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A sustainable electronics leader warns the rise of electric toothbrushes is adding to the world’s growing mountain of harmful ewaste.

Experts at UK-based In2tec, a specialist in sustainable technology, says cheap toothbrushes and consumers upgrading to new high-end models with superficial, gimmicky enhancements are adding to landfill unnecessarily.

In 2022, an estimated 34 million people in the UK used electric toothbrushes with 12 million people having switched in the five years between 2015 and 2020, while it is hard to get reliable data on how many are thrown away, the number is doubtless significant – last year Expert Reviews analysed data that revealed the UK throws away 2,266 tonnes of toothbrushes every year – 212 million electric toothbrush heads and manual brushes.

Throwaway electronics have a devastating ecological impact, trigger serious health problems among waste pickers in developing countries, and use staggering amounts of vital and increasingly scarce materials like rare earth elements, aluminium, copper, and steel.

Most modern electric toothbrushes contain lithium-ion batteries. Whilst they last longer and are more efficient, the key raw material of lithium is fraught with significant challenges throughout the supply chain. Ranging from resource availability to geopolitical risks, human rights issues, environmental concerns and technological hurdles.

Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador and Group Commercial Director at In2tec Ltd, told That's Green: “Electric toothbrushes are less than £3 from some low-quality online retailers such as Temu, so people are quick to replace them when they inevitably break. Meanwhile, gadget fans are tossing away their perfectly fine model for the next generation, which boasts totally unnecessary phone apps and multiple ‘cleaning modes’.

“Most toothbrushes are not designed to be reused or recycled and can end up in landfill after a few years if not a few months. Recycling can only do so much – for real results, society needs to turn away from ewaste and embrace modular technology that ensures components are reused or repaired instead of being burned or buried.”

Researchers at Dublin's Trinity College undertook a study on the sustainability of different models of toothbrushes to learn which had the greatest global environmental impact.

Dr Brett Duane, Associate Professor in Public Dental Health and lead researcher said: "There are billions of toothbrushes used and discarded every year. Our research shows electric toothbrushes are harmful to the planet and to the people involved in the manufacturing process and distribution.”

“The ideal toothbrush is one which uses plastic which is recycled in a continuous process. We need a system where plastic toothbrushes can be collected like batteries and then recycled into new products.”

In2tec is working to slash the harrowing environmental and societal impact of ewaste and provide innovative solutions to the growing problem of throwaway electronics.

The company’s signature ReUSE® and ReCYCLE™ comprise a closed-loop process allowing manufacturers to remove components from existing electronics at the end of their useful life and reuse them – carbon-free.

ReUSE® is a series of materials, processes and design principles used to manufacture printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), while ReCYCLE™ is the ultra-low energy process for unzipping PCBAs – the foundation of nearly all technology – to the original bill of materials (BoM).

The technology's versatility allows global commercialisation and a vast reduction in the overall energy used to manufacture and process when it reaches its end of life – something that is not possible when using conventional PCBA processes or materials.

To learn more about In2tec Ltd visit their website at https://in2tec.com

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Rooftop solar could cut global warming and provide 65% of the world’s electricity, new study finds

Covering the whole world’s rooftops with solar panels could provide the majority of global electricity, and even lower temperatures by 0.13 degrees according to some recent research by the University of Sussex.

Rooftops cover approximately 286,000 km² of the world, an area similar in size to Italy or New Zealand. If every suitable roof was used, the study found photovoltaic solar (rooftop PV) could generate 19,500 TWh of electricity per year. 

This would cover 65% of current global consumption and almost completely replace fossil fuel-based electricity, if coupled with load shifting and battery-electric storage.

The researchers used climate modelling techniques to simulate the impact of widespread solar deployment by 2050. 

When it comes to global warming 0.13 degrees Celsius is a significant fraction. A 2023 Nature study estimated that for every 0.1 degree of warming above current levels, another 140 million people will be exposed to dangerous heat levels.

Urging policymakers to prioritise this technology, the researchers argue that solar power offers taxpayers better value for money than nuclear. University of Sussex climate and policy researcher Prof Felix Creutzig said: “Solar is now outcompeting nuclear power in cost, deployment speed and environmental risks. 

"Given its immediate carbon reduction benefits governments should consider shifting incentives toward rooftop PV instead of nuclear. This goes for cooler countries like the UK as well as those with more obvious solar potential.”

Solar power costs have declined dramatically over the past decade. Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency suggests the levelised cost of electricity for solar is now in the range of £30 to £50 per MWh, while new nuclear projects such as Small Modular Reactors are estimated at between £100 and £150 per MWh.

Dr Creutzig adds: “Beyond carbon savings, reducing fossil fuel dependence also means cleaner air and better energy security. With so much untapped potential in solar it’s hard to see how governments can justify investing in nuclear, or as yet unproven carbon capture projects.”

Today’s paper advocates for global cooperation to deploy solar panels where they can be most powerfully used. 

Despite being the continent with the world’s highest solar energy resources, Africa accounts for only 1% of rooftop PV installations, highlighting the need for investment. High carbon intensity and large building stocks mean that East Asia has the highest potential in rooftop PV for climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, North America and Europe, despite lower solar intensity, have a high combined installation potential of over 4,300 GW or 25% of global capacity based on their high building stock.

https://www.sussex.ac.uk

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