🌱 What are modular devices?
Modular devices are designed in a way that allows them to be easily subdivided into smaller parts. An excellent example of this are the smartphones created using the Phonebloks concept or those manufactured by Fairphone or SHIFT. If the battery, screen, or any other part of these phones’ breaks, it can easily be repaired or replaced and the whole phone does not need to be disposed of. Modularity also allows parts to be swapped out if an updated part is wanted. So, for example, if you wanted a better phone camera, you could swap out the old camera of your phone for a newer or better one rather than buying a whole new phone.
🌱 What social innovation is happening in e-waste recycling?
The collection of old electronic and electrical parts by manufactures, in order to recycle these and produce new parts, is gaining traction. For example, Renault offers its customers the option to lease, rather than buy, the batteries of all the electric vehicles it produces. Currently, 93% of its electric vehicle customers make use of this option. The batteries of electric vehicles contain large quantities of copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Renault is currently working with partners to investigate different ways to recycle the metals from vehicle batteries and to reuse these in their manufacturing.
🌱 What is being made from recycled materials won from e-waste?
The Olympic medals for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics were made entirely from recycled gold, silver, and bronze won from e-waste. Several commercial and artisan jewelry makers have also started using recycled gold, silver, and other precious metals from e-waste in their production. Moreover, the recycled plastic from e-waste is well-suited to make strong and durable plastic products. The recycled plastic is currently being used to make plastic railroad sleepers, vineyard stakes, fence posts, and plastic trays.
Read more about modular electronics here:
- https://blog.izm.fraunhofer.de/modular-electronics-a-sustainable-solution-for-the-smartphone-era/
- Phonebloks: https://www.onearmy.earth//project/phonebloks
- Fairphone: https://www.fairphone.com/en/
- Shiftphone: https://www.shiftphones.com/en/
Read more about products made with recycled e-waste here:
- Olympic medals: https://olympics.com/en/news/designs-of-tokyo-2020-s-recycled-medals-unveiled
- Jewelry: https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/e-waste-jewellery; https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/29/fashion/jewelry-electronic-mining-recycling.html