Biodegradable electronics: The rise of sustainable tech

The rapid growth of the electronics industry has led to a massive increase in electronics waste, also known as e-waste. Over 60 million tons of e-waste is produced every year, of which only about 20% is recycled.

Whether this e-waste is dumped in a landfill, shredded and burned, or picked apart for recycling, it releases toxic byproducts: heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury, and carcinogenic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These toxins leach into the air, the soil and the water, lingering in the environment and poisoning the people who handle them.

Biodegradable electronics offer a promising solution for tackling the e-waste problem. These electronics are made of components that break down into non-toxic residues or dissolve naturally over time, eliminating their negative impact on the environment. Biodegradable electronics are made of organic or transient materials, such as substrates of cellulose or starch, conductive materials like magnesium and zinc, and transistors made of silk proteins and graphene. The finished products are both functional and compostable.

In addition to a sustainable life cycle that reduces e-waste, biodegradable electronics have a wide variety of applications in biomedical devices, environmental monitoring, the military, and transient consumer electronics such as wearables.

Achieving 100% e-waste neutrality

Even though biodegradable electronics aren't yet being mass produced, we can already see prototypes at tech industry events such as the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC). MWC, which took place from March 2 to 5 in Barcelona, was focused on how to achieve more sustainable technology in the future, with presentations and demos envisioning changes from 2030 to 2050.

At the Netherlands Pavilion during MWC, Fairphone, a Dutch electronics manufacturer and pioneer in sustainable electronics, showcased what they intend to be the most sustainable smartphone in the world: the Fairphone 6. The Fairphone is designed to be modular and easily repairable, is made with over 51% fair and recycled materials, and is 100% e-waste neutral. Fairphone is a great example of what can be achieved when short-term profit doesn’t overpower ethics.

As we can see, biodegradable electronics are on their way to widespread adoption. So, what can we expect for the future of electronics between now and 2050?

Towards a sustainable electronics industry

The global market for biodegradable sensors, valued at $90 million in 2021, is predicted to reach $2 billion by 2030, according to a report by Next Move Strategy Consulting.

Over the next decade, the use of biodegradable sensors will spark a medical revolution. Biodegradable electronics can be used in temporary implants such as neural probes, cardiac pacemakers, and drug delivery systems. When they've done their job, the body naturally breaks down and reabsorbs them. This means there's no need for secondary surgeries to remove the implants—a boon for patients.

In agriculture and environmental monitoring, cheap biodegradable sensors can be deployed to track soil nutrients, humidity, and pollution. At the end of their lifespan, they'll dissolve harmlessly into the earth and won't need to be cleaned up or removed.

The consumer electronics industry has always churned out short-lived, single-purpose gadgets like event-specific wearables and smart packaging with NFC tags. Rather than serving their purpose and being thrown away, where they sit in a landfill indefinitely, these devices can now be made of transient, dissolvable components. All of these will move from prototypes and small scale manufacturing to mass production, entering the market to reduce landfill waste.

The Internet of Things (IoT) market is projected to reach 1 trillion electronic devices expected to be in operation by 2035, with wearables representing a significant share, according to research by the Royal Society of Chemistry. A major trend will be the creation of hybrid devices that combine durable, recyclable parts with biodegradable components, optimizing both lifespan and environmental impact.

From 2040 to 2050: mainstream adoption

By 2050, biodegradable electronics will be fully integrated into mainstream consumer goods, healthcare, and IoT devices. This adoption will be primarily driven by regulatory pressures to reduce traditional e-waste.

The development of biodegradable, high-performance batteries and power sources will enable fully autonomous systems, which in turn will reduce the reliance on conventional power sources that are difficult to recycle.

Advanced green printing methods could allow for localized manufacturing, where electronics components are produced on-site where they're needed.

Technical and structural challenges

As always, there are issues that remain to be solved. Balancing performance requirements in terms of speed, conductivity and energy efficiency with the necessity of biodegradation will always be a challenge.

Another important consideration is useful lifespan: how to prevent these devices from breaking down prematurely, especially in high-temperature or high-humidity environments. To achieve this, these devices will require advanced water-resistant, yet biodegradable encapsulation, according to research from Pennsylvania State University.

We also can’t forget the need for new regulatory standards. The electronics industry will need to design, agree upon, and establish standardized certifications for safety and biodegradation rates, which are crucial for medical and environmental applications.

By 2050, the hope is that technology will coexist in harmony with nature, transitioning from the current throwaway culture of toxic electronics that are nearly impossible to recycle, to a sustainable circular ecosystem made of functional organic components.