Consumer Electronics & Cradle to Cradle

28 June 2026
Smartphones, household appliances, and consumer electronics make our daily lives easier and have become an indispensable part of our world. At the same time, the production of many electronic products is still based on linear value chains: raw materials are extracted, processed, used, and subsequently disposed of.
The new position paper "Consumer Electronics & Cradle to Cradle" explains why a rethink is necessary and what circular solutions for the electronics industry can look like.

The white paper published by the Cradle to Cradle NGO highlights current industry challenges and presents concrete approaches for keeping materials in long-term cycles. The focus is on circular product design, material health, supply chain transparency, and new business models for the use and recovery of electronic products.

The paper's core message is that true circularity does not begin with recycling, but at the product design stage. Materials must be selected and products developed so that they can be repaired, upgraded, disassembled, and their components reused. At the same time, transparency regarding ingredients and supply chains is essential to enable high-quality material cycles in the first place.

The white paper covers topics including:

  • Design for technical and biological cycles
  • Material health as the foundation for circular products
  • Digital product passports and transparent supply chains
  • Repairability, modularity, and reuse
  • New business models for the circular economy
  • Best practices from the electronics industry

The paper is also based on exchanges between various stakeholders from industry, science, and practice. EPEA – Part of Drees & Sommer participated in the discussions during a roundtable, contributing expertise in material assessment, Cradle to Cradle product optimization, and circularity.

Download white paper

This position paper is aimed at manufacturers, product developers, sustainability managers, and anyone interested in the future of the electronics industry.

Click here to download

Download the report

Thank you very much for your interest!
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