Design Life-Cycle

 Antonio Severo de Castro Neto 

Mihir Juneja, Eddy Yu 

DES 40A 

Professor Cogdell

Life Cycle of Magsafe: Materials 

  A wireless phone charger is a device that allows you to charge your phone without having to plug it in with a cable. Instead, you simply place your phone on top of the charger, and the charger uses electromagnetic induction to transfer power wirelessly from the charger to your phone. To use a wireless charger, you'll need a compatible phone that supports wireless charging, as well as a wireless charging pad or stand that is designed to work with your phone. Wireless phone chargers have become increasingly popular in recent years, and are available in a range of styles and designs to suit different preferences and needs. Most models however make extensive use of plastic in the manufacture of the housing and packaging, as well as copper for conductors and wiring and silicon for the semiconductors and ICs.

This has become a problem as the sourcing of the base materials used in the manufacture of wireless chargers such as Copper, Lead, Aluminium, and Silicon have heavy environmental and social impacts, especially petroleum derived plastics. The extraction and processing of metals from their ores often make extensive use of environmentally damaging mining methods such as open pit mining and. Mining activities can cause deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution, which can harm the ecosystems and wildlife in the surrounding areas. In addition, metals such as copper and lead utilize a process known as smelting, which is very energy intensive and releases large amounts of greenhouse gasses, contributing to climate change. 

The smelting process is an essential step in extracting metals from their ores and is used for producing a wide range of metals such as copper, lead, zinc, iron, and aluminum. It consists of heating the metal ore to a high temperature, converting the metal into its oxide form. The roasted ore is then mixed with a reducing agent such as coke, charcoal, or carbon monoxide, and heated in a furnace. The reducing agent reacts with the metal oxides, reducing them to the pure metal. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable and efficient smelting processes that minimize environmental impacts, however, currently the best solution is to recycle the already processed metal from waste, removing the processing of metals from ores all together.

As for the plastics utilized in wireless chargers are made from petroleum derivatives such as propane and ethane, all of them being non-renewable resources and producing greenhouse gas emissions during the extraction, transportation, and processing stages. The disposal of plastic waste also poses a significant environmental threat, as it can take hundreds of years to degrade, polluting the oceans and harming marine life. Making petroleum based inherently damaging to the environment. There are multiple ways to address this issue.The use of recycled plastics and biodegradable plastics made from renewable resources are all alternatives that would help reduce the environmental impact of petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics for example are sourced from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, or potato starch, which helps to reduce the reliance on non-renewable resources. 

The plastic utilized in the manufacture of wireless chargers is mostly in the outer casing and structure. However Packaging constitutes another large portion of the plastic use and source of waste in the life cycle of a wireless charger where there is a lot of room for improvement. Reducing the amount of packaging used for wireless chargers and using more eco-friendly materials would help reduce the environmental impact of these chargers. materials for their packaging, such as paper and cardboard, being far more sustainable than the latter. . These materials are renewable and have a lower environmental impact than other packaging materials such as plastic or foam made from petroleum as they are biodegradable and do not rely on non-renewable resources. 

  Aside from plastics, copper is also an extensively used material in the manufacture of wireless chargers, it is found specifically in the coil, traces, and wires that are used to transfer power from the charger to the device being charged. Copper is an ideal material for these coils because it has low resistance, which means that it can conduct electricity efficiently. It is typically sourced from copper mines. While there are no suitable environmentally friendly substitutes for copper, the recycling of it is already common and a more sustainable source of metal, being a suitable alternative to mined copper.

  Silicon is another material used in the manufacture of all wireless chargers, it is also typically sourced from mines. Its mining also includes open-pit mining, underground mining, and block caving. Once the silicon is extracted, it is processed and refined into the form of silicon wafers, which are used to create the semiconductors used in the electrics of the charger in the form of integrated circuits and transistors in the PCB. Currently, there is a silicon shortage in the world, causing issues in the production of major electronics. One solution to this is the recycling of Silicon parts and ICs. When an electronic device is discarded, even if malfunctional, most of the silicon parts in it are still functioning and can still be used, but only recently has the recycling of these parts become a topic of discussion as purchasing replacements was far more convenient than recycling.

The manufacture of electronic boards that combine the copper, silicon chips, and other components also require the use of lead. Most of this lead is used in the form of solder to bond leads and wires that connect the circuits. In combination to being highly toxic and damaging to both humans and the environment, their processing also involves mining and smelting that disperse lead particles in the environment around it. Its use also poses an greate issue for disposal as lead containing waste must be handled with care. There are viable solutions for this such as the use of non leaded solder using tin, copper and silver or germanium. These new soldiers are currently becoming more popular, they are however more expensive and have its drawbacks.

The use of materials for transportation is mostly in the form of packaging. Boxes, foam, lining and other items are used in the packaging with the objective of protecting the product, a large portion of these items are made from plastic and single use. The excessive use of packaging also increases the volume each item occupies, consequently requiring more resources in order to transport it. Minimalistic packaging is one way to address this issue, using only the necessary materials to protect the charger during shipping and transportation, such as smaller boxes or envelopes, and eliminating unnecessary packaging materials such as plastic inserts or foam padding, paired with the use of materials that are biodegradable or recyclable would greatly reduce the amount of waste generated by the packaging as well as make it easier for consumers to dispose of the packaging. Also helping to conserve natural resources and minimize the amount of energy required to produce and transport the packaging.

While wireless chargers may not require maintenance during their useful life, Due to their specialized nature, their reuse as a whole is unviable. Most of the materials utilized during their useful life is in the form of energy sources such as oil, coal and natural gas. At the end of their useful life, wireless charges are usually discarded, metals such as copper in the coil and wires are often removed for recycling. Recently, due to a shortage of silicon semiconductors, discarded wireless charges are also processed so their electronic components can be recycled. Therefore, the recycling of wireless chargers plays a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of their disposal. Recycling enables the recovery of valuable materials such as copper, aluminum, which can be used in the manufacture of new products, reducing the demand for virgin materials.

Recycling is also essential to reduce the amount of electronic waste that ends up in landfills, where it can release hazardous substances and heavy metals such as lead and less often cadmium and mercury into the environment, contaminating the soil, water, and air, posing a threat to human health and the ecosystem. Also ensuring that the materials used in these devices are recovered and reused, promoting a circular economy and reducing the reliance on non-renewable resources. Most issues caused by the disposal of wireless chargers is due the extensive lead use in the solder used during the assembly process, as processing it is expensive. This makes improper disposal of lead containing waste a prominent issue. Plastic waste from the packaging to the construction of the charger itself are also a major contributing factor in their environmental impact. The issue of plastic waste is not exclusive to wireless chargers but to a large range of products.

There are multiple ways to reduce this impact on the environment by designing wireless chargers to be more sustainable, using fewer materials overall and designing products that are more easily disassembled and recyclable at the end of their lifecycle, adopting more sustainable materials such as bioplastics in the manufacture of the wireless charger itself, reducing the excessive use of packaging, all can help to reduce the environmental impact of these products in several ways and also reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics, which as mentioned before, are non-renewable and can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. 

Similarly, using recycled metals can help to reduce the amount of waste generated by the manufacturing process and minimize the environmental impact of mining and extraction. Metals such as copper and aluminum used in the manufacture of wireless chargers require energy-intensive extraction and processing of ores. Recycled metals are often less energy-intensive to produce when compared to metals manufactured from ore, as they can be sourced from existing materials and don't require energy-intensive extraction and processing of ores. 

Reducing the environmental impact of wireless chargers is important for several reasons. Firstly, as these chargers become increasingly more popular and widespread, so does their environmental impact as more units are manufactured to keep up with the increasing demand. Secondly, electronic waste is a growing problem around the world, and reducing the amount of waste generated by wireless chargers can help to address this issue. Finally, using more environmentally friendly materials and packaging can help to promote greater sustainability in the electronics industry and demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility

Bibliography:

“Electronics Without Lead” YI LI , KYOUNG-SIK MOON , AND C. P. WONG Authors Info & Affiliations SCIENCE 3 June 2005 

Lau J., Wong C. P., Lee N. C., Lee S. W. R., Eds. “Electronics Manufacturing: With Lead-free, Halogen-Free, and Conductive-Adhesive Materials” (McGraw Hill, New York, 2002). 

Miric A. Z., “Soldering and Surface Mount Technology” (1998). 

Hwang J. S., “Environment-Friendly Electronics: Lead-Free Technology” (Electrochemical Publications, Port Erin, UK, 2001). 

Black H. “Getting the lead out of electronics.” Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Oct 11

Bizzo WA, Figueiredo RA, de Andrade VF. “Characterization of Printed Circuit Boards for Metal and Energy Recovery after Milling and Mechanical Separation.” Materials (Basel). 2014 Jun 16

“Waste-Printed Circuit Board Recycling: Focusing on Preparing Polymer Composites and Geopolymers” Qin Wang, Baogui Zhang, Shaoqi Yu, Jingjing Xiong, Zhitong Yao, Baoan Hu, and Jianhua Yan

Tembhare, S.P., Bhanvase, B.A., Barai, D.P. et al. “E-waste recycling practices: a review on environmental concerns, remediation and technological developments with a focus on printed circuit boards.” Environ Dev Sustain (2022)

Ayorinde Emmanuel Ajiboye, Folorunsho Emmanuel Olasehinde, Ojo Albert Adebayo, Olubode John Ajayi “Extraction of Copper and Zinc from Waste Printed Circuit Boards” 27 August 2019

Arshadi, M., Yaghmaei, S. “Advances in bioleaching of copper and nickel from electronic waste using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans: evaluating daily pH adjustment.” Chem. Pap. 74 (2020)

Mihir, Juneja

Antonio and Eddy

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

Life Cycle of Magsafe: Embodied Energy

Apple introduced the MagSafe charger to the market in 2020 as part of its iPhone 12 launch. It was designed to work with the new iPhone 12 models, which were the first iPhones to include MagSafe technology. The technology was originally used in Apple's MacBook line of laptops, where it was used to connect the charger to the laptop. Apple adapted the technology for use in its iPhone and iPad products, making it possible to charge these devices wirelessly using the MagSafe charger. The introduction of the MagSafe charger was seen as a significant step forward in wireless charging technology, making it easier and more convenient for users to charge their devices without the need for a physical connection. The charger's magnetic attachment system also provided a new way for users to interact with their devices, allowing them to attach and detach their devices easily and securely. The MagSafe charger works using magnetic induction technology, which involves the use of magnetic fields to transfer energy from the charger to the device being charged. The charger contains a coil of wire that generates a magnetic field when an alternating current is passed through it. When a compatible device is placed on the charger, the magnetic field induces an electrical current in a coil inside the device, which is then used to charge the device's battery. Overall, the environmental viability of the MagSafe charger depends on a variety of factors, and its impact will depend on how it is used and disposed of. By recycling wireless chargers, we can conserve natural resources, reduce the need for virgin materials, and save energy. It takes less energy to recycle materials than it does to extract and process new ones, so recycling helps to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, Apple's commitment to sustainable materials and responsible recycling, as well as the charger's energy-efficient design, suggest that it has the potential to be a more environmentally friendly charging option compared to traditional wired chargers.

The MagSafe charger is made of several raw materials, including plastic, metal, and magnets. The plastic used in the charger's housing is typically made from polycarbonate or other thermoplastic materials. The metal components, such as the USB-C connector and the charging coil, are usually made from aluminum or other metals that are lightweight and durable. The magnets used in the charger are typically made from neodymium, a rare earth metal that is used in many electronic devices due to its strength and magnetic properties. The production of these raw materials involves various energy processes. For example, the production of plastic requires the extraction and processing of crude oil, which is an energy-intensive process that contributes to carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. The production of aluminum involves mining bauxite ore, which is also an energy-intensive process, and requires large amounts of electricity to transform the ore into aluminum. The production of neodymium magnets requires the extraction and processing of rare earth metals, which are often mined in China. This process can also have significant environmental impacts, including water pollution, soil contamination, and air pollution. In addition to the energy involved in the production of these raw materials, the manufacturing process for the MagSafe charger also requires energy. This includes the energy required to operate the manufacturing equipment, transport the materials and components, and assemble the charger. Once the MagSafe charger is manufactured and sold, it requires energy to operate, as it uses magnetic induction technology to charge devices wirelessly. However, this technology can be more energy-efficient than traditional charging methods, as it minimizes the amount of energy lost through heat and other inefficiencies. Overall, the production and use of the MagSafe charger involves various energy processes, some of which can have significant environmental impacts. However, Apple has made a commitment to using sustainable materials and responsible manufacturing practices, which can help to minimize the environmental impact of the charger.

The energy used in using a MagSafe charger depends on various factors, such as the type of device being charged, the battery capacity of the device, and the charging speed of the MagSafe charger. Generally, the MagSafe charger is designed to be energy-efficient, as it uses magnetic induction technology to charge devices wirelessly, which can reduce the amount of energy lost through heat and other inefficiencies. When a device is placed on the MagSafe charger, an electromagnetic field is created, which induces an electrical current in the device's charging coil. This current is then used to charge the device's battery. The charger and the device communicate with each other to ensure that the device is charged at the appropriate speed and that the charging process is efficient. The energy used by the MagSafe charger during the charging process is relatively small, typically less than 10 watts. However, the total amount of energy used to charge a device will depend on the device's battery capacity and charging speed. For example, charging a smaller device, such as an iPhone, will require less energy than charging a larger device, such as an iPad. It's also important to note that the energy used by the MagSafe charger is ultimately coming from the electricity grid, which can have various environmental impacts depending on the source of the electricity. For example, if the electricity comes from a renewable energy source, such as solar or wind power, then the environmental impact will be lower compared to electricity generated from fossil fuels. However, the total energy used to charge a device will depend on various factors, and the environmental impact will depend on the source of the electricity used and how it has been disposed.

If a MagSafe charger is not properly recycled, it can have negative environmental impacts. Electronic waste, including chargers, can release harmful chemicals and heavy metals into the environment if they are not disposed of properly. This can pollute soil, waterways, and harm wildlife and human health. Additionally, electronic waste takes up valuable space in landfills, which can contribute to the overall waste problem. Properly recycling a MagSafe charger can help to reduce its environmental impact. When the charger is recycled, the materials can be recovered and used to make new products, which can help to conserve natural resources and reduce the need for virgin materials. Additionally, recycling can help to prevent electronic waste from being dumped in landfills or disposed of in ways that can harm the environment.

To make wireless chargers more environmentally friendly, we should consider reducing consumption, recycling, reusing, choosing sustainable materials, and optimizing energy efficiency. Consumers should only purchase wireless chargers when needed and try to use them for as long as possible, while disposing of them properly by recycling. If still functional, they can be reused for other compatible devices. Manufacturers should use sustainable materials and optimize charging efficiency. By taking these actions, we can help reduce waste, conserve resources, and create a more sustainable future. All stakeholders should work together to make these changes and reduce the environmental impact of electronic devices. In conclusion, the sustainability of a wireless charger can be evaluated based on various technical factors such as energy efficiency, materials, durability, power source, and end-of-life considerations. By considering these factors in the design and manufacture of wireless chargers, it is possible to create more environmentally friendly and sustainable products. As consumers increasingly demand products that have a lower impact on the environment, it is essential for manufacturers to consider the sustainability of their products and work towards creating more sustainable alternatives. By implementing sustainable design principles and using renewable energy sources, we can move towards a more sustainable future and reduce our impact on the planet.

Bibliography

Bereitschaft, B. (2018). Sustainable design of wireless chargers for mobile devices. 2018 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC EUROPE). https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8485126

Iqbal, J., Kizilkanat, A. B., & Durmus, H. (2021). A review of wireless power transfer technologies for sustainable energy systems. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 139, 110699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110699

Li, H., Li, X., Li, W., Li, C., Li, B., & Li, Y. (2020). Sustainable and efficient wireless charging system for electric vehicles with multiple receivers. Energies, 13(8), 2071. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13082071

Mohapatra, S., Das, S., & Kumar, S. (2020). Sustainable energy-efficient wireless charging for wearable health monitoring systems. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, 67(5), 1012-1016. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCSII.2020.2968858

Wang, J., Liao, Q., Zhang, L., & Fu, M. (2019). A sustainable and secure wireless charging framework for mobile devices. Sustainable Computing: Informatics and Systems, 23, 100356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.suscom.2019.100356

Li, Y., Luan, S., & Wang, Z. (2019). Wireless charging technology for electric vehicles: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 104, 367-381.

Reiners, T., & Boehm, S. (2016). Sustainable power transfer in wireless charging systems: Review and analysis of current technologies. IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 4(1), 96-111.

Eddy Yu

Mihir and Antonio

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

March 16, 2023

Life Cycle of Magsafe: Waste

As technology advances, there are many devices that people would not imagine to have 50 years ago like wireless headphones, but wireless chargers - not expected and also not much is known about the way they function either. Due to it being a relatively new type of technology, this paper will go as in depth as possible about how wireless chargers are made - specifically its environmental impacts from its wastes; starting with the Magsafe wireless charger developed by Apple. 

Magsafe is an Apple product that is made to enable wireless charging for Apple devices. The device is circular and compact without needing to be attached to the device it is charging. There are technically two parts to the magsafe technology: the receiving end that is built into the phone for wireless charging and the wireless charger itself. In this paper, it is going to mostly focus on the charger itself that is separate from the phone. Physically, the magsafe charger looks like a plastic flat circular device that is connected by a wire/ charging cable. The focus mostly being the circular object not including the charging cable that connects it to electricity. 

The pieces that makes up the magsafe wireless charger is rubber, copper wires, magnets, polycarbonate housing, plastic silicon material or ABS plastic - this is a secondary raw material - raw materials being “styrene, butadiene, and acrylonitrile” (Plastic Collectors); and some sort of adhesive that keeps it all together. The most important parts of the wireless charger would be the coils/ wires that keeps its wireless charging feature, the magnets that enable the charger to stick on to the phone without needing it to be connected to it, and the ABS plastic that keeps everything inside. All of those materials have some sort of waste output that doesn’t get fully used in the process of making the product in the form of waste or just actions in the middle of the process that might cause environmental damage.

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of waste in the wireless charger comes from copper in the form of excess waste and contributes to significant environmental and social impacts like release of radioactive material through mining. Copper is obtained from excess mining of the Earth surface which causes dislocation of dirt to other places which causes disruption to the environment changing the landscape and inevitably damages the ecosystem and organisms. Mining can also cause pollution where the production mines are leaving excess waste from the ores and those ores get displaced into natural bodies of water that are nearby ecosystems which would cause poisoning to the water sources. There is also a process of refining the copper to its pure form which releases possible gasses that can affect the Earth’s atmosphere on a large scale which connects to climate change. Another process involved in the life cycle that probably contributes the most to climate change is the transportation of those materials from one place to another.  

First, the most important part of the magsafe charger is the copper wire that lets the wireless charging feature happen. To obtain the copper, people would have to mine for them. The process of mining has the most potential impacts on the environment. From the action of physically digging up the dirt and placing the dirt onto somewhere else to using techniques to extract the ores from rocks containing the mineral. Before mining, if there are trees or forestry near the mine site, the mining company would have to cut those obstacles down which would disrupt the ecosystem there. The potential wood from these trees aren’t considered waste though because wood is a material that is very common in everyday objects so even if it may seem like a waste, it is reused. There are many wastes that come out of this process, some are natural and some waste are artificial. The more natural waste that comes from mining is the radioactive elements that were stored inside the Earth before it gets dug up. The EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency gave a definition and examples for what these natural radioactive elements are, “Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) is defined as ‘Materials… or radioactive elements that as they occur in nature, such as radium, uranium, thorium, potassium…’” (EPA), When breaking apart the Earth to find what it contains can release deadly elements to the surrounding environment; the examples listed by the EPA are just a few common “NORM”s but there’s more when mining for any element like copper. The environmental concerns for these radioactive elements is deadly to where there probably won’t be any signs of life or it can cause mutations to the living organisms surrounding it. To summarize the EPA’s text for what happens to the radioactive or waste from mining, it gets left behind in the mining site so it doesn’t get exposed and after time the radiation starts to die out. (EPA). Sometimes it is best to just leave some stuff behind but this can prove to be deadly as well when some of the chemicals seep through the operation area and into the water which causes poisoning in the water source; the quality of the water also goes down.

Digging up for the material isn’t the only thing that causes waste and environmental impacts, next in the life cycle is the transportation and production of copper. The refinement process of copper doesn’t usually take place in the same area of the mining operations, but they get transported. There are some fossil fuels emissions in the transportation and also the refinement process for copper. The environmental impact from fossil fuels is climate change. When the carbon and greenhouse gasses emission from fossil fuels reach a certain threshold, the temperature of the world gets warmer which affects all environments globally. After transportation is the refinement process, in this process the copper that got transported from the mines isn't pure yet so there is a process that melts the copper into its pure form to be able to use for the charger. The waste from metal refining includes metals that are leftovers from the smelting process or the chemicals that are formed in the process. Not only does refining metals release a bunch of greenhouse gasses, but it can potentially contaminate the environment near the area of emission when it gets released. In Science Direct it says how smelting/ refining metals can be dangerous because of the fact that to make alloys, the melting point for each metal is different; this means that some of the metal will melt before other metals and that would lead to them evaporating. (Science Direct: J.F. Artiola, M.A. Crimmins). When the metal chemicals go airborne it is especially dangerous because toxic metals like lead can contaminate the atmosphere. Those chemicals can be inhaled by plants and animals which might get affected by the poisoning. After the refinement process of the copper, it turns into copper alloy which then will be turned into the copper graphite card and the charging coil. Even though the coil might not be copper, it still went through a similar process as the copper because it is a type of metal or alloy.

The next item component that makes up the magsafe wireless charger is the magnets. Magnets are similar to copper or any other metals’ production in the way that they are both metals so there will not be much of a difference in their waste as well. Magnets are made from metals like nickel and iron but they get charged up with electric currents to make them attracted to one another. Transporting the magnets is different from transporting metal alloys because of their attraction, so there are rules and regulations for shipping magnets stated by Master Magnetics, “shielding the magnets with specially designed covers, by using padding or cardboard shredding, or by creating a steel lined box.” (Hardison). It is important to consider the amount of waste produced due to these guidelines, when the magnets have to be packaged a certain way it reduces the amount of space inside the transport that gives more room for waste. Not only does it waste space that means there needs to be more trips back and forth to transfer the magnets; which ultimately means more release of greenhouse gasses and potential waste. The only difference between magnets and other metal alloys is that it isn’t recyclable. In “Are Magnets Recyclable? (And Are They Biodegradable?)” Conserve Energy Future shows how significant the presence of magnets are when they are disposed of, “Magnets cannot be broken down by microorganisms, and they take about one hundred years to get broken down into smaller pieces.” (Rinkesh, A.). Magnets are reusable so they can last many years which saves some waste from being produced in the earlier production stages of the life cycle. Although magnets can be reused, they can’t be recycled because of the fact that they take a very long time to break apart. 

The final part of the wireless charger is the ABS plastic that keeps the shape of the wireless charger flat and round. ABS plastic is the component that releases the least amount of waste when it comes to the life cycle of the wireless charger due to the fact that it is easy to recycle. At the start of the life cycle, plastics would end up at the start of what metals have to face and that is getting dug up. A big part of making plastics is fossil fuels, when digging for fossil fuels the dirt that is displaced when mining for it may disturb the natural water flow (Brown, N.). When making ABS plastics there are many waste that are produced alongside it even though it might not seem like it because to make it is only through polymerization or emulsifying styrene and acrylonitrile (Fast Radius). In mass production, there will be a larger amount of polymerization or emulsification happening. To do this there needs to be machines working on it which might require fossil fuels and electricity so there is some sort of greenhouse gas emissions in the production process that needs to be taken into account. The waste from ABS plastic during its use and maintenance period is hardly any except for when it is exposed to very hot temperatures. Although ABS plastics are physically durable, when ABS plastics are burned, the chemical properties of the plastic get broken apart and that releases some gas that might be harmful to the air and pollute it at high volumes (Adreco Plastics). When the wireless charger is at the end of its lifetime the charger itself may get disposed of in an e-waste disposal container, the ABS plastic will get separated from its metal counterparts. Ideally the plastic gets sorted out properly and gets fully reused, but sometimes the quality of the plastic goes down due to financial reasons where after recycling the ABS plastic there would only be a certain amount of virgin plastic that actually makes up the final product - this would make the plastic cheap and less durable over time (Salleh). Realistically, a lot of plastics are infamous because they end up polluting the ocean or end up piling up somewhere on land because they are really hard to get rid of. The plastics that get displaced would damage not only the environment of the ocean but also the wildlife and creatures living in them because of the harmful chemicals that make up for those plastics that slowly break down over time for being there for too long.

In conclusion, though there are many different types of raw materials and waste produced from getting those raw materials to make the wireless charger, the main source of waste comes from the copper components in making the wireless charger. Due to the fact that it is a metal, there needs to be more effort in producing it. From the start of mining which causes a disturbance in the environment, refinement and transportation - releases a bunch of greenhouse gasses, to recycling which releases even more greenhouse gasses for the purpose of breaking it down to reuse. The other materials that are needed to make the wireless charger also releases a lot of waste but because they are more reusable - they tend to not need to go through the early stages of the life cycle as much as copper does.

References:

Eclipse Magnetics. (2021, September 8). A quick guide to magnets, Magnetic Metals & non-magnetic metals. Eclipse Magnetics. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.eclipsemagnetics.com/resources/a-quick-guide-to-magnets-magnetic-metals-and-non-magnetic-metals/#:~:text=Most%20permanent%20magnets%20contain%20iron%2C%20nickel%2C%20or%20cobalt.&text=Alnico%20is%20an%20alloy%20made,industrial%20applications%20use%20them%20extensively.

Hardison, S. (2019, September 6). Shipping magnets: Understanding the rules. Master Magnetics. Retrieved March 12, 2023, from https://www.magnetsource.com/blogs/blog2/shipping-magnets-understanding-the-rules

Rinkesh, A. (2022, July 29). Are magnets recyclable? (and are they biodegradable?). Conserve Energy Future. Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/are-magnets-recyclable.php

Science Direct. (2019). Metal smelting. Metal Smelting - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/metal-smelting#:~:text=Metal%20smelting%20and%20refining%20processes,melts%20to%20produce%20metal%20alloys.

EPA, U. S. E. P. A. (n.d.). TENORM: Copper Mining and Production Wastes. EPA. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-copper-mining-and-production-wastes#:~:text=Copper%20meaning%20 waste%20storage%20 piles,and%20was%20 rock%20and%20 overburden.

Plastic Collectors , S. the W. (2020, April 23). What is ABS plastic and is it recyclable? Plastic Collectors. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.plasticcollectors.com/blog/what-is-abs-plastic/

Fast Radius. (2022, September 14). Get started with ABS, a popular manufacturing plastic. Fast Radius. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.fastradius.com/resources/know-your-materials-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs/#:~:text=Typically%2C%20acrylonitrile%20butadiene%20styrene%20is,%2Dacrylonitrile%2C%20creating%20strong%20bonds.

Adreco Plastics. (2022, November 2). ABS plastic properties: Great advantages of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Adreco Plastics. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://adrecoplastics.co.uk/abs-plastic-properties/

Brown, N. (2021, April 10). The life cycle of plastics. Debris Free Oceans. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://debrisfreeoceans.org/the-life-cycle-of-plastics

Salleh, S. N. A. B. M. D. (2013, June). The effect of recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) mixing ... Retrieved March 14, 2023, from http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/6561/1/CD7787.pdf