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The tech industry has long struggled with the growing problem of e-waste, and while the demand for new gadgets shows no sign of slowing, the environmental impact of discarded electronics continues to rise. In 2020, Europe generated 4.9 million tonnes of e-waste, much of which was never properly recycled. From dissolvable gadgets to biologically grown devices, designers and innovators are paving the way for a new era of electronics that don’t cost the earth.

In a promising move, the tech start-up Pentaform is tackling this issue head-on with a groundbreaking approach: creating electronic devices that dissolve in water. Their innovative material, Aquafade, is a biodegradable, water-soluble plastic that can make the housing and circuit boards of gadgets completely disappear when submerged, leaving only recyclable electronic components behind.

Aquafade, developed by Pentaform co-founders Samuel Wangsaputra and Joon Sang Lee, is designed to address both the problem of e-waste and the inefficiencies in current biodegradable plastics. Unlike traditional bioplastics that often end up in landfills or contribute to microplastic pollution, Aquafade can be safely flushed down the drain once the device’s valuable electronic parts have been retrieved. When placed in water, the material dissolves within six to eight hours, allowing users to easily separate reusable components from the plastic residue, which can then be safely disposed of through sewage systems.

The technology is made possible by a polymer known as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), a material commonly used in dishwasher detergent pods. Pentaform has adapted PVOH for electronics, ensuring it has the durability and mechanical properties needed to replace standard materials like ABS plastic, which is used in many electronic housings. With additional protective coatings to keep devices intact until they reach the end of their life, Aquafade could reduce the carbon emissions associated with waste transportation and composting, all while avoiding the environmental harm of microplastics.

The project’s potential is far-reaching. Pentaform’s first product, a computer designed for rural households in Indonesia, has already demonstrated success. The company hopes to scale Aquafade for broader use in consumer electronics, envisioning a future where even a small reduction in e-waste could prevent massive amounts of toxic materials from entering our ecosystems.

Austrian designer Franziska Kerber has introduced PAPE, a groundbreaking product family that completely transforms the lifecycle of small electronic devices. The award-winning devices dissolve entirely at the end of their life cycle, leaving behind only recyclable materials. This innovative approach doesn’t just reduce waste—it eliminates it entirely, creating a truly circular material flow for everyday technology.

The key to PAPE’s revolutionary design lies in its unique combination of sustainable materials and dissolvable technology. The products are made from densely pressed paper fibers, providing a sturdy, environmentally friendly housing that biodegrades once it’s no longer in use. At the heart of PAPE devices is a dissolvable printed circuit board (PCB), made using cutting-edge sustainable PCB technology that allows the entire device to be recovered in a single dissolution step. The result is a product that not only reduces e-waste but also simplifies the recycling process.

Unlike traditional small electronics, which often require mechanical disassembly to recover valuable components, PAPE’s design is entirely user-friendly and hassle-free. When a device reaches the end of its life, users simply disassemble it using a simple hinged mechanism and drop it into a return box. From there, the manufacturer takes over, dissolving the device in an environmentally responsible way. This seamless process eliminates the need for specialized recycling drop-off points, making it easier for consumers to participate in sustainability.

PAPE’s holistic approach to design is what sets it apart from other green technologies. Conventional electronics often rely on complex recycling systems that fail to recover a significant portion of their material value, contributing to a growing waste crisis. PAPE, however, ensures that its paper-based housing and dissolvable PCB boards align perfectly with the device’s technology lifecycle, so no part of the device outlasts its usefulness. This commitment to cradle-to-cradle sustainability ensures that all materials are recovered and reused, creating a truly closed-loop system.

One revolutionary concept that merges biological growth with electronic functionality is the BioHybrid Device, a video game controller designed to grow organically rather than being assembled on a factory line. Created by designers Vivien Roussel, Madalina Nicolae, and Marc Teyssier, this device represents a major step toward a future where electronics evolve naturally, reducing the environmental toll of traditional plastic-based manufacturing and electronic waste.

The BioHybrid Device is the result of a fascinating fusion between biology and technology, as it’s grown using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). This natural process produces bacterial cellulose, a sustainable, leather-like material traditionally used for eco-friendly alternatives to leather. During the growth process, electronic components—such as sensors—are integrated into the material, resulting in a fully functional gaming controller. The outcome is a device that, rather than being constructed in a factory, is cultivated by nature, blending the living world with the digital realm in an innovative way.

This concept pushes the boundaries of what we traditionally understand as “technology,” opening up possibilities for a more sustainable future. By leveraging the principles of biofabrication, the BioHybrid Device provides a new perspective on how electronics could be created and disposed of. Once its life cycle is over, the device could simply biodegrade, leaving no waste behind—a stark contrast to the non-biodegradable plastics and metals that dominate the electronics industry today. The notion of “growing” devices introduces a paradigm shift: what if our gadgets could evolve alongside us, eventually returning to the earth as organic matter?

The material at the heart of this device, bacterial cellulose, offers significant environmental benefits. In addition to being biodegradable, it can be grown in a lab setting without relying on harmful chemicals or extensive resources. However, while this approach holds great promise for sustainability, the BioHybrid Device also presents unique challenges. Maintaining and preserving such biologically grown products will likely require new methods of care and handling to ensure long-term functionality. Despite these complexities, the potential for biohybrid technologies in fields like robotics, medical devices, and wearables makes it a compelling area for future exploration.