Greening the electronics industry is no longer an option

Electronics Consumers’ relationships with the environment continues to deepen, with more of the world indicating their preferences through their purchasing choices. Increasingly, buyers are using their wallets to show what causes are dear to them. They purchase from companies whose values align with their own, and shun others, sometimes even disregarding price as the deciding factor.

The consumer electronics industry, which is responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, has responded with the adoption of sustainable practices in a way that promises an eco-friendlier future in an approach that is both good for their bottom line, and aligns with the views of their customers.

One of the biggest challenges in consumer electronics is e-waste. According to the United Nations, the world produced more than 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022, mostly in the form of devices that have been thrown away by users. Worryingly, less than a quarter of these were recycled. This shows that a significant amount of heavy metals, plastics and other waste products are leached into the soil or ground water.

To counter the e-waste problem, players in the electronics industry are turning to recycling and waste management. At LG, we have mail-back and drop off programs that allow customers to send back their old products to LG shops, encouraging them to pursue proper disposal of waste electronic and electrical equipment. Such initiatives are a step in the right direction, but they highlight the need for a more circular economy, such as the one adopted by LG, where products are designed with the end-of-life in mind, enabling easier recycling and repurposing of components.

Another area that manufacturers are looking into keenly is energy usage and the push for efficiency. From handheld devices to large home appliances, manufacturers are prioritising low power consumption and power saving. The shift is not only driven by environmental concerns, but also consumer desire to reduce spending on powering their devices and appliances.

Manufacturers must innovate to find more sustainable materials, improve energy efficiency, and design better end-of-lifecycle processes for their products. Therefore, a critical area that requires continuous investment is research and development (R&D), through which manufacturers can find more sustainable ways to build their products in consideration of their manufacture, transportation, use, and eventual disposal.

With the existing R&D, players in the electronics industry are shifting towards more sustainable materials for packaging. Simple steps such as reducing the plastics used in wrapping, using fewer packing pellets, or even introducing biodegradable materials and recycled plastics, go a long way in reducing the environmental impact of an industry that produces and sells millions of units every year. In 2022, LG used 32,987 tons of recycled plastics in our products, up by 24% from 2021. We intend to use at least 600,000 tons of plastic in our products by 2030, as we pursue increased sustainability in our operations.

However, the success of these green initiatives is not solely in the hands of manufacturers. Community engagement and public awareness are crucial in driving the uptake of sustainable electronics. While some consumers are already taking a stand through their wallets, a majority are yet to understand the benefits offered by purchasing from manufacturers who make green considerations. Consumers need to be educated about the environmental impacts of their purchasing choices; an initiative that can be achieved through public awareness campaigns, eco-labels, and educational content.

Supporting this change in consumer awareness is a robust policy environment. Kenya is at the nascent stages of policy design and implementation driving greening of the electronics industry. With support from the private sector, government is well poised to create a legal environment that will be vital in improving the long-term sustainability of the country’s consumer electronics market.

In conclusion, the transition towards greener electronics is not just about corporate responsibility; it also involves individual action and societal change. Working together, industry players – manufacturers and retailers – and consumers can ensure that the future of the technology industry is not only cutting edge but also environmentally sustainable, paving the way for a healthier planet.

The Writer, Mr. DONG WONG Lee is the LG Electronics East Africa Managing Director.