I have been pretty quiet of late, here on this journal, on our socials and honestly in person too; but I am (and we are) most assuredly still here. 2024 so far has been AuTerra Jewellery’s wintering. It has been a time of great purpose, despite the fact that most of the growth has been invisible, happening beneath the surface.
It is becoming more and more difficult to access the metals reclaimed from e-waste which has become the cornerstone of our brand. Ethical metal acquisition is the soul of our jewellery from which we will never deviate. 2024 so far has been dedicated to a deep dive to understand the issues and come up with solutions. And with that, somewhat unintentionally, has come a digital hibernation.
But I’m back in these spaces. And my first hello is the story of a few of the challenges...
Why we use the metals we do:
The Digital Revolution has not only transformed the way we live as individuals but also has far reaching social and environmental implications. The production of electronics has high input costs, monetary and otherwise. Perhaps the resource which best illustrates the issue is Coltan, a rare earth metal essential for allowing the electrical charge to be held in the small capacitor of cellphones. Coltan is largely mined in the DRC, and the conflicts surrounding it have exacerbated war and human rights issues as well as caused extensive habitat loss for Grauer’s gorillas, reducing their population to less than 4000 individuals.*
After all those resources are expended in their manufacture, the majority of defunct and discarded electronic devices (collectively known as e-waste), merely piles up in and pollutes our landfills and scrap yards. This year (2024) it is estimated that the amount of unrecycled e-waste on earth has reached a staggering 347million metric tonnes (that’s 347billion kgs), with no sign of slowing down.**
E-waste recycling is an essential process in the sustainability toolbox. But this has always been a challenging space for one reason or another. When we first started reclaiming the gold and silver for our jewellery from e-waste it was a relatively unknown thing; technical know-how was hard to come by, and processes were crude and experimental. But over the last few years e-waste recycling has become big business, expertise has burgeoned and so has the demand for raw materials (discarded electronics) and specialist machinery. So what is the challenge?
E-waste is classified as a toxic waste, often containing lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants. If e-waste is not disposed of properly, these can easily leach into the soil and ground water, poisoning both people and wildlife alike. So whilst technical improvements are welcomed, there is also a darker, more unscrupulous side to this recycling boom. The race to the bottom is on and extracting e-waste as cheaply as possible comes at the cost of people and planet. And still e-waste piles up!
Where some of the challenges lie:
- There is a rapid increase in electronic production as consumers are driven to upgrade more often. Planned obsolescence, a design process that limits repairability and decreases the time the item is expected to “wear out” due to the use of non-durable materials leads to a shorter lifespan. This is exacerbated by the rapid pace of technological innovation, as well as a culture that promotes conspicuous consumption.
- Despite growing recognition of the problem posed by e-waste, the majority still doesn’t reach recycling centers. Only 22.3% *** of e-waste generated worldwide is recycled.
- Extraction techniques need to continually evolve to keep up with changes in the device designs, often in exchange for far lower yields of valuable materials. These economic factors are pushing many small-scale refiners out of the market.
- It is becoming more and more difficult to access both e-waste components and recycled metals with a complete chain of traceability and accountability. Improper e-waste management disproportionately affects marginalized communities. E-waste is often shipped off to developing countries where gaps in legislation allow dangerous and toxic processing with little oversight (i.e. cheap). As the value of recycling e-waste is realised, more unscrupulous players enter the field. The developed world’s, “out of sight, out of mind” approach to e-waste has created an informal recycling sector that exposes workers, often children, to hazardous materials. Health issues ranging from respiratory problems to neurological disorders are common amongst people living on or near e-waste disposal or informal recycling sites. ****
This is a birds-eye overview, the challenges day to day on the ground remain nuanced and complicated. Nobody ever said running an ecofriendly business would be easy but the storms we have weathered over the last year have tested both our resolve and the strength of my migraine tablets. I am so grateful for all of you who have stuck with us through this period of introspection and for my team, who have remained upbeat and determined through every challenge. We have learnt so much in our journey to this point and carry that learning with us as we tackle these challenges head on, both for the sake of our little company and the impact we strive to have on people and planet.
P.S. If you are in South Africa and would like to make sure your e-waste is properly recycled this link indicates drop-off locations at Makro stores throughout the country. If you live abroad, your local municipality may be able to give you a list of recycling depots in your area that accept e-waste.
References
*https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/great_apes/gorillas/eastern_lowland_gorilla/?
** https://theroundup.org/global-e-waste-statistics/
*** https://ewastemonitor.info/the-global-e-waste-monitor-2024/
**** https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electronic-waste-(e-waste)