Rare earth metals: tech manufacturers must think again, and so must users

Rare earth metals are the crucial ingredient in many of our tech products. From smartphones, tablets and laptops, to the niche technology used by the military and medical profession, all depend on them to function, for features as broad as a phone's coloured screen to the magnets used to power hybrid cars. As new technology continues to flood the market, the demand for these metals will grow, but they're already in short supply.

If we're going to ensure that there are enough rare earth metals to keep pace with the current rate of technological innovation, and if we're going to stop these dangerous metals from filling landfill sites, we need to end today's rip-and-replace attitude towards IT equipment, as well as an end to the overproduction of devices by manufacturers.

Growing scarcity and China's stranglehold on the market

With the sheer number of new gadgets and business solutions coming onto the market every year, it's no surprise that rare earth metals are becoming scarce. However, the likelihood of a shortage is increased by the lack of mining that's taking place outside China. China has the lion's share of these precious metals but has been reluctant to export them to other countries in an effort – it says – to conserve its own resources. In recent years, it has cut its exports by more than 70%, severely impacting manufacturing in countries such as Japan and the US, while enabling manufacturing in China itself. In addition to these trade restrictions, China is using its economic clout to undercut the prices offered by mines in other regions, effectively forcing them out of business.

The byproducts of innovation

By actively creating today's upgrade mentality, where customers are encouraged to replace perfectly good IT solutions or devices with new technology, manufacturers are ensuring that too many rare earth metals end up in the tip. This situation is made worse by the fact that manufacturers are often quick to withdraw support for their older products lines. Apple, for example, withdraws support for products which have been discontinued for more than seven years; after this, customers receive no service and spare parts are no longer available. With no reassurance that their infrastructure can be serviced or repaired, companies are forced to discard older equipment, regardless of its condition.

Recycling rare earth materials is particularly challenging as, once embedded in devices, they're difficult to take out. Instead of discarding phones or IT equipment after a couple of years, enterprises should aim to get the most out of technology they have invested in through repairing or refurbishing.

Another byproduct of innovation is that countless products never get used at all. Inflexible production processes, such as with mass production lines, where it is difficult to alter the design of a product or allow variation in the process sequences, means that the tech industry can be guilty of producing more equipment than the market actually wants or that doesn't fit exactly what the market needs. This renders stacks of brand new phones, tablets and set top boxes obsolete, left to gather dust in warehouses.

Toxic pollution

Our current use of rare earth metals has huge implications in terms of toxic pollution. They are often mined using extremely energy-intensive processes, spewing carbon emissions into the atmosphere and toxins into the ground. Indeed, the metals involved, which include mercury, barium, lead, chromium and cadmium, are extremely damaging to the environment. Recent survey findings from United Nations University (UNU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the impact e-waste has on child health, raised concerns around chemical burns, cancer and stunted growth. Eradicating these substances from discarded products is difficult and costly, which is why much of the e-waste exported to the developing world under the pretence of being reused or refurbished ends up being dumped. The WHO has reported that 23% of deaths in the developing world are attributable to environmental factors, one of which is pollution, and that environmental risk factors contribute to more than 80% of regularly reported diseases.

A circular approach to rare earth metals

With rare earth metals becoming increasingly scarce and China tightening its grip on the mining industry, tech manufacturers and consumers need to rethink how they market and consume technology. Companies must refrain from tearing out IT infrastructure unless it is absolutely necessary, while manufacturers must take a much more responsible approach to their production processes. As consumers, we must break the upgrade habit and keep devices for longer, considering repair before replacement. And we mustn't forget that when technology does eventually come to the end of its lifecycle, it must be disposed of both safely and ethically.

Askar Sheibani, CEO of Comtek

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