Harnessing Bio-Based Products for Sustainable E-Waste Management in Biomanufacturing

Abstract

The increasing digital landscape necessitates responsible management of electronic waste (e-waste), and traditional disposal methods pose environmental and health risks. Biomanufacturing, a process using biological systems and organisms, offers a sustainable alternative for managing e-waste. By using bio-based products from renewable resources like plant-based materials and microbial enzymes, biomanufacturing offers a greener way to recycle and repurpose electronic devices. This chapter explores sustainable biomanufacturing for e-waste management, focusing on bio-based materials for electronic component disassembly and separation, their effectiveness in recovering metals, reducing environmental pollution, and treating hazardous e-waste contaminants. The study also discusses the economic and regulatory implications of adopting biomanufacturing, its feasibility in recycling infrastructures, and potential revenue streams in the circular economy.