Do E-Textiles Contribute to Electronic Waste?

There is little information on recycling e-textiles and the impact of e-textiles on the environment, but one individual has investigated the matter. Andreas Koehler, author of a study published on the implications of e-textile manufacturing, says that solutions for safer disposal and recycling of e-textiles should be sought now while they are still a modern technology. In the study, Koehler sites a few key reasons for electronic waste being a danger. Not only does it contribute to environmental pollution, but it is also a health hazard and has social and economic consequences as well. E-waste typically ends up in developing countries, where people then burn the waste to recover metals. There are also a few logistical problems associated with e-waste disposal, as well. Existing electronic disposal and recycling programs are not designed for collection of e-textiles. According to an article from the Yale Environment Review, even if a proper system for recycling e-textiles is put in place, the current technology used for electronic recycling will not be able to process the material. An entirely different kind of machinery would have to be made just for recycling e-textiles, and that could be very costly.

Another issue at play here is regulation. The Consumer Products Safety Commission oversees the manufacturing of electronics and textiles separately, but none for e-textiles specifically. There are certifications that e-textile products must meet because of the components used (FCC and CE certification), but there is no governing body that focuses solely on the design, manufacturing, and disposal of e-textiles. As this sector grows, this will become a necessity. Since this is still a new industry, it needs to happen sooner rather than later. The fact of the matter is e-textiles could contribute to the e-waste problem, but what can we in the industry do to get ahead of it? The answer lies in the design, and there a few ways eco-friendly design can be implemented: by making e-textiles easy to disassemble, reducing the variety of materials used, and making materials recyclable once disassembled.

What about wearables? Are they any more environmentally friendly? Much like e-textiles, it comes down to the design and materials used. It is estimated that 56 percent of people in the United States own at least one wearable device, with most of those devices being smartwatches. However, recycling programs that except wearables are rare and, in many cases, it is easier to trade them in or donate. Currently, the most eco-friendly textile products on the market today are something called “e-skins”. Researchers at the University of Colorado developed a flexible, self-healing, recyclable electronic skin. This skin is embedded with sensors and can measure pressure, temperature, and air flow. Once the e-skin has reached its end of life, it can be soaked in a solution to degrade polymers, and the leftover nanoparticles can be used to create new e-skin. It’s truly something of the future. Another benefit to recycled e-waste is its use in creating brand new products. London-based design firm Layer worked with Carbon Trust to create the Worldbeing. The wearable wristband is made of recycled e-waste and is designed to help track the user’s carbon footprint. Now, this example doesn’t answer the question of how e-textiles can be recycled, but it can certainly act as inspiration for how recycled e-textile components can be utilized after the fact.

So, what can we in this industry do to ensure that e-textiles do not contribute to the mounting pile of e-waste? Firstly, we can educate ourselves. Recognizing that there is a problem and knowing the facts is an integral step toward change. Second, we need to create (in partnership with organizations that oversee the production and disposal of electronics and textiles) a waste prevention strategy. Such organizations that would be perfect to partner with are the Consumer Products Safety Commission, Electronic Recyclers International, and the IPC. In the meantime, we at LOOMIA will continue to do our research and work to find new and innovative ways to design and manufacture our products to keep them out of landfills. Please join us.