This has had a dramatic impact on the use of precious metals such as gold, silver, copper, titanium and aluminium, with 7,000 tons of silver being used annually to create essential components for devices such as tablets, laptops, mobile phones and digital music players. Gold is also regularly used as a component in many electrical devices, as its properties are highly-conductive and resistant to corrosion, which is most likely why, despite the global-recession, the metal was recently valued at around £1,000 an ounce.
Whilst the use of precious metals is essential to the manufacture of a vast range of electrical appliances, the environmental impact of this is harmful. Most precious metals are now processed in the developing world and production-processes often involve the use of harmful substances with dangerously high toxin levels including lead, beryllium and calcium. Exposure to these materials can cause serious harm to the workers who use them, and can be equally hazardous when dumped into landfills – eroding and creating heavy-metals that can contaminate the water-table.
Unfortunately large scale manufacturing and industrial production necessitates the use of raw materials, and profits can be boosted by saving money and using cheaper, but more, harmful alternatives. Whilst it is difficult to change this reality – re-cycling could play an important role in minimising it. Another possible solution would be to create products that require upgrading from time to time, as opposed to complete replacement – reducing the demand for electrical appliances and the production of them.
The United Kingdom has a proud history of environmentally-friendly approaches toward industry, with world’s first recycling centre opening on the UK in 2001; and it may now be time to consider more radical measures in order to protect the planet’s biosphere.