The EU wants to make it easier to repair a broken phone display. baranozdemir / iStock /Getty Images Plus
All those phones, computers and tablets we rely on are dependent on mined resources. Extracting and processing those resources accounts for nearly half of our greenhouse gas emissions, which is why the European Commission's Circular Economy Action Plan calls for "initiatives for the entire life cycle of products, from design and manufacturing to consumption, repair, reuse, recycling, and bringing resources back into the economy."
<p>Essentially, the European Union wants to get rid of planned obsolescence, where manufacturers design a product with a short lifespan so consumers have to buy a new one, which leads to throwaway culture. To that end, the European Commission announced Wednesday that it will introduce laws to halve the amount of waste the EU produces by 2030. Right now, less than 40 percent of electronic waste in the EU is recycled.</p><p>The new laws will ensure that new products brought to the EU market are repairable, recyclable and designed to last longer than our current phones and tablets, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-economy-circular/eu-to-introduce-waste-reduction-targets-new-sustainable-products-law-idUSKBN20Y1DV?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p>
<p>"The goal, in the end, is decoupling resource extraction from our economic growth," Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius told reporters in Brussels, as <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/eu-commission-aims-to-clamp-down-on-waste-with-new-law/a-52720804" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a> reported. He added, "The linear growth model of take, make, use and discard has reached its limits."</p><p>The sweeping legislation will apply to a wide range of products, including mobile phones, textiles, electronics, batteries, construction and packaging, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51825089" target="_blank">BBC</a>. The legislation that will make it easier to repair a broken phone display or to replace the battery is spurred by the Right to Repair movement.</p><p>It also updates current efficiency standards to apply to a broader selection of everyday items. The efficiency laws are outdated since they only apply to computers, televisions, dishwashers and washing machines, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/11/eu-brings-in-right-to-repair-rules-for-phones-and-tablets" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.</p>
<p>Sinkevicius added that the electronic devices sector has "a massive impact" and "is constantly growing," as <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-economy-circular/eu-to-introduce-waste-reduction-targets-new-sustainable-products-law-idUSKBN20Y1DV?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported. The European Union will not meet its target of zero-emissions by 2050 if it does not address the impact that mobile technology is having on the environment.</p><p>In addition to addressing the throwaway culture and planned obsolescence of mobile devices, batteries and other items, the European Commission wants to change the culture around textiles, which are also resource-intensive and seldom mended or recycled. In fact, only 1 percent of textiles are recycled, as <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-economy-circular/eu-to-introduce-waste-reduction-targets-new-sustainable-products-law-idUSKBN20Y1DV?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported.</p>
<p>"Textile is the new plastics," Sinkevicius said, as <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/eu-commission-aims-to-clamp-down-on-waste-with-new-law/a-52720804" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a> reported. The proposed law, which needs the approval of 27-member nations, restricts intentionally added <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/microplastics">microplastics</a> from textiles and requires measures to make recycled content and waste reduction mandatory, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-economy-circular/eu-to-introduce-waste-reduction-targets-new-sustainable-products-law-idUSKBN20Y1DV?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p><p>One environmental advocacy group dubbed it the most ambitious and comprehensive proposal ever put forward to reduce the environmental and climate impact of the things we use and wear, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51825089" target="_blank">BBC</a>.</p><p>The European Environment Bureau, an environmental group, told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51825089" target="_blank">BBC</a>: "The strategy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way we manufacture, use and dispose of our products in a way that benefits people and the planet."</p><p>Yet, some other environmental advocates felt that the plan does not go far enough.</p>"It is absurd, given that the EU consumes nearly three planets' worth of resources, that reducing absolute consumption is not at the core of the plan," said Meadhbh Bolger, resource justice campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/11/eu-brings-in-right-to-repair-rules-for-phones-and-tablets" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported. "The Von der Leyen commission's plan for a circular economy is out of touch with the reality and urgency of the planetary emergency."
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Europe ranks second only behind Asia in terms of e-waste, according to the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy. Ladislav Kubeš / iStock / Getty Images Plus
By Tim Schauenberg
Technician Christopher Olk concentrates hard as he removes the broken drive from a DVD player and pushes it back in again.
"If it's the mechanics or the electronics, I can fix it," explains the 26-year-old, who is working on his Ph.D. in battery technology at Aachen University. "If the chip or the cooling system is affected then I can't do anything, because I'm missing the equipment and spare parts."
<p>In a small room inside a repair cafe in Cologne's civic center, Olk is one of four technicians who, with the help of some spanners and a soldering iron, try to breathe new life into faulty electronic devices, whether it's a razor, a toaster, a screen or a lamp.</p><p>Europe is full of broken-down equipment. With more than 12 million tons per year — the equivalent of 30,000 jumbo jets — Europe ranks <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/electronic-waste-reaches-record-high-of-45-million-tons/a-41784177" target="_blank">second only behind Asia</a> in terms of e-waste, <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_A_New_Circular_Vision_for_Electronics.pdf" target="_blank">according to the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE).</a></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzI2Ni9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjU5ODE5NX0.Smi39oooos3JO0j9sEHktsETeoK4uy6x4P1drWLYLBU/img.png?width=980" id="446ce" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b7d7e57b8493103110a1e6d2ea00d729" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<h2>Manufacturers to Make Changes</h2><p>"We want to avoid electronic waste and try to motivate people to act in an environmentally conscious way," says Dunja Karabaic, one of the repair cafe's founders.</p><p>The European Commission now wants to implement a new ecodesign directive at the EU level to help ensure home appliances have a longer functional lifespan — and it's banking on regulation.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzI2OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5OTExNjg4NH0.lMUTX75fwxk_a7aCGrDxx3-rAglW0Uq_32x07j0T2sI/img.jpg?width=980" id="b871d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fd4682fee1302d675fccc44f92d12aea" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
At the repair cafe in Cologne, Christopher Olk is trying to get this faulty DVD player up and running again.
<p>As of 2021, manufacturers across Europe will be required to improve both the reparability and service life of devices such as washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, electric motors, light sources and LED screens. Manufacturers must also be more precise when it comes to including energy consumption information on the labels of their products and providing replacement parts for at least 10 years after purchase.</p><p>Laptops and smartphones, however, are not covered under the new rules — more on that later.</p>
<h2>Ecological Potential and the Right to Repair</h2><p>The European Commission estimates that up to 167 terawatt hours of energy could be saved annually by 2030 — approximately the same annual energy consumption as Denmark, which has a population of 5.8 million. This could be achieved, on the one hand, through more energy efficient devices, and, on the other, as a result of fewer devices needing to be re-produced if they last longer in the first place.</p><p>When it comes to electricity and acquisition prices, the European Commission projects that EU citizens would save around €150 ($167) per year in the future.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzI3Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjIyMDIwOH0.1RcwNNgKXWQXkuLf51nHwKoNC0CsSF31l8csjqdblDI/img.jpg?width=980" id="91a64" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="75183f1fcba395e0fb0e0a44c8244167" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Old televisions are much easier to repair compared to modern LED screens.
<p>"Whether it is by fostering reparability or improving water consumption, intelligent ecodesign makes us use our resources more efficiently, bringing clear economic and environmental benefits," the European Commission Vice President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, said in an official statement.</p><p>Environmental organizations have also welcomed the new regulations.</p><p>"From the U.S. to Europe, people are demanding their right to repair things they own because they're tired of products that are designed to break prematurely," said Chloe Fayole, the program and strategy director at the environmental organization ECOS. "Enabling consumers to repair and reuse all electronic products is just common sense."</p>
<h2>How Long Should Devices Last?</h2><p>Exactly how much longer electronic devices should last in the future is still unclear, as is a more detailed benefit analysis of the plan. But if the devices are easier to repair, "the turnover of product inventories will automatically decrease," Pierre Schweitzer, an expert on ecodesign at the European Environment Bureau (EEB) told DW. "That means that less electronic waste will be produced. But no one has tested the model yet, as to whether this will happen in practice."</p><p>The EEB has therefore submitted a report looking at the effects of measures which prolong the life of electronic devices. The calculations show that if washing machines in Europe were to function for just one extra year, it would have the same positive effect on the environment as if 133,000 cars were taken off the road.</p><p>On average, a washing machine currently lasts around 11 years. But according to the experts, it would have to be used for at least 20 years before the purchase of a new washing machine is advisable from an environmental point of view.</p><p>"That's how long it takes resources to use an old device — and to repair it," explains Rasmus Priess, a product <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability">sustainability</a> expert from the Öko-Institut in Freiburg.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzMxNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwODg2NDc0OX0.-Fl12mKRQrQf0PtP8xiLv3JjqdWu1q1TUaZ6ApnHoiQ/img.png?width=980" id="54c62" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8f7757983ab8e411a945a08a5c1616e9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p>But not all electronic devices are created equal. If the energy footprint required to manufacture and then run a device is taken into account, a laptop should be used for 44 years, and a smartphone for up to 232 years. As mentioned earlier, these devices – along with small appliances like razors, blenders and toasters – won't be included in the new EU rules. The plan is to incorporate them at a later stage.</p><p>The DVD player, which Christopher Olk is busy fixing in the repair café in Cologne, hasn't made it onto the European Commission's list yet either.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzMxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjUxNDMyNX0.RM11olI2IcCkZVQg1K-3zHS_dfJao7hCNlTdlbVts_M/img.jpg?width=980" id="744e9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d5f3ecdfb3f67610b6ce74ee9d8ca850" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Brussels will soon be discussing whether to include longer-lasting smartphones and laptops in the new regulations.
<h2>Gaps in the Rules</h2><p>It took Olk 30 minutes to remove the device's case and take a look inside. After some tinkering, he still only managed open it by force. "See that old radio over there," he said, pointing to an antique mustard yellow transistor radio that has probably been around for several decades, "Underneath is a guide on how to open it and remove some of the parts. Something like that alone would help."</p><p>The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWI) has also been negotiating in Brussels. In a statement provided to DW, it says it is committed to ensuring that customers can make simple repairs themselves, while more difficult or dangerous repairs should be done by a specialist.</p><p>The cost of replacement parts may also limit the overall success of the new regulations: The scheme doesn't include a price break for spare parts.</p><p>Jean-Pierre Schweitzer from the EEB believes this has increased the risk of "an economic incentive to make spare parts either very expensive, or to manufacture products that break down regularly."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzMyMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMzEzODc3M30.rEVzJ39Ei2y2zJdMYKOWCKIG5iZvDl6E3gxDhJHgbmU/img.jpg?width=980" id="5da65" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dd8bef7a909bcec45d85bb15e61474ce" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
The more complicated the technology, the harder it is to identify which parts are broken.
<p>An analysis by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission found that the main reason people didn't have a washing machine or dishwasher repaired was because "it was too expensive."</p><p>Paolo Falcioni, the Director General of APPLiA, an association representing home appliance manufacturers in Europe, has nevertheless praised the regulations as "a balanced representation of interests." But he also sees some disadvantages. On the one hand, APPLiA fears that the regulations would mean fewer devices would be approved for the European market. On the other hand, it also wants to avoid any unfair competition.</p><h2>'Repairing Is More Important Than Recycling'</h2><p>But although there is still room for improvement, Jean Pierre Schweizer from EEB says the new legislation is "groundbreaking" because it acknowledges the importance of using devices as long as possible.</p><p>"When we talk about a circular economy, repairing is a very efficient point at which you can save real resources and emissions — and that's just the start. We really should highlight the positive aspects of this legislation."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA2NzMyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjI4MzU3OH0.9G-KgV_ra89-LTPlce892qagbtwlA5J45Ng2mXA0pr0/img.jpg?width=980" id="df51c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="19fe91af3692d5fe8193552822d395d7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Not all electronic devices can be repaired using normal, everyday tools.
<p>Back at the repair cafe, Christopher Olk has given up. The DVD player is beyond saving. This isn't an unusual outcome here.</p><p>Braco Sladakovic, who brought in his defective LED TV, has also admitted defeat. The backlight no longer works.</p><p>"We tried, but it was too complicated," he told DW. "It's not worth it anymore, unfortunately." The spare part needed is cheap enough to replace, but the repair itself would be too difficult and expensive.</p><p>Sladakovic now needs to decide what to do with his broken TV. He might be able to sell if to a hobbyist for a few euros. Or he'll simply take it to the nearest electronic waste dump.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/the-eu-declares-war-on-e-waste/a-51108790?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">DW</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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The workplace of the inventor's technique. The hands of the worker are bound by a chain as a symbol of the prohibition on repair. Andrey Bukreev / iStock / Getty Images Plus
When our smartphones, televisions or other gadgets stop working, it seems like the only choice we have is to get rid of it. This never-ending stream of electronic waste has created mountains of toxic trash that's hazardous to people and the planet.
That's why consumers and lawmakers in the U.S. and Europe are fighting back under the burgeoning "Right to Repair" movement that demands manufacturers make products that last longer and are easier to fix, BBC News reported.
<p>
At least 18 U.S. states are considering repair legislation and a similar proposal arose in <a href="https://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/durable-products.47bf" target="_blank">European Parliament</a>. States that have introduced "Right to Repair" bills include California, Washington, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia.
</p><p>
This change can't come soon enough. E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. In 2016, some 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste were generated globally, according to the <a href="http://ewastemonitor.info/" target="_blank">Global E-waste Monitor 2017</a> (pdf). As more and more products come along, experts forecast an increase of e-junk to 52.2 million metric tonnes by 2021.
</p><p>
<span></span>In March, California Assembly member Susan Talamantes Eggman introduced the "<a href="https://a13.asmdc.org/press-releases/20180307-eggman-introduces-legislation-create-right-repair-electronics" target="_blank">California Right to Repair Act</a>" that would require manufacturers to release diagnostic and repair instructions, and make equipment or service parts available to product owners and to independent repair shops.
</p><p>
The bill was introduced just a handful of months after <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/apple" target="_self">Apple</a> was accused of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/apple-iphones-slow-down-2519096622.html" target="_self">slowing down older iPhones</a>—a move that led some users to spend hundreds of dollars on new phones rather than simply replace the battery. That's not to mention that Apple makes their phones very difficult to crack open, making it hard to DIY a fix. (Apple apologized and offered a discount for battery replacement.)
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f7ebd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="47JUFP1576683773"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="944187077813506048" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Why Apple Deliberately Slowing Down iPhones Is Harming the Environment https://t.co/19KHx602UV @BusinessGreen @Ethical_Corp</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/944187077813506048">1513946716.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
"We should be working to reduce needless waste—repairing things that still have life—but companies use their power to make things harder to repair. Repair should be the easier, more affordable choice and it can be, but first we need to fix our laws," said Emily Rusch, executive director of CALPIRG, in a <a href="https://a13.asmdc.org/press-releases/20180307-eggman-introduces-legislation-create-right-repair-electronics" target="_blank">press release</a> in support of the California bill. "Our recent survey, Recharge Repair, showed a surge in interest in additional repair options after Apple announced battery issues. The Right to Repair Act would give people those options."
</p><p>
Environmentalists say "Right to Repair" legislation will save resources and reduce carbon emissions from the manufacturing of new products. The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/technology/apple-iphone-replacement-mom.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> pointed out that in Apple's <a href="https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/Apple_Environmental_Responsibility_Report_2018.pdf" target="_blank" title="">latest sustainability report</a> (pdf), each new Apple device produced emits an average of 90 kilograms of CO2.
</p><p>
<span></span>Libby Peake from the UK-based think tank <a href="https://www.green-alliance.org.uk/" target="_blank">Green Alliance</a> told BBC News "that at last politicians are waking up to an issue that the public have recognized as a problem for a long time."
</p><p>
<span></span>Right to Repair laws make a lot of sense for our wallets and the environment, but manufacturers are opposed to the legislation.
</p><p>
Tech giants, including Apple and Microsoft, do not like users fixing their own devices because it could be a security risk to the user, according to the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/8/17097256/california-right-to-repair-bill-apple-microsoft-service-replace-parts" target="_blank">Verge</a>. It's also very likely that these companies want us to keep buying more stuff.
</p>
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A foldable, biodegradable battery based on paper and bacteria. Seokheun Choi / Binghamton University, CC BY-ND
By Seokheun Choi
It seems like every few months there's a new cellphone, laptop or tablet that is so exciting people line up around the block to get their hands on it. While the perpetual introduction of new, slightly more advanced electronics has made businesses like Apple hugely successful, the short shelf life of these electronics is bad for the environment.
<p>
Modern electronics are filled with circuit boards on which <a href="http://www.appropedia.org/Metal_reclamation_and_recycling_of_electronic_waste" target="_blank">various metals and plastics are soldered</a> together. Some of these <a href="http://www.appropedia.org/Metal_reclamation_and_recycling_of_electronic_waste" target="_blank">materials are toxic</a>—or <a href="https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/biotechnology/biotechnology03.pdf" target="_blank">break down into toxic substances</a>. There are efforts underway to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2014.10.001" target="_blank">boost recycling of e-waste</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2015.02.010" target="_blank">recovering materials that can be reused</a> and properly disposing of the rest. But <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/22/11991440/eri-e-waste-electronics-recycling-nyc-gadget-trash" target="_blank">most devices</a> end up added to the <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/z4gv73/americas-television-graveyards" target="_blank">growing piles</a> of <a href="https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/cleaning-electronic-waste-e-waste" target="_blank">e-waste in landfills</a>.
</p><p>Instead of adding more trash to these ever-growing piles, there is an opportunity to create electronics that are biodegradable. That's why <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2H01tqsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao" target="_blank">other researchers and I</a> are looking to the emerging field of paper-based electronics—known as "<a href="http://nsf-papertronics.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank">papertronics</a>." They're flexible—even foldable—<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability">sustainable</a>, friendly to the environment and low-cost.<br></p><p>
But to be truly eco-friendly, papertronics can't use traditional <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/battery-storage/">batteries</a>, which are made of metals and caustic acids, to store and discharge electricity. Recently, my chemist colleague <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/chemistry/people/sadik/sadik.html" target="_blank">Omowunmi Sadik</a> and I developed a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.201800041" target="_blank">paper battery that's recyclable and biodegradable</a>, as well as reliable enough to actually use. The key is bacteria.
</p><p><strong>Flexible Bio-Batteries</strong></p><p>
I've developed flexible batteries, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201700127" target="_blank">batteries powered by saliva</a> and more. I figured that when seeking to power paper-based electronics, it made sense to try to make a battery out of paper. Fortunately, paper is a good potential battery material: It's flexible, a good insulator—which makes it a good platform for mounting electronic components on—and absorbs and releases fluids easily. We added polymers—<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.201800041" target="_blank">poly (amic) acid and poly (pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylenediamine)</a>—to improve those electrical characteristics.
</p><p>
Then, to store energy in the battery, in place of the metals and acids that react chemically to generate electrons, we added bacteria. When these batteries are eventually commercialized, they'll use bacteria that are safe for humans and the environment and well-contained to reduce any other contamination.
</p><p>
Because the paper is rough and porous, the bacteria stick to it, and generate their own energy by breaking down almost any available organic material, including plant material or wastewater. At the moment, we're prepackaging source material, but it could also come from the environment. This chemical reaction produces electrons. Normally in a bacterial reaction, those electrons would bond with oxygen, but we've built our battery to limit oxygen and substitute an electrode, meaning we can capture the electron flow and use it to power devices.
</p><p>
We were concerned that oxygen could get into the paper and interrupt the electron flow between the bacteria, decreasing the battery's efficiency. We found that while that does happen, it has minimal effects. That's because so many bacterial cells are so tightly attached to the paper fibers; they form a multi-layer biofilm that shields the chemical reaction from most oxygen.
</p><p>
We also wanted a battery that could biodegrade. The bacteria in the battery itself, once they're done releasing energy, can break down the paper and polymers into harmless components. In water, our battery easily biodegraded, without any special equipment or other microorganisms to aid in the breakdown.
</p><p>
The polymer-paper structures are lightweight, low-cost and flexible. That flexibility also allows for the batteries to fold like a normal piece of paper, or be stacked on top of each other. That lets more battery power fit into smaller spaces.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODY0Njc5OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyODI1Mzg5NH0.3JF37xY4ABEAVlCwAoi_F7w9r4KBXzLjSeb-fQVrHH0/img.jpg?width=980" id="dedca" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f81f93dcf3a7c9e1b6c6994cb0dc6712" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">A group of folded batteries can power a paper-based electronic device. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Seokheun Choi / Binghamton University, CC BY-ND</small></p>
<p><strong>Promises and Opportunities</strong><br></p><p>
Papertronics can be particularly useful in remote areas with limited resources because they're powered by bacteria that can inhabit even the most extreme of conditions and break down nearly any material to produce electrons. They don't need a well-established power grid, either. In addition, though paper batteries are designed to be disposable after they're used, their materials are recyclable—and new batteries can be created from recycled paper.
</p><p>
As revolutionary as paper-based bio-batteries are for future electronic devices, they're fairly straightforward to make. The polymers and bacteria can be blended with paper in traditional manufacturing processes, including roll-to-roll printing and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA04946B" target="_blank">screen printing</a>—or even be painted or poured right onto paper.
</p><p>
Other materials can also be added to the paper batteries—like metals, semiconductors, insulators and nanoparticles. These and other substances can add more properties and capabilities to paper-based devices, opening new doors for the next generation of electronics.</p><p><em>Seokheun Choi is associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, Binghamton University, State University of New York.</em></p><p><em>Disclosure statement: Seokheun Choi receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://theconversation.com/paper-based-electronics-could-fold-biodegrade-and-be-the-basis-for-the-next-generation-of-devices-102759" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em></p><script async="async" data-counter="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102759/count?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" id="theconversation_tracker_hook" src="https://theconversation.com/javascripts/lib/content_tracker_hook.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Thailand's Wai Mei Dat center filled with imported e-waste. baselactionnetwork / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Thailand has joined Vietnam and Malaysia in cracking down on the world's trash. Thailand will stop accepting more than 400 types of electronic waste (e-waste), including circuit boards, old TVs and radios, within six months, an environment ministry official told Reuters.
The decision was made Wednesday at a meeting chaired by Surasak Kanchanarat, the environment minister. Imports of plastic waste will also be banned in two years, although specific details of the program are not yet known, Reuters reported.
<p>
Southeast Asian countries have been filling a void left by China, which implemented a strict waste import
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/china-plastics-recycling-2515630485.html" target="_blank">policy</a> earlier this year so it could focus on its own <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/pollution" target="_blank">pollution</a> problems. The decision from China—formerly the world's largest importer of waste—left exporting countries <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-waste-china-recycling-2580042463.html" target="_blank">scrambling for solutions</a> for their trash. In some U.S. cities, the pile-up has even resulted in recyclables being directly sent to landfills.
</p><p>
<span></span>Thailand announced the ban after accepting massive amounts of e-waste from the U.S., the European Union, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, according to <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/thailand-moves-to-ban-importing-e-waste-and-plastic/a-45103610" target="_blank">DW</a>. While electronic scraps can contain valuable metals such as gold, silver and copper, they can also contain harmful components such as lead, mercury and cadmium.
</p><p>
Surasak admitted to <a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30352239" target="_blank">The Nation</a> that the ban will impact the country's recycling industry and some business operations. However, he noted, "we need to prioritize good environment and health protection for our citizens before industrial development."
</p><p>
"I have no doubt that the recycling of plastic waste and used electronic parts are profitable businesses at the moment," he added. "Some business operators may make a lot of profit from the recycling industry, but what will the country gain from their prosperity when our environment becomes polluted and the people suffer?"
</p><p>
Thailand is one of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/these-5-countries-account-for-60-of-plastic-pollution-in-oceans-1882107531.html" target="_blank">world's top five producers</a> of plastic trash, generating two million metric tons of the waste material each year, according to <a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347045" target="_blank">The Nation</a>. </p><p>The country's plastic crisis was underscored this June when a pilot <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/whales" target="_blank">whale</a> washed up dead in southern Thailand after <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/whale-death-plastic-bags-2575100966.html" target="_blank">swallowing 17 pounds</a> of mostly plastic bags.
</p><p>
<span></span>The Thai initiative follows efforts made last month in Vietnam and Malaysia to limit imported trash. Vietnam will no longer issue new licenses for scrap imports, in order to crack down on illegal shipments and increased pollution near processing facilities, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-waste/vietnam-to-limit-waste-imports-as-shipments-build-up-at-ports-idUSKBN1KG0KL" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported in July. The same month, the Malaysian government revoked the import permits of 114 factories that process plastic waste.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c977f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5ZFVIG1576662715"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="836953308111769601" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">WOW! Here's What 7 Billion Smartphones in 10 Years Looks Like https://t.co/KmRxn9KFgT @greenpeaceusa @Greenpeace @ewg @climatehawk1</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/836953308111769601">1488380193.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p>
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iStock
By Bob Schildgen
Hey Mr. Green,
Q: I've read that we waste a lot of energy with computers. How much do we waste, and what can be done to make things more efficient?
—Samuel, Denver, CO
A: The EPA has updated computer standards on a regular basis for the past 25 years, and each revision has marked a reduction in power consumption. The increasing use of laptops and other smaller devices, which need a lot less power than desktop models, has helped limit total energy consumption. Nevertheless, the EPA says we still waste at least a billion dollars worth of electrical power a year simply by running less-efficient computer equipment. This waste reaches the equivalent of around 15 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions, or as much as 1.4 million motor vehicles. But the total waste may be actually much greater.
<p>Simply by activating power management on your computer you can save anywhere from $10 to $100 a year. For instructions on how to do this, visit the EPA's "<a href="https://www.energystar.gov/products/low_carbon_it_campaign/power_management_computer" target="_blank">Activate Power Management on Your Computer" page</a> or ask your service vendor to make sure your machines are configured to take full advantage of these sleep features. Also, deploy "smart" power strips that cut off power when you're not using other devices connected to your network. </p><p style="">Consolidate printers: You can eliminate printers, share work-group printers, and use multi-function devices instead of individual printers, copiers, fax machines and scanners. If you still have non-networked printers or make wide use of stand-alone copiers, fax machines and scanners, printer consolidation could save a bundle: between 30 and 40 percent or more.</p><p style=""><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/what-can-be-done-make-computers-more-efficient" target="_blank">SIERRA Magazine</a>.</em></p>
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If you ever felt like your iPhone is getting slower over time, Apple has admitted that it deliberately slows down the processing speeds of phones with older batteries to stop them shutting down without warning.
The tech giant is ultimately doing a good thing—even if it's in a sneaky, backhanded way. Smartphone batteries certainly have a limited lifespan.
<p>
As the company <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42438745" target="_blank">explained</a> Wednesday: "Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, [when they] have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components."
</p><p style="">
But how many of us buy a completely new phone instead of simply replacing the battery? That's not to mention that Apple makes their phones very difficult to open and fix yourself.
</p><p style="">
As you may know, our gadgets have an
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/electronic-waste-united-nations-2517390624.html">enormous</a> environmental footprint in the form of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/electronic-waste">electronic waste</a>, aka e-waste.
</p><p style="">
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/smartphones-recycling-waste-2290405011.html" target="_blank">Greenpeace estimates</a> that 7.1 billion smartphones have been manufactured since 2007, or enough for just about every person on the planet.
</p><p>
And yet companies like Apple churn out new devices every year,
<a href="http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2017/01/31/apple-earnings-expected-to-rebound-thanks-to-iphone-7-live-blog/" target="_blank">selling 78.2 million iPhones in the months </a>following the release of the iPhone 7.
</p><p style="">
Our phones don't even stay with us that long, as the average age of a smartphone traded in between April 2017 and June 2017 was 2.58 years, according to
<a href="http://blog.hylamobile.com/mobile-device-trade-in-data-q2-2017" target="_blank">data collected by HYLA Mobile</a>, a device trade-in company.
</p><p>
You could always recycle your old phones but not many of us do.
<span></span>
</p><p>
"Only 20 percent [of e-waste] is going in the official collection and recycling schemes," Ruediger Kuehr, head of the UN University's Sustainable Cycles Programme, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-gas-italy-tap/austria-gas-blast-exposes-italy-weak-link-idUSKBN1E72HO?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29" target="_blank">told Reuters</a>.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/electronic-waste-united-nations-2517390624.html" target="_blank">Last year</a>, the amount of electronic waste around the world grew to a record 45 million tons in 2016—equivalent to about 4,500 Eiffel Towers. Most discarded gadgets go into <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/stunning-photos-capture-devastating-worldwide-e-waste-problem-1882033036.html">landfills or get sent overseas.</a>
</p><p style="">
So before you consider an iPhone upgrade, here are some things to keep in mind (via Greenpeace):
</p><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>More than 60 different elements are commonly used in the manufacturing of smartphones. While the amount of each element in a single device may seem small, the combined impacts of mining and processing these precious materials for 7 billion devices is significant.</li>
</ul><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>In 2014 alone, e-waste from small IT products like smartphones was estimated to be 3 million metric tons. </li>
</ul><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>Only two (Fairphone and LG G5) of 13 models reviewed had easily replaceable batteries. This means consumers are forced to replace their whole devices when the battery life starts to dwindle.</li>
</ul><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>Since 2007, roughly 968 terawatt hours (TWh) has been used to manufacture smartphones, which is nearly the same as one year's power supply for India (973 TWh in 2014).</li>
</ul><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>At end-of-life, current design makes disassembly difficult, including the use of proprietary screws and glued in batteries; therefore, smartphones are often shredded and sent for smelting when "recycled." Given the small amounts of a wide diversity of materials and substances in small devices, smelting is inefficient or ineffective at recovering many of the materials.</li></ul><p>Apple <a href="https://influencemap.org/company/Apple-385f398538b2e6145dcb8afdc945c263" target="_blank">has been recognized</a> for its strong support of climate change action and its positive engagement with a number of climate change policy areas. However, its latest iPhone-kerfuffle certainly does not add to its environmentally friendly image.</p>
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Electronic Waste Study Finds $65 Billion in Raw Materials Discarded in Just One Year
14 December 2017
Popular
Cap Sciences / Flickr
The amount of electronic waste around the world grew to a record 45 million tons in 2016, according to a United Nations-backed study released on Wednesday.
To put that in perspective, the weight of last year's e-waste was equivalent to about 4,500 Eiffel Towers, according to the study by the UN university, the International Telecommunication Union and the International Solid Waste Association. The amount of e-waste—defined as anything with a plug or a battery—rose by eight percent since 2014, the time of the last assessment.
<p style="">The study also found that raw materials thrown out as e-waste—metals such as gold, silver, copper, platinum and palladium— were worth $64.61 billion in 2016. But despite this economic incentive, only 8.9 million tons of e-waste were recovered. </p><p style="">"Only 20 percent [of e-waste] is going in the official collection and recycling schemes," Ruediger Kuehr, head of the UN University's Sustainable Cycles Programme, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-gas-italy-tap/austria-gas-blast-exposes-italy-weak-link-idUSKBN1E72HO?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29" target="_blank">told Reuters</a>. He <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-gas-italy-tap/austria-gas-blast-exposes-italy-weak-link-idUSKBN1E72HO?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29" target="_blank">noted</a> that the amount of e-waste is more shocking considering that 67 countries, covering two-thirds of the world's population, has legislation for processing e-waste.</p><p style="">In 2016, the worldwide e-waste average was 13.5 pounds per person, or 54 pounds for a family of four. But in the U.S. or Canada the figure was 3.3 times higher. And the global trend is surging. By 2021 there will be a 17 percent increase, making e-waste the fastest growing part of the world's domestic waste stream, according to the study. Put simply, the study found that rising incomes and falling prices on electronic goods was driving the rising amount of e-waste. </p><p style="">Although countries widely vary in recycling capacity, nowhere in the world is equipped to deal with increasing e-waste—there isn't a country that come closes to recycling even half. Europe, at 35 percent, has the highest collection rate, while Australia and New Zealand, two countries that produce the highest e-waste per person at 38 pounds, collect and formally recycle only six percent of their electronics. </p><p style="">The U.S.—where 30 percent of e-waste gets landfilled, exported or recycled informally—hasn't ratified the <a href="http://www.basel.int/Countries/StatusofRatifications/PartiesSignatories/tabid/4499/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Basel Convention</a>, which bans the transport of e-waste due to its association with heavy metals like <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/lead">lead</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/mercury">mercury</a>. But this problem isn't limited to the U.S. </p><p style="">European and North American countries, despite being signatories to the Basel Convention, often ship e-waste to <a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/11/ghana-toxic-electronic-waste-contaminates-nearby-areas/" target="_blank">poor countries</a> as "electronics for reuse" or hidden with legitimate cargo. Though the health consequences of e-waste exposure have been poorly studied, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214999614003208" target="_blank">experts suspect</a> that contamination may carry <a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/11/ghana-toxic-electronic-waste-contaminates-nearby-areas/" target="_blank">severe risks</a>. </p><p style="">The study's authors <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11DCXXZM-bflxHxk92gOXbweIceb40brP/view" target="_blank">noted</a> that ultimately the business model of electronics needs to shift from one that produces replaceable electronics to one that makes electronics easier to repair and recycle. </p><p style="">"Consumers are only interested in price and performance. That needs to change," Vanessa Gray, one of the study's authors, told <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/e-waste-monitor-report-glut/" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>.</p>
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