• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Science & Environment Environmental Policies

Brushing with disaster? Technology firm issues warning about acute landfill contributor

April 9, 2025
in Environmental Policies
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Electric toothbrushes arranged in a glass tumbler in an indoor bathroom or similar environment
5
SHARES
10
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter



Electric toothbrushes arranged in a glass tumbler in an indoor bathroom or similar environment

Electric toothbrushes are adding to the world’s growing mountain of harmful ewaste at a concerning rate. UK sustainable technology firm In2tec is calling for greater awareness of the issue, and a shift to the use of reusable components in the manufacture of these devices.

Experts at In2tec say cheap toothbrushes and consumers upgrading to new high-end models with superficial, gimmicky enhancements are adding to landfill unnecessarily.

In 2022, an estimated 34 million people in the UK used electric toothbrushes with 12 million people having switched in the five years between 2015 and 2020, while it is hard to get reliable data on how many are thrown away, the number is doubtless significant – last year Expert Reviews analysed data that revealed that the UK throws away 2,266 tonnes of toothbrushes each year – 212 million electric toothbrush heads and manual brushes.

Throwaway electronics have a devastating ecological impact, trigger serious health problems among waste pickers in developing countries, and use up staggering amounts of vital and increasingly scarce materials such as rare earth elements, aluminium, copper, and steel.

Most modern electric toothbrushes contain lithium-ion batteries. Whilst they last longer and are more efficient, the key raw material of lithium is fraught with significant challenges throughout the supply chain. Ranging from resource availability to geopolitical risks, human rights issues, environmental concerns and technological hurdles.

Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador and Group Commercial Director at In2tec Ltd, said: “Electric toothbrushes are less than £3 from some low-quality online retailers like Temu, so people are quick to replace them when they inevitably break. Meanwhile, gadget fans are tossing their perfectly fine model for the next generation, which boasts unnecessary phone apps and multiple ‘cleaning modes’.

“Most toothbrushes are not designed to be reused or recycled and can end up in landfill after a few years if not a few months. Recycling can only do so much – for real results, society needs to turn away from ewaste and embrace modular technology that ensures components are reused or repaired instead of being burned or buried.”

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin undertook a study on the sustainability of different models of toothbrushes to find out which had the greatest global environmental impact.

Dr Brett Duane, Associate Professor in Public Dental Health and lead researcher said: “There are billions of toothbrushes used and discarded every year. Our research shows that electric toothbrushes are actually harmful to the planet and the people involved in the manufacturing process and distribution.”

“The ideal toothbrush is one which uses plastic which is recycled in a continuous process. We need a system where plastic toothbrushes can be collected like batteries and then recycled into new products.”

In2tec is working to slash the harrowing environmental and societal impact of ewaste and provide innovative solutions to the growing problem of throwaway electronics.

The company’s signature ReUSE® and ReCYCLE™ comprise a closed-loop process allowing manufacturers to remove components from existing electronics at the end of their useful life and reuse them – carbon-free.

ReUSE® is a series of materials, processes and design principles used to manufacture printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), while ReCYCLE™ is the ultra-low energy process for unzipping PCBAs – the foundation of nearly all technology – to the original bill of materials (BoM).

The technology’s versatility allows global commercialisation and a vast reduction in the overall energy used to manufacture and process when it reaches its end of life – something that is not possible when using conventional PCBA processes or materials.

Tags: acuteBrushingcontributordisasterfirmissuesLandfillTechnologywarning
Previous Post

U.S. physician burnout rates drop yet remain worryingly high, study finds

Next Post

‘We will prioritize sending American astronauts to Mars’: Trump’s pick for NASA chief puts focus on the Red Planet

Related Posts

Bureau of Land Management releases arctic lease sale analysis

House votes to take away clean energy tax credits

May 22, 2025
3
Energy Transition 101: Making the Case

Energy Transition 101: Making the Case

May 22, 2025
9
Next Post
a man in a dark suit speaks into a microphone while sitting at a table

'We will prioritize sending American astronauts to Mars': Trump's pick for NASA chief puts focus on the Red Planet

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
Databricks

Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden are Under Duress ahead of the Indy 500 | First Things First

May 22, 2025
Transfer rumors, news: Manchester United lead race to sign Mateta

Transfer rumors, news: Manchester United lead race to sign Mateta

May 22, 2025
ESPN 100 senior Jerry Easter commits to USC Trojans

NC State lands ex-Texas Tech standout forward Darrion Williams todayheadline

May 22, 2025

Kanzhun’s Profit Surges in Q1 on Cost Cuts todayheadline

May 22, 2025

Recent News

Databricks

Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden are Under Duress ahead of the Indy 500 | First Things First

May 22, 2025
0
Transfer rumors, news: Manchester United lead race to sign Mateta

Transfer rumors, news: Manchester United lead race to sign Mateta

May 22, 2025
2
ESPN 100 senior Jerry Easter commits to USC Trojans

NC State lands ex-Texas Tech standout forward Darrion Williams todayheadline

May 22, 2025
5

Kanzhun’s Profit Surges in Q1 on Cost Cuts todayheadline

May 22, 2025
4

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

Databricks

Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden are Under Duress ahead of the Indy 500 | First Things First

May 22, 2025
Transfer rumors, news: Manchester United lead race to sign Mateta

Transfer rumors, news: Manchester United lead race to sign Mateta

May 22, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co