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No comprehensive global estimate of medical e-waste volume yet exists but research shows, for example, that 83 million wearable medical devices were placed on the European market in 2020 alone and globally could approach 2 billion devices annually by 2050 on the current trajectory.
Unlike consumer electronics, many medical devices are classified as healthcare waste after use because of contamination concerns. As a result, products containing valuable electronics, batteries, copper, gold, lithium and other critical materials are frequently incinerated even when components may remain reusable or recyclable.
The Digital Health in the Circular Economy (DiCE) project report shows how to transform digital healthcare into a circular system that keeps products, components and valuable materials longer in use.
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