Recent research conducted by Trucost and revealed by the Green Electronics Council has suggested that there is a significant economic opportunity at stake for the creation of circular economy processes in the electronics sector. In the recovery and recycling of precious metals alone, the research estimated that there’s the potential to gain $10 billion in value through cost savings and natural capital benefits.

Licensed under CC: credit Flickr user - fdecomite
Licensed under CC: credit Flickr user – fdecomite

Trucost’s data looked at specific opportunities, for example, their analysis on the reuse of gold suggests that there currently exists a bottom line benefit of almost $100 million, compared against the $14.6 million benefit gained from current recovery levels.

There are a number of previous research initiatives that have highlighted a significant economic opportunity in implementing circular economy principles in the electronics sector. A lot of electronics equipment is produced using high-value materials, the lifespan of which is not maximised because they become inseparable from the product that they are contained within.

In general, the electronics sector performs relatively well compared against other industries. The cost to natural resources for electronics products is estimated at $39 million per every billion dollars in revenue, while the average in other sectors can be as much as $200 million.

Trucost’s research reaffirms general research, which shows that even sectors with an established recycling industry still have the opportunity to capture greater economic value by improving material and energy flows.

Source: Trucost and Green Electronics Council Debut Research On Natural Capital Costs and Circular Economy Benefits for Electronics  

The post Trucost Identifies $10 billion Opportunity For Electronics Industry appeared first on Circulate.

Source: Circulate News RSS