3 MIN READ
9-5-2024
Sustainability in the Tech Industry
Alex Schulze , CEO/Co-Founder
Sustainability in the Tech Industry
The digital age continues to explode as the tech industry finds new ways to revolutionize. In the 1990s, the internet became publicly available; in the 2000s, Facebook launched and Apple introduced the iPhone; in 2022, the era of generative AI began when Chat GPT launched.
As these technological advancements continue to grow and pioneering technology is developed, a new challenge has emerged: how can the industry stay at the forefront of innovation, and do it sustainably? When it comes to corporate sustainability, many tech companies are already leading the way.
The tech industry has long competed to provide global connections and to bring about unparalleled convenience to our everyday life. In trying to achieve these goals, they have faced significant environmental challenges like e-waste and energy consumption. Tackling these challenges will take a collective effort from the industry, and many have already been working to decrease their carbon footprint.
E-Waste in the Tech Industry
When we throw away devices such as phones, laptops, tablets, and TVs, we are contributing to e-waste. Today, about 50 tons of electronics are disposed of every single year, and plastic is a major component of these electronic devices.
This is especially a problem given the lightning pace at which these products are introduced and how fast people seek these products out. In 2023 alone, there were nearly 1.5 billion smartphones sold worldwide. Another problem is how often people upgrade their phones. According to a report by Consumer Affairs, 12% of phone users in the United States upgrade their phones every year, and over 50% of phone users in the United States upgrade their phones every 2 years.
These habits contribute to the e-waste problem worldwide. In fact, the Global E-Waste Monitor developed by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research suggests that, in 2022 alone, 62 million metric tons of e-waste were generated worldwide. This has sparked the need for action in the tech industry as a whole. Today, companies are addressing the problem with innovative strategies that reduce waste and plastic use.
Plastic Reduction
The electronics we use heavily rely on plastics. These plastics are not biodegradable and can take centuries to break down. To address this, tech companies are increasingly focusing on reducing plastic use in their products.
Many companies have pledged to reduce their carbon footprints, and some have even turned to recycled plastics to make products from laptops to camera bags. Dell has pledged to be a zero carbon emissions company by 2050, and it has said that by 2030 the company will use renewable or recycled material to make 100% of its packaging and 50% of its products.
In the quest to reduce plastic usage, the tech industry is turning to innovative alternatives. Bioplastics, made from renewable sources such as corn starch or sugarcane, are one promising option. Unlike traditional plastics derived from petroleum, bioplastics are designed to be biodegradable or compostable, which significantly reduces their environmental impact. Some companies are already experimenting with bioplastics for packaging.
Another alternative is the use of ocean plastics. Samsung has repurposed ocean plastics into electronic device components. This not only helps to clean up ocean pollution but also reduces the need for new plastic production.
These efforts are only the beginning for the emerging sustainable revolution in the tech industry. By continuing to innovate and adopt sustainable practices, the tech industry can contribute to a more sustainable future while still producing technological advancements that drive our everyday life.