The call for better environmental acts has been happening for some time now, and while the world isn’t there yet, there have been significant developments over time. For one, the growth rate of global clean energy investments has risen to 17%, as revealed by Statista. At the same time, the global green tech and sustainability market size was valued at $19.07 billion in 2023. A lot of efforts are being made to arrive at better environmental decisions. Biodegradable electronics is one of the current innovations offering more solutions in the industry, and in this article, you’ll learn how the sector is making this possible.
What Are Biodegradable Electronics?
Biodegradable electronics are generally derived from plant- and animal-based products in order to reduce non-toxic materials and the result of toxic electronic waste. They are electronic items that can naturally decompose in nature, ultimately reducing the fear of and problems of e-waste. This technology represents an integral step forward in reducing carbon footprint and adverse effects new generation innovations are causing to the environment.
In 2023, big tech contributed about 4% of global greenhouse emissions, surpassing the aviation industry’s. That is, every activity carried out on the internet, including gambling at online casinos like Spin City, streaming movies, or playing your favorite video games, has some effect on the environment. One would assume the reverse is the case, but electronic devices are consuming a lot more energy today. Harmful acts like deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution also accompany some of the processes involved in their creations.
With this increasing environmental regression, biodegradable tech was introduced to cushion the daily adverse effects environmentalists notice. This innovation allows creators to make devices from cellulose, silk, collagen, and other naturally derived polysaccharides and polymers.
Existing Technologies in Biodegradation Electronics
Several strides are being taken to make this system a reality. Let’s discuss some of the most practical developments we’ve seen in this sector recently.
Biodegradable Sensors
These are disposable, eco-friendly sensors made from polymers and natural fibers. They are one of the biggest innovations in medicine today because they solve the problems needed without causing any harm to the human body. The materials used to create them naturally decompose within the body after achieving their purpose. Electronic waste that could have accumulated within the body or in the environment can be limited by using these devices, and it is also easily disposable without surgical procedures.
Papertronics
Integrating electronics with paper has also proven relevant in building a better environmentally aware network in tech. For one, paper comes with several benefits, such as being easily disposable, inexpensive, easily available, and disintegrating. Building electronic devices with paper has sparked a lot of interest in the industry, mainly for its environmental friendliness. Innovations in this approach involve embedding circuits onto materials like cellulose, specifically designed for short-term applications such as temporary diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
Biodegradable Energy Sources
Energy is needed to make a majority of the products we use globally, and in the process of generating this energy, a lot of harm is done to the environment. The energy sector produces about 90% of the CO2 emissions out there and 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. Energy is now being made through systems that use materials or components capable of decomposing naturally into non-toxic elements. Some of these include:
- Biodegradable batteries are made from cellulose and bio-polymers.
- Biofuels from plants, algal, and animal biomass.
- Compostable energy harvesters.
Biodegradable Electronics for Waste Management and Resource Conservation
The importance of this tech is broad, but the most fundamental is how it can be easily powered towards better waste management, energy, and resource conservation.
Waste Management
The World Count records that every year, we dump about 2.12 billion tons of waste products on the planet. If this mass were placed in a truck, it would go around the world about 24 times. That’s not all. These numbers are expected to increase to 70% by 2050. These sewages are also disposed into water around the world, leading to infectious waterborne diseases and the death of aquatic animals. It’s possible to reduce the quantity of this sewage with time, using materials that would disintegrate naturally. The materials from which degradable electronic devices are made can be naturally left to disintegrate. The difference from non-degradable substances is that they do not cause litter on land and sea bodies.
Resources Conservation
For one, these substances often use renewable resources like plant-based polymers and natural fibers instead of finite resources like petroleum, metals, and minerals. This means there is likely to be a reduction in raw material extraction. At the same time, a system like this can help encourage sustainable agriculture where waste materials become a resource for conserving natural inputs like soil and water. Many biodegradable materials are derived from agricultural byproducts or renewable crops, so there’s a balanced cycle of retaining the quality of the natural components in the soil.
Energy Conservation
We’ve established that these materials are derived from renewable resources, typically requiring less energy to process than non-biodegradable materials like plastics or metals. As such, it lowers energy use in general. At the same time, the traditional recycling processes that non-perishable items would require are significantly higher. Close to 20% of waste is recycled annually. This number could be significantly reduced if we focused more on using perishable energy in everyday activities.
Taking Biodegradable Electronics as the Eco-Friendly Path Forward
There is a lot at stake with rising issues of environmental decline. Some of the effects are already manifesting, and climate hazards are rising. Countries are experiencing hotter temperatures, severe storms, increased drought, and many other vices. While we cannot possibly combat the years of decline immediately, it’s important to take steps that can prevent further regression. Nonperishable electronics are one of the ways to go, and there is a lot of potential for a better climate with this technology.
