The Royal Society of Chemistry published the results of a global survey into people's attitudes towards technology and sustainability.
The survey was conducted in 10 countries around the world and asked participants about their purchasing and recycling habits in order to gain a better understanding of their attitudes towards sustainability in technology.
The results showed that individuals want more sustainable technology options but are frustrated with the lack of information on the topic.
In addition to that, individuals are also upset about the lack of straightforward options for recycling their technology or extending their life span.
Key stats found from the research carried out by The Royal Society of Chemistry:
- 60% of consumers are willing to switch to rivals of preferred tech brands if goods are sustainable.
- 73% said they believe governments should take action to tackle e-waste before the situation gets any worse.
- 57% said they're afraid of the environmental effect of unused tech devices they have at home but don't know what to do with them or are unconvinced the current processes available in their local area deal with e-waste effectively.
Tom Welton, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, says, "Developing a circular economy where minerals used in tech devices are salvaged and repurposed could help us to bypass supply chain issues in the future while also helping to reduce environmental impacts. It's essential that governments and businesses urgently do more to develop a circular economy that can tackle the world's growing e-waste crisis and alleviate the strain on supply chains."
In addition to that, he urges that everyone tries to be more conscious about how they use and reuse technology.
Before you dispose of or replace it, ask yourself if it really needs to be replaced. Could it be repaired? Can it be updated? And, if it can't be sold or donated, could it be recycled instead?
Not-for-profit Material Focus commented on the survey, saying: "Recycling and reusing electricals needs to become far easier to ensure that we don't throw away some of the most precious materials on our planet – anything with a plug, battery, or cable can be reused or recycled. Urgent action by all stakeholders needs to be taken to address this issue."
