More disposable than ever? Consequences of non-removable batteries in mobile devices

More disposable than ever? Consequences of non-removable batteries in mobile devices

Bakker, C.A.
Kuijer, L.

Industrial Design Engineering

Design Engineering

2014-11-17

Mobile devices like smart phones, tablet computers and ultraportable laptops are experiencing rapid worldwide market growth and have relatively short lifespans. Recently, embedded (non-removable) batteries were introduced that cannot be replaced by consumers. This study traces the environmental and social consequences of the introduction of embedded batteries throughout the value chain: from the original equipment manufacturers, to the users of mobile devices, to the repair, refurbishment and end-of-life recycling companies. It shows that the introduction of embedded batteries was mainly technology and design-driven, that original owners are hardly aware of embedded batteries (unless they seek to prolong the life of their phones), that embedded batteries have contributed to a thriving but mostly unauthorized repair and refurbishment market and finally that recyclers have difficulties removing the batteries. From a social and environmental sustainability perspective, reintroducing removable batteries is preferable, but the study shows this may not be feasible and examines alternative options.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e2ea8361-29ab-44c7-b88e-0b380063f369

Austrian Society for Systems Engineering and Automation

Proceedings of CARE Innovation 2014 “Going Green” Conference, Vienna, Austria, 17-20 November 2014

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2014 The Author(s)