TL;DR
A new study from Cornell and the University of Chicago warns that global demand for health wearables could reach about 2 billion units per year by 2050, producing more than a million tons of electronic waste and roughly 100 million tons of CO2 unless designs change. The study finds printed circuit boards, not plastic casings, drive most of the carbon footprint and recommends material and modular design changes.
What happened
At CES 2026, companies showcased the latest glucose monitors, blood-pressure trackers and fitness wearables even as researchers published a paper highlighting a potential environmental downside to such devices. A Cornell University and University of Chicago study, published in Nature, projects demand for health wearables could climb to roughly 2 billion units annually by 2050 — about 42 times current levels. If manufacturing continues on its present course, the authors estimate these devices could produce more than one million tons of electronic waste and about 100 million tons of CO2 over the period. The research identifies the printed circuit board (the device’s core electronics) as responsible for about 70% of the carbon footprint, largely because of mineral extraction and circuit production. To reduce impacts the paper urges swapping rare metals for common alternatives such as copper and designing devices so the PCB can be reused while external housings are replaced. A co-author cautioned that small design choices can compound at global scale.
Why it matters
- Scale: projected growth to 2 billion wearables annually could multiply environmental impacts unless manufacturing changes.
- Material focus: the bulk of emissions come from circuit boards rather than plastics, shifting where reductions are most effective.
- Design implications: small component and architecture choices can have large aggregate effects when products are deployed worldwide.
- Product lifecycle: reuseable or modular electronics could cut both e-waste volumes and carbon emissions compared with one-piece devices.
Key facts
- Study institutions: Cornell University and the University of Chicago.
- Publication: the research appeared in the journal Nature.
- Projected annual demand: about 2 billion wearable health devices per year by 2050 (roughly 42 times current levels).
- E-waste estimate: more than one million tons of electronic waste could be generated by 2050 under current production practices.
- Carbon estimate: the sector could produce around 100 million tons of CO2 over the same period.
- Primary emissions source: printed circuit boards account for about 70% of a device’s carbon footprint, driven by mining and manufacturing.
- Suggested materials change: researchers recommend developing chips that use common metals like copper instead of rarer minerals such as gold.
- Suggested design change: make devices modular so the circuit board can be retained and outer housings replaced, enabling reuse.
What to watch next
- Whether manufacturers begin adopting common-metal chips at scale — not confirmed in the source.
- Industry movement toward modular wearable designs that allow PCB reuse — not confirmed in the source.
- Policy or recycling initiatives targeting wearable electronics to reduce e-waste and emissions — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Printed circuit board (PCB): A board that mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components; it contains the core circuits of most devices.
- E-waste: Discarded electrical or electronic devices; includes devices, components and consumables that become waste.
- Modular design: An approach that separates a product into distinct, replaceable parts so individual components can be upgraded or reused.
- Carbon footprint: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an activity or product, typically measured in CO2 equivalents.
- Rare minerals: Minerals that are less abundant or harder to extract economically; often used in small quantities in electronics and can drive environmental impacts.
Reader FAQ
Who conducted the study?
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Chicago.
How many wearable health devices could be produced by 2050?
The study projects demand could reach about 2 billion units per year by 2050, roughly 42 times current levels.
What part of the device causes the most emissions?
Printed circuit boards are estimated to account for about 70% of a wearable’s carbon footprint.
Will companies adopt the study’s proposed fixes?
Not confirmed in the source.
IN BRIEF Posted: 2:34 PM PST · January 6, 2026 IMAGE CREDITS: YANA ISKAYEVA / GETTY IMAGES Connie Loizos Wearable health devices could generate a million tons of e-waste by…
Sources
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