Wearable health devices could generate 1 million tons of e-waste by 2050

This week in Las Vegas, technology companies at CES 2026 are unveiling the latest wearable health devices — glucose monitors, blood pressure trackers, and fitness trackers. probably no Mentioned in the presentation is that these tools may cause a huge environmental problem.

It’s not something that tends to attract a lot of attention, but a new study by Cornell University and the University of Chicago found that by 2050, demand for health wearables could reach 2 billion units per year, or 42 times more than it is today. The authors warn that unless we change the way they are made, these devices could generate more than 1 million tons of e-waste and 100 million tons of carbon dioxide over the same period.

The biggest surprise is that the problem is not the plastic. The study, published in the journal Nature, found that the printed circuit board – the “brain” of a device – accounts for 70% of its carbon footprint, largely due to intensive mining and manufacturing.

The researchers propose two solutions: develop chips that use common metals like copper instead of rare metals like gold, and make the hardware modular so that the circuit board can be reused while the outer covering is replaced.

“As these devices are deployed on a global scale, small design choices add up rapidly,” wrote one of the study’s co-authors. It’s something to think about while scrolling through CES ads.