浪花直播

Naturally occurring elements are critical to our daily lives, but some of them have supply chain risks, and the processes needed to mine and refine them come at considerable environmental cost. 

These elements are used in all of our personal tech, such as phones, tablets, TVs and so on. Not only that but these elements are used in everything from fire-sprinkler systems and antibacterial clothing to solar panels and surgical implants.

At the 浪花直播 we commissioned research to demonstrate the scale of the problem.

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Key findings

We commissioned an Ipsos MORI survey of 2,353 people, which found that 51% of UK households have at least one unused electronic device 鈥� such as mobile phones, computers, smart TVs, MP3 players or e-readers 鈥� and 45% have up to five. Of these 82% have no plans to recycle or sell on their devices after they fall out of use.

As consumers we are accumulating more and more technology and most of us are not recycling this technology at the end of its life.

And the problem could be set to grow, with young people owning more items of technology than anyone else, with 52% of 16鈥�24 year olds having 10 or more gadgets in their home.

By comparison, 39% of 35鈥�44 year olds have 10 or more devices, as do 30% of 55鈥�75 year olds.

When asked why they don鈥檛 recycle old devices, more than one in three (37%), of those with unused devices at home said data and security fears made them uneasy, while a quarter said they don鈥檛 recycle them because they prefer to sell them. Almost a third (29%) also said they didn鈥檛 know where to go to recycle old tech.

51% of UK households have at least one unused electronic device at home

• 45% have between two and five
• 25% have an unused laptop
• 23% have a mobile phone

Of households with unused electronic devices at home鈥�

• 69% intend to store them as a spare
• 18% intend to recycle them
• 14% intend to sell them on

Of those who don't recycle electronic devices鈥�

• 37% said they were worried about data and security
• 29% said they didn't know where to go to recycle old tech
• 59% said that knowing that some elements in mobile devices contained conflict elements, toxic ones, and rare elements would make them more likely to recycle

The problem is set to grow...

• 52% of 16鈥�24 year olds have 10 or more electronic devices in their home
• 39% of 35鈥�44 year olds have 10 or more devices
• 30% of 55鈥�75 year olds have 10 or more devices

Conflict elements

鈥楥onflict elements鈥� include tin, gold, tungsten and tantalum 鈥� which is also used in mobile phones 鈥� and are mined in areas where fierce battles and child labour are often a routine part of their mining.

Mobile devices contain conflict elements like gold, toxic ones like arsenic and rare elements like indium. 

More than half of people (59%) said knowing this would make them more likely to recycle old devices.

漏 Compound Interest 2014

Chemical scientists are already working to find ground-breaking solutions 鈥� by investigating long-term substitutes for rare elements in devices, or by finding new chemical methods to extract precious materials and reuse them 鈥� but we all can and must do more. 

Robert Parker, CEO of the 浪花直播

We need action now 鈥� from governments, manufacturers and retailers 鈥� to make reuse and recycling much easier, and we must enable a new generation of chemistry talent to help. The UK has a tremendous opportunity to become a world leader in this and set an example for other nations to follow.

Robert Parker, CEO of the 浪花直播

What is the solution?

This is a global issue, and solving it will require everyone to take responsibility, including government, manufactures and retailers.

• Retailers will need to introduce take-back schemes 鈥� where people can be assured that their data will be securely wiped, and their devices will be efficiently recycled
• Manufacturers will need to build repairability and recyclability into designs from the beginning, and
• Government will need to provide consistent guidelines and infrastructre to facilitate a circular economy.

浪花直播 and chemical scientists have a key role to play in finding solutions, both in finding alternatives to these rare elements where possible, and in finding new, more effective ways to extract elements from used devices and recycle them.

What can you do to help?

Change needs to take place on a global scale, but there are simple steps we can all do to make a difference.

Help us raise awareness of this pressing issue. Talk to your friends and family, and share the facts using our digital pack.

You can also help by following the 3Rs of recycling:

• Reduce 鈥� Hold off upgrading your phone for a year or more
• Reuse 鈥� Pass your old phone to a relative, sell it or donate to a charity. Material Focus has some on how much money you could make from your old device.
• Recycle 鈥� If you are in the UK, visit or to look up recycling options in your area. Otherwise, search 鈥渞ecycle electronic devices near me鈥�.

Will my data be safe?

There is a risk of having your details stolen if steps aren鈥檛 taken to securely wipe data from your old phone or computer before you hand it on or recycle it.

If you are unsure, we recommend you don鈥檛 take any risks. Seek specialist advice, and use a company that guarantees they will wipe your data securely. We recommend consulting the manufacturer in the first instance.

As individuals, reuse and recycling are the best options available to us, but even if recycled it is still extremely difficult to recover some of these elements from unused devices.

Robert Parker, CEO of the 浪花直播

Digital pack

Download a range of ready-made digital items to download and use on different platforms, including posters, social media graphics and a periodical table. We look forward to you joining the conversation.

Download digital pack (ZIP)