There is no such thing AS WASTE

Laptop makers to auto parts producers are finding ways to repair, refurbish, reuse, recycle

Our use-and-throw culture is out of control. Waste, especially electronic and plastic, is choking our lands and seas at a frightening pace. That means we have two options. Either all of us consume less, or we use technology to try and achieve a circular economy. The circular economic model states that nothing is a waste, most materials can be refurbished, recycled, or reused for some productive purpose.

A year ago, Dell Technologies debuted an ambitious laptop that it calls Concept Luna. “The concept explores revolutionary design ideas to make hardware components immediately accessible, replaceable, and reusable,” says Vivian Tai, head of Dell Technologies environmental affairs & producer responsibility for Apac & Japan.

Tai says they took a completely different approach to design Concept Luna for circularity. “For example, we reduced the number of screws by 10x, which allows for quicker access for repairs. The motherboard is 75% smaller and uses 20% fewer components to manufacture,” she says.

Concept Luna, as the name suggests, is still a concept. But Tai says if all the design ideas in it were realised, “we would expect to see an estimated 50% reduction in the overall product carbon footprint.”