Tag: earth day

Recycling E-Waste Should Be Common Practise

In a world that needs to address the climate crisis, sustainability is at the top of everyone’s mind. Sustainability is achieved through maintaining proper ecological systems and one of the biggest problems to tackle is electronic waste (E-waste). Despite the goal of reducing waste, every year millions of electronic devices get thrown away after they no longer serve their purpose, whether due to broken components that make it unusable or people’s desire to upgrade. It is imperative now more than ever to learn how to manage E-waste.

What is Electronic Waste? 

E-waste is electronic devices and appliances that are disposed of. These can include computers, phones, TVs, tablets, and many more. These devices have components of harmful substances, such as cobalt, lead, mercury, etc., that do not decompose and become extremely toxic to the environment. When mixed with soil, it can negatively affect living beings and organisms. That is why it’s important to know how and where to recycle them to make them useful and safe. 

How Does E-Waste Pose as a Problem? 

Newer technology has become an endless loop. People are more enticed towards upgrading their tech rather than being satisfied with their existing products. E-waste will be found, unfortunately, more likely in working condition than broken equipment. While new tech is built to be more convenient and sharper, it doesn’t compensate for the adverse environmental effects. E-waste presents health hazards to the public when not recycled. Moreover, it contributes to air pollution in the form of fine dust or toxic gasses after going through the process of shredding or dismantling. Not to mention when in contact with water bodies, it also harms our aquatic life that already faces plenty of mistreatment. 

Reducing E-Waste: Easy Steps You Can Take 
  • Checking the product’s lifespan before buying: Avoid trendy products with short lifespans which will predictably die out soon. This is a very simple step you can check yourself. 
  • Check the packaging: Does the product have an environmental seal? The packaging will usually have the seal of approval from respected organisations or government agencies. 
  • Learn about electronic components: Being conscious about the different components and what they are made of will make you more aware of what toxins you might get exposed to. This can prevent unnecessary complications later on. 
  • Donations: Sometimes when you are done with an electronic device but can’t sell it off, the best alternative is to donate. This way someone who needs it can use it for longer rather than being disposed of in a landfill. 
  • Limiting your electronic use: This tip is easier said than done but limiting purchasing of electronic devices can also help bring down the excess demand happening in the market. 
  • Normalise recycling into your daily life: This is the most important and easy tip to practise. Recycling ensures that your products are safely converted into something new as well as do not end up in landfills and harm the environment. 
  • Maintain the electronics you currently use: This might seem difficult but learning how to maintain different electronics and their components will help extend their lifespan. You can get the most out of your equipment by practising sustainability yourself. 

Green Tech, Bright Future – Top 10 Sustainable Tech Companies

Tech companies are playing a significant role in shaping the future of our planet by prioritising sustainability. They are revolutionising the tech landscape and making efforts to create a greener and more sustainable world. Through their cutting-edge technologies, bold initiatives, and unwavering dedication, these forward-thinking organisations inspire us with their ingenuity and impact. Let’s celebrate ‘Earth Day’ with the top 10 sustainable tech companies that are at the forefront of sustainable tech excellence.

Amazon

Amazon is leading in promoting a greener and more sustainable future. As the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, Amazon has set ambitious sustainability goals. It has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and to source 100% renewable energy by 2025. Amazon is meeting and exceeding its targets by accelerating its timeline by five years. This demonstrates the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. Additionally, Amazon invests in sustainable technologies and practices, promoting waste reduction and resource conservation.

Apple

Back in 2020, Apple made a commitment to sustainability and pledged to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030. The company has already achieved carbon neutrality for its global corporate operations, and this new goal means that by 2030, every Apple device sold will have a net zero climate impact.

Apple is offering various ways to help customers learn about and connect with the environment while taking action to reduce their impact on the planet. One way customers can do this is by bringing their old devices back to Apple. The company provides trade-in services and free recycling, making it easy to recycle devices, reduce electronic waste in landfills, and save precious materials in the pursuit of taking less from the earth.

Apple is working in collaboration with Conservation International in Latin America to support the leadership of Afro-descendant communities by providing economic opportunities that promote efforts to address climate and biodiversity crises. Additionally, Apple is collaborating with the Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology Foundation to develop a certified methodology for blue carbon in China, which involves extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in oceans and coastal ecosystems.

Samsung

Samsung Mobile set its sustainability goals three years ago, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 with the help of its “Galaxy for the Planet” vision. The team, now operating under the Samsung Mobile eXperience (DX) division, is committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2027 and improving product energy efficiency by 30% by 2030 using energy-saving technologies. They also plan to achieve zero standby power consumption in smartphone chargers by 2025. In addition to this, Samsung DX aims to achieve zero-waste to landfill in its global operations by 2025. This will be achieved by minimising waste generated across global operations, optimising product lifecycles to last longer, and promoting reuse and recycling.

Motorola

At Motorola Mobility, the company is working to shrink their energy use and carbon footprint by focusing on efficiency and sourcing energy from clean, renewable sources such as wind power. By doing so, they’re trying to improve efficiency, cut costs, and honour their corporate responsibility commitments. The company has identified ways to make every product greener by following design principles such as using environmentally preferred materials, increasing the amount of recycled materials used, improving energy efficiency, reducing packaging and increasing the recyclability of our products.

The company is also working to reduce the amount of potentially hazardous substances in its products and find environmentally sound alternatives while maintaining performance and quality. They have a continuing program to research and monitor independent scientific reviews of materials’ environmental and health impacts. The result is a growing list of product restrictions and environmentally sound alternatives. In terms of packaging, Motorola Mobility’s Global Packaging team works hand in hand with its carrier partners to reduce the weight and volume of their retail packaging while expanding the use of recycled materials. 

Motorola Mobility supports the CTIA Green Packaging guidelines, and wherever possible, they design and engineer the product packaging with “minimizing environmental impact” as an integral part of their design brief. The company have identified ways to make every product greener by following design principles such as using FSC® certified paper, water-based adhesives, soy/vegetable-based inks as well as zero VOC UV inks, 100 per cent recycled content pulp packaging parts, and replacing plastic parts.

Dell

Dell Technologies is leading the way towards a more environmentally friendly future through its ambitious targets and innovative approaches. The company aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and has embarked on a sustainability-driven research and development journey. In an effort to tackle the staggering amount of e-waste generated each year, Dell has committed to reusing or recycling an equivalent product for every purchase by 2030, thereby promoting a circular economy.

Google

Google stands at the forefront of sustainability, harnessing its global influence to combat climate change. Through its vast range of products and platforms, Google empowers individuals, organisations, and governments to make informed choices for a greener future. Collaborating with partners, Google actively reduces emissions and pioneers carbon-neutral technologies. Drawing on its expertise in artificial intelligence, Google drives innovation to tackle environmental issues head-on. Committed to a net-zero emissions goal by 2030, Google leads by example, powering its infrastructure with renewable energy. Optimistic about technology’s potential, Google envisions a sustainable world for generations to come. With dedication and collaboration, Google inspires others to join the journey towards a brighter, greener future.

Microsoft

Microsoft aims to be carbon-negative by 2030 and remove more carbon emissions than it has generated since its inception. It also plans to achieve zero waste and water positivity by 2030, invest in R&D to reduce waste and conserve resources, and launch the Cloud for Sustainability in 2022. Microsoft plays a vital role in global sustainability efforts, accelerates climate tech through its Climate Innovation Fund, and advocates for inclusive skilling and a just transition in the global south. Microsoft and Amazon are industry leaders and catalysts for positive change, shaping a future where innovation and sustainability coexist.

NVIDIA

NVIDIA, a leader in technology innovation, is committed to building a sustainable future. They have developed cutting-edge GPUs, including the revolutionary Hopper architecture, prioritising energy efficiency while delivering top-notch performance. NVIDIA sets new standards with a staggering 26x advantage over CPUs in energy efficiency. They talk the walk by powering the most efficient supercomputer on the prestigious Green500 ranking, demonstrating their dedication to environmental stewardship.

Intel

Intel has announced its plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its global operations by 2040. The company focuses on renewable energy and waste reduction to achieve this target, which has already resulted in significant progress. In 2021, Intel saved 486 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduced total greenhouse gas emissions by 2%, indicating Intel’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. In the ever-evolving technology sector, Intel is one of the leaders in following environmental responsibility, conducting with innovation and a conscience towards a greener future.

Meta

Meta has set a goal to become carbon neutral across its value chain by 2030. To achieve this, they strive to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions through operational efficiencies and relying solely on 100% renewable energy. By 2030, Meta aims to offset any remaining emissions through carbon removal projects. In 2021, they led initiatives in Kenya and Mexico, facilitating the sequestration of over 200,000 tons of carbon through reforestation and soil conservation efforts. Through their determination and innovation, Dell and Meta set an example of corporate responsibility in the fight against climate change, leading the way towards a more sustainable future.

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