Electronics require natural resources

The production of consumer electronics requires large quantities of a wide range of metals and minerals. Take telephones. These are made from as many as 42 different minerals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, aluminium, beryllium, copper, gold, limestone, silica, silver, and wollastonite. The average PC requires 240 kilos of fossil fuels and 22 kilos of chemicals to produce.

Electronics are filled with toxic chemicals

Our computer, phone and gadgets can contain a number of harmful chemicals including lead, Cadmium, Dioxins, Furans, Arsenic, Mercury, DDT, PCB, Chromium, Vinyl chloride, Antimony, Beryllium, Brominated flame retardants. The problem is also that many of these substances build up in our bodies.

Effects of these chemicals include:

• Hormone disruptions
• Damage to reproductive systems
• Cancer
• Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems
• Damage to lungs, livers, and kidneys.
• Deficits in learning and coordination skills.

E-waste

All those consumer electronics don’t last forever. They are thrown out as electronic waste (or e-waste). E-waste is the most rapidly growing waste problem in the world with 50 millions tons of e-waste generated per year.

What to do?

Solutions include electronic products without toxics that are designed for upgrade, reuse, and recycling. “Extended producer responsibility” implies that producers take responsibility for the whole life-cycle of products.