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Circular Economy in a High-Tech World

Published

Author(s)

Kelsea Schumacher, Martin L. Green

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

Keywords

circular economy, sustainabiility, recycling, reuse, refurbishment, electronic waste, battery waste, photovoltaics waste

Citation

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 March 28, 2024)
Created October 18, 2022, Updated November 29, 2022