INDUSTRY UNLOCKED
Taking circular action : making real change to the e-waste challenge
The narrative around sustainability and environmental responsibility has shifted from box ticking to economic and reputational value , particularly for brands that are paying attention , says Ashley du Plooy , Chief Executive Officer at E-Waste Recycling Authority ( ERA ). He explains how companies can make real change to the e-waste challenge .
Investing into the circular economy is more than just a way of boosting a brand ’ s reputation . With the global revenue from circular economy transactions currently exceeding US $ 339 billion , anticipated to reach US $ 712.74 billion in the next two years , investment into innovative recycle , use and reuse programmes has become a mark of good business as well as a business doing good .
Despite this increase , the global population ‘ consumed more than 500 billion tonnes of materials ’ over the past six years which was more than the volume used throughout the entirety of the 20th century . This is clearly not sustainable and sustainability has to become a goal shared by all corporate citizens , particularly within the technology industry . The world , says the United Nations , is ‘ losing the battle against electronic waste ’ with more than 62 million metric tons dumped in just one year ( 2022 ).
At ERA , we believe it is critical that change happens across the world , but particularly in Africa which has been used as a dumping ground for old electronics . In 2020 , authorities in Spain uncovered a network that was shipping around 2.5 billion kgs of e-waste to the continent across Durban , Bizerte and Lagos . The challenge lies in not just preventing the illegal disposal of e-waste , but also in ensuring that existing e-waste is recycled properly . We need to be cognisant of the challenges the materials used to create electronic and electrical products pose when they reach their end of life .
Fortunately , there are organisations making inroads into addressing the challenge . ERA www . intelligentcxo . com
37