Design Contributions in E-Waste Management
摘要
Electronic waste (E-waste) is an environmental challenge that has grown at a continuous pace in recent years, driven by rapid technological obsolescence and increasing consumption of electronic devices. While it has been a topic of discussion lately, there is still a limited understanding of how product design can actively contribute to sustainable management and circular practices. This study examines how design can contribute to mitigating e-waste through creative reuse, thereby bridging the gap between design practice and the effective implementation of circular and sustainable strategies. The methodology for this study combines a documentary review of academic sources with a critical analysis of case studies that show innovative applications of e-waste in product development. For this analysis, the project’s material innovation, circular strategies, design quality, scalability, and limitations were considered, including challenges in end-of-life management and consumer adoption. Findings suggest that design can significantly enhance circularity, raise awareness, and reduce environmental impacts, although most projects analysed lack fully systematized approaches to sustainability. These results underscore the potential in integrating design thinking into e-waste management solutions, providing a foundation for more effective, scalable, and socially accepted circular design practices.