Resource Recovery via Sustainable Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

The Earth is suffering from the pollution produced through human activities. The development of advanced technology in the 21st century alongside human activities has generated significant pollutants. It is imperative that researchers take an important interest in environmental protection with the creation and use of secondary resources to generate materials for future needs. Material recycling is an important part of the puzzle in creating circularity and a Circular Economy (CE). Waste is here taken as a raw material that can be used to obtain either industrial products or primary resources for technological development. In the new millennium, high-tech industries are striving to establish a circular economy and improve resource circularity and waste treatment.

For example, the electronic and electrical engineering industries generate significant manufacturing waste that can be seen as resources. In the circular economy, different companies along the value chain can collaborate to minimize waste and find different ways to reuse and recycle End-of-Life products using green routes. Currently, the Earth is suffering from global warming, CO₂ emissions and landfill problems due to various human-generated wastes.

E-Waste is not only a national issue; it is a global issue and an environmental concern for planet earth. Global e-waste statistics, now (year 2019) and in the near future, 2030, have been calculated and predicted. The global e-waste data disclose that 53.6 Mt of e-waste was generated, corresponding to 7.3 kg per capita, and is predicted to reach 74.7 Mt of e-waste, corresponding to 9 kg per capita by 2030. The recycling of e-waste currently amounts to only 17.4%, a small percentage of the 53.6 Mt, generating USD 10 billion in revenue. The remaining 82.6% of the e-waste could possibly generate severe environmental pollution, such as 98 Mt of CO₂ (from (hydro) chlorofluorocarbons (H) CFCs), 71 kt brominated flame-retardants (BFR), and 50 t of mercury (adapted from The Global E-waste Monitor 2020).

This Special Issue focuses on the development of green routes to save the Earth, save energy, and save the environment.

Prof. Dr. Rajesh Kumar Jyothi
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Forsberg
Guest Editors

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