The electronic revolution has changed how we live and communicate. We have devices of all kinds, like computers, phones, and appliances which keep us connected and savvy every day.
We change our electronics when something new launches but with so much consumption, there must be a ton of waste.
E-Waste includes electronic devices and gadgets nearing or at the end of its useful life and according to “The World Counts” - we generate around 40 million tons of electronic waste every year, worldwide. Additionally, e-waste comprises 70% of our overall toxic waste".
E-waste is one of the world’s more unnoticed problems caused by our reliance on tech and devices. Tons of electrical and electronic equipment are wasted every year, and most people aren’t taking into consideration what is happening with it.
However, there is good news as a new invention challenging E-waste has been introduced to our tech-crazed society. Tech start-up Pentaform has come up with a biodegradable and water-soluble plastic called Aquafade- to help us solve our waste problem where the material can be used to make circuit boards and body components for electronic products, such as remote controls and phones.
The best part? The material dissolves in water in around eight hours leaving only electronic components behind for recycling. Their devices are designed to dissolve away when the casing is opened and will naturally biodegrade in the sewage system mitigating the need to transport such materials to a central facility to be recycled. This system reduces the investment required by local governments to process waste and also allows for local communities to benefit from the recovery of electrical components.
And you may be asking, why not explore biodegradable solutions? Well, according to research via Aquafade, “biodegradable solutions failed to address global e-waste effectively, with only 5-10% of 2.18 million metric tons of biodegradable plastics properly composted due to limited facilities”. As you can imagine, microplastics pollution then becomes a topic of consideration so addressing both issues with a product that can actually be effective for people and recycling is a win.
Aquafade’s goal is to replace at least 1% of e-waste, which will prevent “140,000 tons of toxic and carcinogenic materials from potentially entering the environment” and achieving this goal can make a big difference in the quest to reduce both plastic and e-waste.