At present the waste produced from discarded consumer electronics, medical devices, and packaging materials is tremendous and unsustainable. For example, according to a recent UN report, as much as 50 million metric tons of consumer e-waste a year is produced globally, of which only 20% is recycled. Similarly, hospitals generate ~5 million metric tons of medical waste (around 29 pounds per bed per day). Even grimmer statistics exist for plastics – a ubiquitous class of materials. The world produces ~400 million metric tons each year and the majority of it is either dumped in dumping grounds or incinerated. Development of biodegradable and sustainable materials is therefore crucial for establishing a circular economy and for solving the grave global challenges associated with pollution and climate change. In this context, materials science and engineering plays a critical role. Emerging demonstrations of biodegradable electronics and packaging materials illustrate the power of innovation in materials in developing sustainable, bio-friendly alternatives to conventional, toxic, and non-recyclable products.

This symposium will focus on the fundamental and applied research in the area of biodegradable, resorbable, and sustainable materials. It will cover a broad range of research areas that encompass advances in polymer science, green chemistry, device design engineering, computational modelling of biodegradable materials, and sustainable fabrication processes. Topics of interest include but are not limited to biodegradable and sustainable electronics, sensors, energy sources, and packaging materials. The proposed symposium will thus provide a unique avenue to share ideas amongst researchers from disparate domains spanning materials synthesis and processing, computational materials science, and device fabrication who share a common goal of reducing waste and establishing a sustainable world economy.

additive manufacturing recycling