Imagine a world where we care for tech better, keeping it in use longer  

We’ve created #TimeAfterTime to engage young people on e-waste by showing them how their actions can benefit people, planet and pocket. But we can’t do it alone.

We need your help to inspire 18-25 year olds to engage with the issue of e-waste. We want to help share how to better care for electronics, extending the lifespan of devices and moving away from the pressure to upgrade new tech.

Considerations 

Look through the research below to explore the topic, and feel free to keep digging on your own. Have a think about the target audience and how your idea can break down the barriers they may face when engaging on the issue of e-waste. Consider how your idea connects young people to the technology they use daily. 

The best ideas often come from more than one mind working together. You could join forces with people from other courses, specialities or backgrounds that may have a completely different (and beneficial) insight on your ideas. 

Sometimes trends in one area may influence another. For example, there is a strong link between what’s happened in the food industry and what is now happening in the fashion industry. What can we learn from other industries, areas, cultures etc.?

Key Facts 

Here are some interesting stats about e-waste that you can use to anchor or inspire your piece.  

• By 2040, carbon emissions from the production and use of electronics, will reach 14% of total emissions. (World Economic Forum, 2019) 

• There is 100 times more gold in a tonne of smartphones than in a tonne of gold ore. Up to 7% of the world’s gold may currently be contained in e-waste. (World Economic Forum, 2019) 

• The earth’s richest deposits of valuable materials are sitting in landfill sites or people’s homes. (World Economic Forum, 2019) 

• YouGov polling suggests that 45% would rather upgrade their phone than repair it. The same is true for 48% of tablet owners and 31% laptop owners. (YouGov, 2020) 

• 27% of young people didn’t know you could recycle old smartphones. (Hubbub polling, 2022) 

• More than 1 in 4 young people (28%) don’t know you can recycle your old smartphone at designated e-waste recycling points. (Hubbub polling, 2022) 

• More than 1 in 3 young people (36%) have unused phones sitting in drawers at home – all losing value and could be recycled or used. (Hubbub polling, 2022) 

• Less than half (47%) of young people realise that phones thrown in the general bin will end up in landfill or incinerated. (Hubbub polling, 2022) 

• 40% of 18-24 year olds replace their smartphone within two years. (YouGov, 2020) 

Production and use of electronics will reach 14% of total global emissions in 2040 but many of earth’s minerals aren’t in the ground; they’re sitting in homes or landfill because we’re not sure what to do with old tech. 

Your idea should appeal to 18-25 year olds to change their behaviour and engage with e-waste. If it’s helpful you can focus the target audience further by area, age or interests.

We want to see a creative piece by you that can inspire young people to take action.

The piece can be anything from poetry, non fiction essays or even a song. We’re open to all ideas and we love surprises!

We’d also like to understand your thinking behind your piece and how it engages and reaches your audience on the topic. E.g. would they see it at an event?

Submit your proposal by 23:59 on April 7th.

Submissions may be submitted by individuals or groups.

We’ll reach out to successful entries by May 1st. There is a cash prize of £200 for the winner and £100 for the runner up.  

There is funding and further support available to help successful applicants develop their idea further. 

Apply by the 7th of April