Precious Elements
The world is scattered with unique materials with special functions that enable a whole world of consumer technology. However, supplies of these Precious Elements are limited and current recycling processes are inadequate.
Find out more about these elements and consumer attitudes to tech sustainability.
Data deep dive
Brush up on consumer attitudes to e-waste
We surveyed consumers in 10 countries to discover international attitudes towards e-waste and sustainability in tech. Click here to take a look at the results.
Reuse, repair or recycle now
How can I help?
We’ve compiled a list of resources for reusing, repurposing and recycling electronic devices.
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RSC journals web collection
This cross-journal web collection highlights the latest research published in Royal Society of Chemistry journals from chemical scientists across the world to solve this global issue.
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Mobile phones change design of solar panels
Case study: Engineers are already redesigning solar panels to pre-empt a shortage of precious elements fuelled by our insatiable demand for personal technology such as mobile phones.
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Whisky-inspired filter dram-atically improves e-waste recovery
Case study: A filtration system inspired by whisky distillation products is helping to cleanly recover precious metals from waste gadgets.
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Sustainable elements for energy storage
In our new video series, we meet four scientists who are working on sourcing, retaining, and recycling the materials and rare elements in batteries needed for sustainable energy storage.
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COVID-19 lockdowns lead to UK tech sales boom and adds to e-waste problem
Our global survey showed that technology usage increased sharply due to the pandemic – with lockdowns and working from home arrangements causing people to purchase more equipment.
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Millions of old gadgets ‘stockpiled in drawers’
Explore the BBC coverage of our first precious elements campaign in 2019, which showed that there could be at least 40 million unused devices being stored in UK homes.
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We urge everyone to be more conscious about how they use and reuse technology. Before you dispose of or replace it, ask yourself if it really needs replacing. Could it be repaired or updated? If it can’t be sold or donated, could it be recycled?
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Professor Tom Welton, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Contact us
Whether you’re curious about e-waste or want to share a resource – we would love to hear from you!