A review on adopting blockchain and IoT technologies for fostering the circular economy in the electrical and electronic equipment value chain

Abstract

With the continuous growth in the use of home appliances and electronics, waste produced with obsolete material (e-waste) has an increasing environmental impact. Furthermore, the production of such devices leads to increased consumption of natural resources and produces a multitude of toxic and hazardous substances, which are normally not treated properly. One of the approaches that may be adopted to reduce such problems relies on the circularization of the current linear model, commonly adopted in the Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE) value chain. This includes recovering End-of-Life products and reintroducing their parts, components, or raw materials into the value chain (e.g., semiconductors, circuit boards, raw metals, etc.), contributing to a more sustainable value chain. In this article, we present a state-of-the-art review that focuses on approaches and solutions for EEE value chain traceability and analyze the technologies that may be beneficial for promoting and implementing the Circular Economy model in this value chain.