Exploring the environmental impact of metallic element usage in smartphone evolution

In the era of rapid technological advancement, the accumulation of electronic waste, especially smartphones with their intricate design involving precious and critical metals such as nickel, lithium, and cobalt, raises concerns. This heavy reliance on metals significantly contributes to the environm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Resources, conservation and recycling conservation and recycling, 2024-06, Vol.205, p.107566, Article 107566
Main Authors: Nili, Sheida, Nikfar, Sima, Fahimi, Ario, Gozun, Mattew Joseph Bih, Hua, Inez, Vahidi, Ehsan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Environmental impacts
GHG emission
Life cycle assessment
Raw material consumption
Smartphones
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Summary:In the era of rapid technological advancement, the accumulation of electronic waste, especially smartphones with their intricate design involving precious and critical metals such as nickel, lithium, and cobalt, raises concerns. This heavy reliance on metals significantly contributes to the environmental footprint of smartphones. This study aims to track the flow of metals in conjunction with evolving design paradigms and assess their environmental impact. Our research focuses on Samsung cell phones, the Galaxy S series, released between 2010 and 2015, analyzing the environmental impact of raw materials. Our findings highlight platinum group metals (PGMs) as having the most significant environmental impact. Notably, printed circuit boards (PCBs), rich in metals, emerge as substantial contributors due to their higher mass, resulting in increased environmental implications as the element content rises. The insights from this investigation provide valuable guidance for making informed decisions about smartphone design, production, and disposal to reduce environmental impact. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0921-3449
1879-0658
DOI:10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107566