Sustainable Electronics and Electrical Equipment for China and the World

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the sustainability of electronics and electrical equipment (EEE) supply chains in China. It examines the environmental and social impacts of the sector, from manufacturing and use to end-of-life disposal, and provides a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to transition China toward a 'green' e-product economy through regulatory reinforcement and international cooperation.

• China has transitioned from a domestic-focused e-product industry to a fundamentally export-driven sector, becoming the world's leading supplier of many major e-products. In 2006, the e-product sector accounted for 10.2% of China's total industrial output value and 6.3% of national industrial profits.
• Energy use is the primary environmental impact across the e-product life cycle, occurring most significantly during the manufacturing and use phases. For air conditioners and refrigerators, the use phase is the most critical source of environmental impact due to high power requirements and constant operation.
• China is a primary destination for illegal global e-waste, with estimates of annual imports ranging from 1.5 million to 33 million tonnes. This illegal trade fuels an informal recycling sector where primitive recovery methods—such as open burning and acid stripping—release toxic chemicals like lead, cadmium, and mercury into the environment.
• The informal e-waste sector in China is highly efficient at collection but lacks safety and environmental management. It is estimated that the collection phase alone employs 5 million people, many of whom work in household workshops without protective equipment, leading to severe health risks including organ failure and respiratory issues.
• Life cycle analysis of personal computers (PCs) shows that the most significant production impacts occur outside China, as 95% of integrated circuits used in Chinese PCs are produced abroad. However, China bears high impacts from the production of displays and printed wiring boards, as well as the use and disposal phases.
• The e-product sector is a major driver of China's national economy and employment, but it is heavily subsidized. In 2004, taxes and charges paid by the manufacture of communication and computer equipment were only 3.2% of total industry profits, significantly lower than in other manufacturing sectors.
• The report recommends a three-pronged strategy for the Chinese government: a National Sustainable E-Product Growth Strategy to stimulate 'green' growth, a National E-waste Strategy to formalize collection and treatment, and an International Action Plan for the Responsible Trade and Disposal of E-Waste.
• To improve sustainability, the report suggests the Chinese government should fortify eco-design legislation, provide preferential tax rates for products meeting international eco-design standards, and establish a national institute for eco-design research and development.

APA

Eugster, M., Huabo, D., Jinhui, L., Perera, O., Potts, J., & Yang, W. (2008). Sustainable Electronics and Electrical Equipment for China and the World. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/china_sd_eproducts.pdf

Chicago

Eugster, Martin, Duan Huabo, Li Jinhui, Oshani Perera, Jason Potts, and Wanhua Yang. Sustainable Electronics and Electrical Equipment for China and the World. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/china_sd_eproducts.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Eugster |first1=Martin |last2=Huabo |first2=Duan |last3=Jinhui |first3=Li |last4=Perera |first4=Oshani |last5=Potts |first5=Jason |last6=Yang |first6=Wanhua |title=Sustainable Electronics and Electrical Equipment for China and the World |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/china_sd_eproducts.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{eugster2008sustainable, author = {Eugster, Martin and Huabo, Duan and Jinhui, Li and Perera, Oshani and Potts, Jason and Yang, Wanhua}, title = {{Sustainable Electronics and Electrical Equipment for China and the World}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/china_sd_eproducts.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }