 |
Seven UN entities have come together, supported by the World Economic Forum, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to call for an overhaul of the current electronics system, with the aim of supporting international efforts to address e-waste challenges, reports ITREALMS.
The report calls for a systematic collaboration with major brands, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academia, trade unions, civil society and associations in a deliberative process to reorient the system and reduce the waste of resources each year with a value greater than the GDP of most countries.
Each year, approximately 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) are discarded -- the weight of more than all commercial airliners ever made. In terms of material value, this is worth 62.5 billion dollars-- more than the GDP of most countries.
Less than 20% of this is recycled formally. Informally, millions of people worldwide (over 600,000 in China alone) work to dispose of e-waste, much of it done in working conditions harmful to both health and the environment.
The report, “A New Circular Vision for Electronics – Time for a Global Reboot,” launched in Davos 24 January, says technologies such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT), support gradual “dematerialization” of the electronics industry.
Meanwhile, to capture the global value of materials in the e-waste and create global circular value chains, the report also points to the use of new technology to create service business models, better product tracking and manufacturer or retailer take-back programs.
The report notes that material efficiency, recycling infrastructure and scaling up the volume and quality of recycled materials to meet the needs of electronics supply chains will all be essential for future production.
And if the electronics sector is supported with the right policy mix and managed in the right way, it could lead to the creation of millions of decent jobs worldwide.
The joint report calls for collaboration with multinationals, SMEs, entrepreneurs, academia, trade unions, civil society and associations to create a circular economy for electronics where waste is designed out, the environmental impact is reduced and decent work is created for millions.
Nenye Dom/Editor
*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*
7 comments:
custom explainer videos can better help with making videos on e waste
The Price We Pay for an Ad-Powered Internet" is a thought-provoking topic that highlights how our online experience is shaped by advertisements. While we enjoy free access to countless websites, social media platforms, and search engines, the hidden cost comes in the form of data tracking, privacy concerns, and overwhelming ads. Many companies collect user data to personalize ads, but this raises ethical questions about consent and security. Additionally, intrusive ads can slow down browsing and affect user experience. Is the convenience of a free internet worth the trade-offs? It’s an ongoing debate that challenges the balance between accessibility and privacy. What are your thoughts on this
Seven UN entities team up with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and World Business Council (WBC) to tackle growing e-waste challenges. This collaboration aims to promote sustainable practices, responsible disposal, and innovative solutions to reduce electronic waste and protect the environment.
E-waste contains roughly USD 62.5 billion worth of materials annually, including precious metals—sometimes 100 x richer in gold than mined ore—so tackling e-waste isn’t just eco-conscious, it’s economically smart
This blog is very well-written and makes complex health information easy to understand. The insights shared are practical and helpful for daily life. A CBC blood test is also an important step to regularly monitor overall health
This is a great step forward! E-waste has become one of the fastest-growing environmental challenges, and seeing 7 UN entities partner with WEF and WBC shows how seriously it’s being taken at a global level. Collaboration like this can help create sustainable recycling systems, reduce toxic waste, and encourage responsible tech consumption. It’ll be interesting to see how these partnerships turn into real on-ground action.
This is a much needed call to action, the scale of e-waste is staggering, and is encouraging to see the UN and global partners pushing for a circular approach. The idea of transforming electronics from a linear make use discard model into a regenerative system is long overdue. Collaboration between policymakers, brands, and consumers will be key to making this vision a reality. It’s not just about recycling it’s about redesigning how we produce, consume, and recover value responsibly. Hopefully, this initiative drives tangible change toward sustainable innovation and responsible tech consumption.
Post a Comment