REstone

REnato lab

2021

PRIZE

  • Boardstones Prize
  • Summit Prize
Contents

Description

The most challenging part of Circular Economy practice is collaboration across the value chain due to vertical division of the industry. Since 2014, REnato lab has collaborated with collector, recycler, designer and manufacturer, to turn waste-printed circuit boards (WPCBs) into artificial stones. The production process is continuously optimized and we welcomed its third generation last year, the products can be mass-produced as building materials, the mining and use of new materials are greatly reduced, and the recycling of discarded circuit boards is expected to be driven due to the rising demand created. In Taiwan, industrial production accounts for 50% of carbon emissions, and the processing of virgin materials accounts for 88% of it. Therefore, if we can properly recycle and use recycled materials, we can effectively reduce carbon emissions in the production process. Taking the reduction of incineration as an example, if the waste printed circuit boards to be incinerated in Taiwan are changed to physical treatment, like what REstone did, carbon emissions can be reduced by nearly 83%. REstone is made by recycled circuit board glass fiber along with recycled plastics. These are often asked by the government to be properly handled by legitimate waste management companies. Rather than paying for discarding the wastes, REstone provides another option for turning waste into upcycled materials. The core spirit of Circular Economy is to decouple economic growth from resource consumption. REstone establishes a virtuous cycle to encourage recycling, preserve natural resources by cutting down the needs for virgin materials and increasing the use of recycled ones. For each piece of tile and furniture made by REstone sold, we help keep the resource in the value chain. Partners: Super Dragon Technology (long-term collaborator for materials R&D), nbt.STUDIO (stationery, wall tiles; 2014-2015), Studio Shikai (REstone II Imitation Stone Application including tables, bookends, ice buckets; 2017)

Story

REnato lab has collaborated with collector, recycler, designer and manufacturer, to turn waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs), which are nearly 3–6 wt % of the total electronic waste, into “REstone” that could be used in interior design, product design and architecture. As an alternative for incinerating WPCBs, REstone can reduce carbon emissions by nearly 83%. It has welcomed its third generation this year, and was first used as exterior tiles in a public building.

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Judge’s Comments

Ana Laura Cantera

Bioelectronic artist, researcher and professor at UNTREF University

Boardstones Prize

The proposal is powerful and necessary. It is appropriate and timely for the contemporary problem of technology expansion and the tons of e-waste. It arises as a possible solution to reduce this pollution and to resignify the discarded circuit boards into new designer products. From my point of view, it would be important to clarify the processes you use in order to be clear with the carbon emissions and with the difference with the incineration methodology. The more transparent the information is, the more efficient and coherent the products become. Moreover, it can be useful for communicating your project to people. I honestly think that you have very interesting and complementary partners that can make the production chain easier. It is very valuable to start organizing each step according to the abilities each part has. I would like to ask the scale you are thinking the project will have, and if you have measured the 83% of carbon emissions the project is said to reduce.

Tim Wong

FabCafe Taipei / Loftwork Taiwan Co-founder

Summit Prize

E-waste is a very challenge and ever-growing concerns for the environment. It's great to see such long term collaboration and leap-frogging approach to create new products.

Winners