Today people around the world depend on devices like smartphones, tvs, and laptops to learn, work, and communicate with those we love. However the production of these devices has resulted in a major reduction of REEs (rare earth elements) – and we’re currently at risk of depleting the world’s entire supply. Electronics recycling rates must be improved and more efficient designs must be sought out in order to ensure the earth’s supply of rare earth elements for future generations. To highlight the problem, Voucher Cloud has created a great infographic about REEs, re-cycling and sustainable technology – check it out after the jump!

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Image © Peggy Greb via Wikimedia Commons

Energy efficient technologies like wind turbines and electric car engines are much greener choices than their traditional counterparts, but the powerful magnets essential to their operation require rare earth metals that are diminishing in supply. While countries in North America, Australia, and South East Asia hurry to bring more rare earth mines into operations — a process that can take years — General Electric scientists have created a new breed of nanocomposite magnets that would require less rare earths to achieve the same high magnetism as magnets currently on the market.

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The Toyota Prius may be one of the most popular hybrid cars on the planet, but Toyota believes they can make it even greener. As such, they are researching and developing a new electric motor that is cheaper and requires less rare earth metals to make. In a statement, Toyota said that the technology would also reduce the company’s dependency on China, which currently produces 97 percent of the rare earth metals needed for many high-tech products.

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When the story broke yesterday that Afghanistan has $1 trillion in untouched mineral deposits, you could almost hear the course of history changing. Whether the country’s newfound wealth will bring it prosperity or the resource curse remains to be seen, but the rugged land just abruptly entered modernity. Among the minerals found in abundance are rare earth elements utilized in many green technologies and lithium, which is the key ingredient in batteries for computers and electric vehicles.

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Post tags: afghanistan, china, electric vehicles, green transportation, lithium, lithium ion battery, mining, rare earth elements