Living with E-Waste
Living with E-Waste : Material Choices, Consumer Decisions and the Life Cycle of Electronic Devices
Lead Supervisor: Sianne Gordon-Wilson
Degree Programme: PhD in Business and Management
Co-Supervisor:
Zhe Li (School of Engineering and Materials Science)
Project Description
Electronic waste (e-waste) is an increasingly important sustainability challenge, driven by the rapid development, consumption, replacement and disposal of electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops. Addressing this challenge requires understanding both the materials used in products and the consumer behaviours that shape their use and disposal outcomes.
This interdisciplinary PhD will investigate the environmental impacts of electronic components and explore how material innovation may contribute to more sustainable consumption and disposal. It will begin with a review of research and available data to map key components, such as displays, batteries and electronic circuitry, and the critical materials they contain. The project will examine concerns associated with resource extraction, material processing, carbon emissions, pollution and end-of-life treatment. Life-cycle assessment (LCA), drawing on published data, will be used to compare conventional component materials with emerging alternatives and identify environmental hotspots and evidence gaps.
The project will also investigate the consumer side of e-waste. Research may examine what consumers know about the materials and environmental impacts of their devices, why they retain, replace, repair, reuse, recycle or discard electronics, and how information about alternative materials or product sustainability affects these decisions. Depending on the final research design, this could involve mixed methods consisting of both interviews and consumer surveys or experiments.
By bringing together materials science and consumer research, the PhD will connect the technical potential of alternative materials with the social practices that determine whether electronic products are used and disposed of sustainably. It will contribute to the Living with Waste programme by addressing both waste as an environmental condition and the potential of socio-technological interventions to change waste futures. The project will also identify promising questions and preliminary evidence for future interdisciplinary research and external funding.
What we're looking for in a student
Applicants should have a degree and a Masters in a relevant area such as materials science, engineering, environmental science, sustainability, marketing, psychology, or another social science. We welcome candidates whose strengths lie in either the technical/materials or consumer/social-science side; prior expertise in both is not expected. Applicants should demonstrate curiosity about interdisciplinary research, willingness to work across disciplinary perspectives, and strong analytical and written communication skills. Experience with literature reviews, quantitative or qualitative research, survey design, environmental assessment or data analysis would be preferred. The student will develop interdisciplinary research skills through supervision and the Living with Waste programme, with training tailored to the project and the student's existing experience.
Key words: E-waste; sustainable materials; life-cycle assessment; consumer behaviour; circular economy