How Can Technology Harm the Environment and What Can We Do To Prevent It

The consumer demand for technology is at an all-time high. In the midst of our desires for new and flashy technology, we tend to forget about the environmental harm technology can cause. Here are a few ways excessive production and use of technology can harm the environment and what we can do to curtail it.

1. Resource Consumption

Ever since the start of the industrial revolution, the environment has been on a downhill of damage and depletion. At its core, it is a simple chain reaction. To produce and develop the technological devices we use today, huge amounts of natural resources are consumed. With tech industries prioritizing the optimization of sales production, care for the environment is often neglected. There is no limit to the number of natural resources used to produce today’s technology, and most natural resources are neither infinite nor renewable.

2. Pollution and Deforestation

To produce the technology we use, in addition to natural resources, production factories are required. The number of tech industries in the market is increasing, and with each one having its own production sectors, the amount of land used for building factories is immense. Deforestation is an obvious by-product of building production sites. Moreover, the non-biodegradable waste produced from these factories is more often than not irresponsibly disposed of. This contributes to air, water, and soil pollution and rapid climate change on a global level.

3. Mining

As mentioned before, resource depletion is a major consequence of the large-scale production of technology. There is much we can do to reduce our technological demands. Something as simple as using telefoane reconditionate devices can help save the environment. Nonetheless, people should know that the technology industry is mining heavy, so the exploitation of mines is rampant. Mining ores, just as any other natural resource, are not renewable sources of materials. Most mines take millions of years to completely replenish their resources. And with the rate at which we are mining, it is highly likely that we will run out of essential minerals in a few more years’ time. Moreover, mining involves the production of large amounts of waste and toxic gasses that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

4. Electronic Waste

Our growing demands for technology come at an extreme cost that our environment has to pay. Not only does the production of technological devices contribute to environmental harm, but it’s time to dispose of them, and more environmental concerns emerge. Annually, on a global level, incomprehensible amounts of electronic waste are produced. There is always an option to use refurbished phones, but most people prefer buying new ones and disposing of their old ones. Only a minuscule proportion of devices are reused or recycled.

What Can We Do To Help The Environment?

There are many things we can do on an individual level to make sure that we contribute less towards environmental damage. The first and foremost step we can take is to avoid buying technological devices when not needed. Reusing and repairing the devices we have to prolong their functionality will prevent the need to buy more. When the time comes to replace old devices, check whether they can be sold to a second-hand shop for repurposing its parts, and if not, make sure to dispose of them in an eco-friendly manner. You should also make sure that the companies you are buying products from are environmentally conscious and make sure their products and production processes are as eco-friendly as they can get.

With growing awareness and concern for the environment, there is much being done to undo the damages caused by humanity to the environment. Technology is at the forefront of the many causes of environmental damage. Now that you know about the detriments of technology use, try your best to, in your own way, help save the immediate environment around you.