Starch and MXene nanocomposites offer a biodegradable future for sustainable electronics

The world’s generation of electronic waste is rising at an alarming pace. In 2022 alone, 62 million tonnes of e-waste were produced globally, according to the United Nations' 2024 Global E-waste Monitor report. To put that into perspective, the sheer volume of discarded electronics would fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks—enough trucks to line up bumper-to-bumper around the entire equator. Despite growing awareness of the environmental impact of e-waste, documented recycling efforts are struggling to keep pace, growing five times slower than the rate of waste generation.