Home > Intel By Sector > Electronics
A new resource reality for electronics
Electronic brands selling smartphones/ laptops, essentially all modern tech, are highly reliant on China as the world’s global rare earths and critical raw materials producer. For instance, rare earths enable HD graphics & indium is essential for the touch screen.
However, as China says no to pollution & yes to a its own high tech future, risks are high and serious questions who will supply the world are being raised.
On top of this, current brand strategies like increasing use of critical raw materials, ultra low recycling rates (<1% rare earth recycling rate) and build-in obsolescence compound these risks. “Smart” brands are not being smart and need to wake up to the new resource reality. Explore more in the Big Picture or get on top of recent articles in The Latest.
We Recommend
17 April, 2020
Governments are prioritising lives over money but with pressure to re-open the economy, can we use lessons learnt...
#analysis
17 October, 2017
Cooperation and conflict exist on a spectrum in transboundary river basins. Dr Selina Ho from Lee Kuan Yew...
#opinions
19 October, 2016
On 1 January 2015, China’s amended Environmental Protection Law came into effect after more than 25 years without revision. China Water Risk previously...
#interviews
20 July, 2016
Last December in Paris, an epic agreement on climate change was reached, setting the world on the long road towards de-carbonizing global economic growth. Promising...
#notices
The Latest
Latest Analysis & Opinions
24 November, 2020
Coastal threat assessment can be complex & daunting, so we did the heavy lifting by creating the index. But we did not do this alone - 100+ finance experts helped. See who they were & how feedback shaped the index.
#analysis
18 September, 2020
Food production is a major global challenge. A lab grown milk takes top prize in 2020 Liveability Challenge. See why & what other innovations placed from Eco-Business' Robin Hicks
#opinions
18 September, 2020
Corporate water stewardship is stalling. It is time to adopt a water handprint strategy with its positive and broader impact focus, seen already in the ICT sector, says William Sarni, Water Foundry CEO
#opinions
18 September, 2020
With clear material water risks posing even more exposure to global systems, the Climate Disclosure Standards Board is working to better corporate water disclosure with a new guidance. Their Francesca Recanati expands
#opinions
18 September, 2020
It is not a matter of 'if' but 'when' physical climate risks are appropriately taken into account. So, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation's solution are sector-specific Climate Risk Matrices as their Kathryn Bakos outlines
#opinions
18 August, 2020
Flood return periods aren't 'returning' on time and actually are getting worse so are they still useful? CWR's Yuanchao Xu says they are. See why he thinks this & how they are calculated
#analysis
