Economic and environmental characteristics of global cellular telephone remanufacturing

Skerlos, Steve; Morrow, William R.; Chan, Kuei-Yuan; Zhao, Fu; Hula, A.; Seliger, Günther; Başdere, B.; Prasitnarit, A.

doi:10.1109/isee.2003.1208055

Cited by 32 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The circular economy rebounds can partially or fully offset the environmental gains of circular economy by increasing the overall demand because of: (1) the insufficient substitutability of secondary products over primary products, in the case of technologically advanced products with rapid innovation cycle, leading to additional consumption as a result of reduced prices. For example, uncompetitive refurbished mobile phones merely lead to a reduction in the manufacturing of new phones [17][18][19]; (2) rebounds as a result of a net reduction in the prices of the product and their substitutes when the suppliers compete for the buyers in the markets. This leads to the income effects and the substitution effect [15]; and (3) economy-wide and transformational effects due to changed consumer behaviours and changes in market structures [20].…”

Section: Socio-economic Embeddedness In the Materials Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Socio-Economic Embeddedness of the Circular Economy: An Integrative Framework

et al. 2018

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Global economies have been characterised by a large dependency of material inflows from natural stocks, an exponential growth of material stock-in-use in the built environment, and the extensive disposal of waste material outflows to anthropogenic sinks. In this context, the concept of the circular economy has emerged, promising to circulate the stock-in-use of materials and transforming output waste material flows back into useful resources while promoting job and value creation. These promises have drawn the attention and interest of policymakers and industry, and gained popularity across society. Despite its apparent emergent legitimacy and diffusion, a few essential adjustments still need to be addressed so that circular economy initiatives can actually deliver on their promises without leading to negative unintended effects. First, a complete entanglement with the existing formal economy is fundamentally needed; this implies valuing the preservation of natural stocks and pricing material input flows adequately. Secondly, a recognition of its socio-economic embeddedness is essentially necessary. The decision-making of societal actors affects material configuration, which in turn affects societal actors; this important feedback loop needs to be explicitly taken into account in circular economy initiatives. The aim of this short communication paper is to explore these pervasive challenges in a broad context of sustainable physical resource management. An integrative framework for recognising the socio-economic embeddedness of the circular economy in practice and the role of the formal economic system in realising its ambitions is proposed.

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Section: Socio-economic Embeddedness In the Materials Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Socio-Economic Embeddedness of the Circular Economy: An Integrative Framework

et al. 2018

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“…Another study has shown that the global number of obsolete mobile phones is estimated to be more than 500 million and continues to grow rapidly [9]. In November 2013, the number of mobile phones in use in Brazil reached 271 million, i.e., well above the Brazilian population, which is 200 million [10].…”

Section: Electronic Waste In the Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electronic Waste: Generation and Management

Veit

Bernardes

2015

Electronic Waste

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The electronics industry is one of the most important industries in the world. It has grown steadily in recent decades, generates a great number of jobs, promotes technological development and, at the same time, fuels a high demand for raw materials that are considered scarce or rare (e.g. precious metals and rare earths elements).This development affects the environment in two ways: first through the large and growing amount of equipment that is discarded annually and second through the extraction of natural raw materials to supply the demand of the new equipment industry. Both can be measured by the amount of equipment that is produced and discarded annually by many countries.The main manufacturers and generators of electronic waste are considered to be developed or developing countries. According to Robinson [1], most electronic waste is generated in Europe and the United States. However, China, the countries of Eastern Europe and Latin America are becoming large generators of electronic waste.Estimates indicate that about 40 million tonnes of this waste are generated each year, or approximately 5 % of all solid waste generated in the world [2]. Another study, from Greenpeace, estimated that globally 20-50 million tonnes of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) are discarded annually, with Asian countries disposing up to 12 million tonnes [3].Robinson [1] also estimated that computers, mobile phones and television sets alone would correspond to 5

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“…It has also been shown that the extraction of raw materials used to produce mobile phones, the use of mobile phones, and the disposal of WMPs have strong impacts on the environment (Ram et al, 1999;Yu et al, 2010;Herrmann and PE International, 2008;Park et al, 2006). However, little research on the environmental impacts of WMP recycling processes has been performed using the LCA method, although some studies of remanufacturing processes, WMP retrievability, and the ecological efficiencies of recycling and retrieving rare metals have been carried out (DeVierno, 2011;Socolof et al, 2006;Huisman, 2003;Skerlos et al, 2003). One reason for this is that more attention is paid to large, heavy, and easy-to-collect WEEE, whereas small WEEE (e.g., WMPs) have not received as much consideration, so collection rates have been low.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of waste mobile phone recycling in China

Bian

Bai

et al. 2016

Journal of Cleaner Production

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Economic and environmental characteristics of global cellular telephone remanufacturing

Cited by 32 publications

References 4 publications

The Socio-Economic Embeddedness of the Circular Economy: An Integrative Framework

The Socio-Economic Embeddedness of the Circular Economy: An Integrative Framework

Electronic Waste: Generation and Management

Comparative environmental life cycle assessment of waste mobile phone recycling in China

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