Why We Can't Afford to Ignore Eco-Friendly Electronics

There is an urgent need for greener electronics, especially considering the statistic from EnABLES, an EU-funded project, that predicts around 78 million batteries from IoT devices will be discarded globally every day by 2025. In light of these facts, it is more crucial than ever to explore sustainable technologies.?

The Importance of Sustainability in IoT?

Internet of Things (IoT) devices, ranging from smart bandages to temperature sensors, offer revolutionary potential to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges. However, as the EnABLES project underscores, the benefits of IoT will be severely curtailed if we do not radically improve the environmental impact of small electronics.?

Anticipating the Impact of IoT Expansion?

Just to take an example, let's reflect a bit on the future of mail and package handling. Imagine the significant surge in electronic waste that could occur if every package in our increasingly digital and connected world were outfitted with IoT labels for tracking and temperature monitoring. While the concept of real-time tracking and monitoring for each package is certainly appealing, especially for sensitive or high-value items, without sustainable power solutions, this innovation will lead to the disposal of billions of additional batteries each year.

The need to create more sustainable electronics is not just about upgrading our current gadgets and industrial IoT devices; it extends to every potential corner of our modern world, including something as commonplace as mail and package delivery. This scenario further highlights why we truly cannot afford to ignore the call for eco-friendly electronics and sustainable power technologies.?