Electronic manufacturing: Smart devices, dumb e-waste

Context

Your company produces a popular line of smart devices, releasing a new version every year. While sales are booming, your support for older models is limited. These devices often end up in landfills, leaking toxic materials into the environment and wasting valuable raw materials—of which only 15% are recovered.

Dilemma

Do you:
A) Launch a take-back and recycling program, investing in proper e-waste handling—even if it costs more and risks sales.
B) Focus on maximizing profits and keeping the product cycle short, leaving recycling responsibilities to consumers and third-party actors.

Summary

Electronics harm the environment at every stage of their lifecycle. Mining raw materials like gold and silver depletes finite resources, generates toxic waste, and pollutes nearby communities. Manufacturing consumes vast amounts of energy and water, while emitting greenhouse gases—especially in regions with weak regulations. Improper disposal leads to e-waste, where hazardous chemicals like lead and benzene leak into soil and water, endangering ecosystems and human health. Only 15% of precious metals are recycled, worsening resource depletion.

Resources:

• https://thesustainabilitycooperative.net/2022/03/24/are-electronics-bad-for-the-environment/
• https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-10/documents/electronics_manufacturing_2017_industrial_profile.pdf