"For all of the good in recycling and reusing old electronics, we must examine some of the potential hazards.
All e-waste materials have toxins embedded within, and the processes used to extract the valued commodities — gold, silver, platinum, copper, palladium, plastics, glass, etc. — are risky, potentially exposing workers to highly toxic materials."
"NEC says that it has developed a new form of bio-plastic that could be used for mobile phones and is 70% made from a mixture of cellulose, a main component of plant stems, with cardanol, a primary component of cashew nut shells."
"Whether they specialize in fuel additives or flame retardants, in plastics or planes, many of today's leading manufacturers seek more environmentally friendly ways to design, develop and produce new materials. Bringing greener products to market is one important goal-airplanes that consume less fuel, plastics that use recycled materials, tires that that can be made without petroleum-based oils, for example."
"When cicadas' endless singing start functioning as an alarm clock in the morning, cosmopolitans start packing their suitcases and wonder, 'Would my phone be smart enough to work in overseas? What about the chargers?' Smart world is questioning whether the information technology started as a global "product". In the process of shifting islands of intelligent technology to the world of intelligent technology, one inevitable step is to meet a global standard."
"With the march of progress, many of us are frequently upgrading our electronics, or at least replacing those that stop working. But what about all those discarded gadgets? They often contain toxic materials, as well as valuable components that can be reused.
The Consumer Electronics Association offers several tips to reduce e-waste, while preserving your identity and sensitive information from would-be thieves. Let's take a look:"
"ewlett Packard has become the latest company to release some of its intellectual property to the public good, with three green patents added to the Eco-Patent Commons today.
The Commons is an initiative managed by the World Business Council on Sustainable Development to encourage firms to share their innovations that have environmental benefits."
"What do you consider when shopping for a new video game console?
The games available for the console? How much it will cost you?
What about the ethical impact of your choices?
Do you weigh what the creation of that console does to the environment, whether it was built in sweat shops or contains supplies sold to fund wars?"