The Impact of e-Waste Minimization on the Actualization of SDG 12: Responsive Consumption and Production

E-waste includes all electrical and electronic wastes that are disposed of by the end-user without the intention of reuse. Waste in this scope includes electrical circuits, power system or battery-powered electronic products, laptops, smartphones, large and small household items, and lighting equipments. According to the data of the United Nations’ 2020 Global E-Waste Monitoring Report, each adult produces 7.3 kg of electronic waste per year. Due to the increase in the amount of e-waste day by day, it is getting harder to manage. From this point of view, it is seen that the e-waste sector has a very crucial place in achieving the SDGs. The presence of very harmful elements for life, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium in electronic waste, poses a great health hazard for all living things. SDG 12-Responsible Production and Consumption also has sub-targets on the control and disposal of related wastes. The main purpose of this research is to examine the policies of companies serving in the textile sector in Turkey regarding the control and disposal of e-waste, which is increasing day by day, and to present a projection on how they will contribute to the realization of SDG 12. During the data analysis process of the research, interviews were conducted with textile company managers and the analyses were made through the MAXQDA 2020 program.