Eco Innovation

The Municipality of The Hague has launched a pilot project to keep the historic Hofvijver plastic-free.

Global e-waste levels continue to rise, posing serious challenges to human health and the environment.

The 3G switch-off on O2’s network is expected to affect approximately 4.3 million[1] people across the UK. As a result, this could generate an enormous 70,516 kilograms of e-waste, roughly the same weight as 5.9 double-decker buses. And the materials from scrapping these old phones could be worth a staggering £13,769,488. 

Researchers from the University of Waterloo have found a way to reduce the energy use of some data centres by as much as 30%.

Approaches to address electronic waste, or e-waste, have been varied. Some of these approaches that have featured on Electronic Specifier have included recycling electronic components - so they’re not outright discarded into landfill - while others have investigated new materials that are more recyclable, and battery-free applications that remove one major part of e-waste altogether.

Imagine a battery that feeds on simple sugars instead of plugging into a wall – a sustainable alternative to conventional energy storage, powered by the metabolic processes of living organisms. Well, researchers at Empa have brought this very idea to life with a biodegradable battery powered by fungi.

The UK is falling far behind other European nations in recycling e-waste, despite the growing scarcity of vital components, high carbon footprint, and health impact caused by waste electronics.

Made Smarter Adoption North West, the trailblazing digital technology adoption programme, has secured an additional £230,000 to help more SME manufacturers access transformational technology.

As we wave goodbye to 2024 and welcome in 2025, it is amazing to see all the remarkable technological advancements that have emerged over the past year. Among these many advancements, some of the most fascinating ones were those inspired by the nature – particularly the animal world.

Globally, 62 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) was generated in 2022, yet less than a quarter of that waste was properly recycled, according to the UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor.