htm | Business focus ensures longer service availability. | 52.15 | 3 |
| HP 14s | HP | 16 | 14 | 13 | 150 | Medium | 1400 | 62 | Plastic | 2.7 | 0.44 | 67 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | HP ESG | https://www.hp.com/sustainable-impact.html | Mass‑market design; acceptable life but limited modularity. | 63.1 | 3 |
| Acer Aspire 5 | Acer | 10 | 15 | 14 | 160 | Medium | 1500 | 62 | Plastic/Metal | 2.9 | 0.46 | 10 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | ICT avg | https://www.acer.com/corporate/sustainability | Upgradeable RAM/SSD extend lifespan. | 47.64 | 2 |
| ASUS VivoBook 15 | ASUS | 12 | 15 | 14 | 160 | Medium | 1500 | 63 | Plastic/Metal | 2.9 | 0.46 | 20 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | ASUS ESG | https://www.asus.com/sustainability | Slim chassis lowers material mass; repair trade‑offs. | 48.99 | 2 |
| MSI Modern 14 | MSI | 17 | 15 | 14 | 160 | Medium | 1500 | 60 | Plastic | 3 | 0.47 | 5 | NA | N | Y | Low | ICT avg | https://www.msi.com/about/sustainability | Low repairability & hinge reliability → early write‑off risk. | 46.19 | 2 |
| ASUS TUF F15 | ASUS | 18 | 18 | 16 | 190 | Low | 1700 | 55 | Plastic/Metal | 3.5 | 0.55 | 20 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Gaming LCA | https://www.asus.com/sustainability | High power draw; rugged build improves durability. | 22.47 | 1 |
| HP Victus | HP | 19 | 18 | 16 | 195 | Low | 1750 | 54 | Plastic/Metal | 3.6 | 0.56 | 67 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Gaming LCA | https://www.hp.com/sustainable-impact.html | Gaming loads increase lifetime energy footprint. | 24.29 | 1 |
| Lenovo Legion 5 | Lenovo | 20 | 19 | 17 | 200 | Low | 1800 | 53 | Plastic/Metal | 3.8 | 0.58 | 25 | NA | Y | Y | Medium | Gaming LCA | https://www.lenovo.com/sustainability | Gaming laptop → high energy draw despite solid build. | 12.61 | 1 |
Author
b25327@astra.xlri.ac.in
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