Schumacher, K.
and Green, M.
(2022),
Circular Economy in a High-Tech World, Nature Sustainability, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=932851
(Accessed October 13, 2025)
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Circular Economy in a High-Tech World
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Abstract
The proliferation of electronics, batteries, and solar panels in recent decades has resulted in a substantial generation of end-of-life (EoL) "high-tech" products. Currently, these products follow a largely linear – extract, make, use, dispose – model, but significant effort is underway to transition to a more circular economy in which product and materials are kept in the economy. However, many technical and economic challenges can impede, constrain, and preclude a CE for high-tech products. Here, we discuss several of these challenges and provide specific data, standards, tools, proposed research and development and educational needs to address them. We further argue that a circular economy cannot be achieved by individual efforts alone, but rather necessitates collaboration across disciplines, industry sectors, public and private stakeholders, and geographical regions.Citation
Nature Sustainability
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Journals
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Keywords
circular economy, sustainabiility, recycling, reuse, refurbishment, electronic waste, battery waste, photovoltaics waste
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Created October 18, 2022, Updated November 29, 2022