Design for Break-Ability

Long description

Design for break-ability focuses on redesigning consumer electronic products so that recyclers can dismantle them easily without using toxic methods. It introduces encapsulation of internal electronic components with an easy-to-dismantle, earth-friendly, and reusable outer layer. The game controller case study considers recyclers as the ultimate end-user and challenges consumerism-based design discourse. According to the global e-waste monitor 2020 report, 86% of e-waste was undocumented, having a value of $57B from recoverable metals such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, and aluminum. In most cases, the unaccounted e-waste gets dismantled using informal and traditional methodologies. After working with e-waste recyclers at Colonia Renovacion, Mexico City, I learned that they have a unique perspective of dealing with e-waste. Dismantlers use locally available and affordable handheld tools such as hammer, chisel, tweezer, knife, acid, and fire to break open electronic objects and their components. Their motive is to extract recoverable material quickly, irrespective of the shape and size of the object. They have to use toxic and unhealthy methods because the existing product design doesn’t facilitate an easy dismantling process. Design for Break-ability addresses that problem by considering the recyclers as the ultimate end-users and challenging consumerism-based design discourse. It creates sustainable & long-lasting products and targets zero unused waste. It allows the device to be functional, durable, heat & tear-resistant and led to easy segregation of recyclable material without using toxic dismantling techniques.

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