Title:
Eco-design and the Electronics Waste Problem - A High Profile Issue
Author:
Rob Holdway, RSA WEEE Man Project Director/ Giraffe Innovation Ltd
Abstract:
In this 20 minute presentation, Rob Holdway outlined the RSA WEEE Man Project, which is an Environmental Awareness Initiative from the RSA and Cannon Europe.
The RSA is marking the implementation of the WEEE Directive into UK law by installing and subsequently recycling a human-like figure out of the amount of electrical waste one UK citizen consumes in a lifetime.
This imposing three tonne humanoid figure made from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) was unveiled by City Hall, South Bank, London on Friday 29 April. The seven metre high figure, was on display for 28 days. The huge 3 tonne figure stands 7 metres high and is totally composed of WEEE ? from washing machines to mobile phones and electronic toys. This represents the amount of waste that a single person in the UK is likely to produce in a lifetime.
After its display in London, the WEEE man will travel to other locations including the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The WEEE Man project aims to raise awareness and be a catalyst for action, to encourage consumers, manufacturers, designers and retailers to reduce our environmental burden by increasing levels of reuse, repair, and recycling of electronic products.
Lifecycle Thinking
Most waste comes in the material processes, energy and emissions that are generated throughout the lifecycle ? not at end of life.
The WEEE Man?s rucksack was calculated at 432 times his own weight. This means your lifetimes WEEE creates around 1350 tonnes of waste at the material extraction stage of the lifecycle alone.
Ecological Footprinting
Most waste comes in the material processes, energy and emissions that are generated throughout the lifecycle.
The ecological Footprint measures the land space that is needed to mine the materials contained in a product, and the energy required for manufacturing, using and disposing it.
If we divide all productive space on earth by the current population we each have 1.8 hectares[1] of the planet to provide for our needs ? our ?fair earth share?. This is equivalent to two football pitches. [Already using 2.2 (+21%)]
Using the footprinting tool, (see the RSA website) you can you can calculate how much land (fair earth share) your mobile phone and personal computer require to absorb all the environmental impacts in a given year.
Eco-design and the Electronics Waste Problem - A High Profile Issue
Author:
Rob Holdway, RSA WEEE Man Project Director/ Giraffe Innovation Ltd
Abstract:
In this 20 minute presentation, Rob Holdway outlined the RSA WEEE Man Project, which is an Environmental Awareness Initiative from the RSA and Cannon Europe.
The RSA is marking the implementation of the WEEE Directive into UK law by installing and subsequently recycling a human-like figure out of the amount of electrical waste one UK citizen consumes in a lifetime.
This imposing three tonne humanoid figure made from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) was unveiled by City Hall, South Bank, London on Friday 29 April. The seven metre high figure, was on display for 28 days. The huge 3 tonne figure stands 7 metres high and is totally composed of WEEE ? from washing machines to mobile phones and electronic toys. This represents the amount of waste that a single person in the UK is likely to produce in a lifetime.
After its display in London, the WEEE man will travel to other locations including the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The WEEE Man project aims to raise awareness and be a catalyst for action, to encourage consumers, manufacturers, designers and retailers to reduce our environmental burden by increasing levels of reuse, repair, and recycling of electronic products.
Lifecycle Thinking
Most waste comes in the material processes, energy and emissions that are generated throughout the lifecycle ? not at end of life.
The WEEE Man?s rucksack was calculated at 432 times his own weight. This means your lifetimes WEEE creates around 1350 tonnes of waste at the material extraction stage of the lifecycle alone.
Ecological Footprinting
Most waste comes in the material processes, energy and emissions that are generated throughout the lifecycle.
The ecological Footprint measures the land space that is needed to mine the materials contained in a product, and the energy required for manufacturing, using and disposing it.
If we divide all productive space on earth by the current population we each have 1.8 hectares[1] of the planet to provide for our needs ? our ?fair earth share?. This is equivalent to two football pitches. [Already using 2.2 (+21%)]
Using the footprinting tool, (see the RSA website) you can you can calculate how much land (fair earth share) your mobile phone and personal computer require to absorb all the environmental impacts in a given year.
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