Buddies - Shweta Agarwala

Shweta Agarwala

Sustainability Researcher - Circular Materials and E-waste Technologies

MAIN SKILLS

E-waste

Circular Materials

Strategy

APAC

ASEAN

Europe

India

Singapore

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Shweta's Introduction

I work in the sustainability sphere for technology, focusing on creating sustainability in tech by redesigning materials, reshaping electronic components, and rethinking manufacturing. My objective is to help people and companies strategize their sustainability action plans to make a difference for the planet, people, and businesses. I am also enthusiastic about creating awareness around these issues.

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With a background in electronics engineering, materials science engineering, and additive manufacturing, I am dedicated to developing a novel sustainable material library for electronics, as well as flexible, degradable devices and systems for healthcare. Over the years, I have developed many novel solutions to tackle sustainability, e-waste and circular materials.

Top 3 pieces of advice to The Matcha Initiative (TMI) users ?

Never stop learning and never give up. The journey to sustainability is ever-evolving, and you need to continuously seek knowledge and stay curious.

Embrace perseverance. Change is slow and patience is required.

Build your community and network. Find your people and surround yourself with like-minded individuals and organizations. A strong, supportive network will provide valuable insights, collaboration opportunities, and motivation to keep pushing forward.

How could you help TMI users ?

With my interdisciplinary background, I can offer my expertise and knowledge to integrate sustainability in various aspects of technology. I can help people and companies kickstart their sustainability journey by offering tips, sharing successful and unsuccessful case studies and providing insights on upcoming trends.

Expertise

What brought you to sustainability?

My journey into sustainability began with my personal experiences in the technology field, where I frequently encountered toxic materials and unsustainable technologies. This prompted me to shift my focus towards research that promotes positive change. I now specialize in biodegradable electronics materials and the life cycle assessment of devices, particularly small 3D-printed devices.

Which sustainable actions are you in charge of or have you implemented in your organisation?

Redesigning materials and electronics: spearheading the development of sustainable materials for electronic components, focusing on biodegradable and recyclable options.
Life cycle assessment: conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) of electronic devices to identify and mitigate their environmental impacts from production to disposal.
Circular economy initiatives: promoting and integrating circular economy principles in product development, ensuring materials and components can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.
Research and development: pioneering research on biodegradable electronics materials, aiming to create sustainable alternatives for traditional electronic components.
Sustainability awareness and training: organizing and conducting workshops and training sessions to educate employees and stakeholders on sustainable practices and technologies.
Collaborations: establishing partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations to drive sustainability initiatives and share best practices.
Contributed to the development of organizational policies and guidelines for sustainable practices in technology and e-waste management.

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Which challenges did you meet and how did you overcome them?

Enabling sustainability in technology is a burgeoning domain and hence laden with many barriers. There was a lack of awareness and understanding of the importance of sustainability and the environmental impact of traditional technologies and materials. Even when some stakeholders are aware, implementing sustainable practices often requires significant changes to established processes and workflows, which can be met with resistance. Moreover, securing resources and support for sustainability projects was challenging due to competing priorities and budget constraints.

What are you most proud of?

I am incredibly proud of the journey I have taken so far wearing different hats and living different roles, all leading to the road of sustainability that was a result of my ‘just do it’ attitude. Seeing the positive impact of my work on various sections of the society makes all the efforts worthwhile. I am proud of the work that I am doing in reshaping the world of electronics and creating sustainability in various sectors of technology. I hope to make a small contribution in leaving a future that is greener and more livable.