The electronics industry is considered to be the
fastest-growing technology sector in the world, however it is affecting the
global economy as well as the environment. Electronic waste (commonly referred
to as e-waste) is a global ecological issue that raises concern about air
pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, information security, and even
human exploitation.
“E-waste,” or old electronics that are either broken or
unwanted, are beginning to fill up landfills at an alarming rate. These
electric devices often contain hazardous materials that can endanger the
environment and local communities, even getting into the air.
It's no wonder, electronics have always produced waste, but the quantity and speed of discard has increased rapidly in recent years. More than 50 million metric tons of electronic-waste is generated globally every year, averaging some seven kilograms of e-waste per capita. In 2014, 41.8 million tons of electronics waste was generated by end-of-life products, with 53.6 million tons generated globally in 2019. This figure is predicted to rise to seventy million tons by 2030, almost double the 2014 figures.
Electronics contains hazardous contaminants like lead,
mercury, cadmium, arsenic, brominated flame retardant, cadmium, perfluorooctanoic
acid, polyvinyl chloride, thallium, these chemicals can have adverse effects on
our health such as neurological damage, shortness of breath, cancer,
miscarriages and more. That is why you must switch to green electronics and
recycle e-waste properly.
Many parliaments of the different countries have passed
legislation to restrict the use of Lead and other harmful materials for the
manufacture of electronic products.
If we don’t make any changes, our natural resources will
keep depleting as trash continues to pile up and fill our land and oceans.
Green electronics could be a weapon to combat e-waste
crises. Green electronics refer to electronics that are biodegradable,
sustainable, and recyclable.
What are Green Electronics,
Green Electronics = Green + Electronics; The word ‘green’
demonstrates the ‘eco-friendly’ character.
'Green Electronics' (also called e-waste management)
emphasizes on elimination of harmful substances and the disposal of electronic
wastes; by applying eco-friendly techniques.
Electronics produced through environmentally-friendly
processes are Green electronics. They take into account the consumption of
energy and production of carbon, made out of recycled materials. The ultimate
goal of this action is to create paths for the production of human and
environmentally friendly electronics in general and the integration of such
electronic circuits with living tissue in particular.
Main objective of green electronic products is to
minimize energy use and have less of an impact on the environment than
traditional electronics. This could mean less energy used while mining
materials and manufacturing the device, or it could mean that lifetime usage of
the products made from these materials requires less energy.
Green Electronics utilize such materials in their
manufacturing that are Environmentally and Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable,
Recyclable, and Sustainable that do not add to or exacerbate the global problem
of E-Waste. They are headphones, cell phones, PCs, monitors, televisions, and
numerous other electronic products; though Green electronics is still taking
baby steps in the world of e-wastes.
Another important part of creating green electronics is
reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions during the production process,
from collecting materials to transporting them to the store.
The government and environmental organizations, like the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are encouraging
manufacturers to design cleaner, less toxic electronics with longer lifespans
that are both safe and easy to recycle.
Some known “green” materials used in electronics are,
Green materials come in many forms. They can range from
degradable circuit boards and organic electronics to metals that are infinitely
recyclable and reusable. Organic and inorganic materials can both be considered
green, depending on the type of material and how it is implemented.
On the inorganic side, aluminium is considered a “green
metal” due to its recyclability and incredibly long lifespan. Borosilicate
glass and graphene are other examples of eco-friendly, non-biological materials
used in electronics.
As for organic materials, silk is a great green material
due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and wide range of potential
uses. Resins, gums, saccharides, cellulose, gelatine and peptides, which are
all biodegradable, are becoming more popular for use in applications such as
sensors, signal transducers, transient, implantable and digestible electronics.
Aluminium
Borosilicate Glass
Iron Alloys
Graphene
Biomaterials
-are the most favourable materials used in “green”
electronics
Final Thoughts,
E-waste can be in the form of 6 categories – lamps, small
IT and telecommunications equipment, screens and monitors, temperature exchange
equipment, large appliances and small appliances. By weight, small appliances
account for the largest share of e-waste produced and this includes products
such as microwaves, vacuum cleaners and kettles.
There are about 20-50 million metric tons of e-waste
generated every year, and most of it ends up in landfills in the US or is
shipped off to landfills in developing countries.
As a result, landfills are becoming overfilled.
Additionally, the improper disposal of e-waste is negatively impacting the
environment. For the e-waste that sits in landfills, it is creating pollution
in our air, water, and soil. Even worse, the common process used to extract valuable
metals exposes our environment to harsh chemicals.
The push toward sustainability and green innovation in
the electronics industry is therefore central to achieving the aims and
regulations set forth by numerous international bodies. These include the
Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol (While the Montreal Protocol was
established to phase out substances that deplete ozone, the Kyoto Protocol was
set in place to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, with the exception to
ozone depleting substances.)
In response to these protocols and other international
agreements, companies in the computer industry such as Acer, Samsung, LG, and
Dell have begun to develop green electronics. The key difference between green
electronics and traditional electronic components is that environmental
attributes are treated as design objectives instead of constraints. Innovation
in this sector has led to the development of environmentally friendly
electronics components.
QUICK EXAMPLES FOR ETHICAL ELECTRONICS,
Secondhand & Refurbished Electronics:
Apple Refurbished
Gazelle
Best Buy Refurbished
Amazon Renewed
New Ethical Electronics
Fairphone
House of Marley
Apple
Sustainable & Ethical Electronics Accessories:
Nimble
Pela Case
Oakywood
Elvis & Kresse
Solgaard
SAWA
Different types of green electronic products, wearable
and non-wearable, play a vital role in protecting nature from hazardous
elements.
The production of eco-friendly products is an innovative
initiative by brands that can boost branded product sales, enhance their
authority in the retail market and satisfy their customers simultaneously. While
most manufacturers agree going green is best for the economy, many are still
struggling with how to do so.
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