b.1.7 hardware lifecycle & sustainability
Where do old phones go to die? Uncover the environmental cost of technology, from the mining of raw materials to the mountain of e-waste, and learn how to tech sustainably.
We all love getting a shiny new phone, but have you ever thought about the cost? And no, I don't mean the price tag. Hardware Sustainability looks at the lifecycle of our gadgets. It starts with mining rare materials (sometimes in conflict zones) and ends with the massive problem of e-waste when we throw them away. We explore planned obsolescence - where companies design things to break so you buy more - and the Right to Repair movement fighting back. It’s about being a smart, ethical tech consumer.
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This section outlines the progressive curriculum mapping for Hardware Lifecycle and Sustainability. The progression shifts the focus from basic local recycling practices at Key Stage 3 towards a highly critical, quantitative evaluation of global supply chains, carbon footprints, and circular economy legislation at Key Stage 5. By aligning the declarative understanding of e-waste and planned obsolescence with procedural tasks like data modelling and corporate policy analysis, students develop a rigorous, scientific, and ethically grounded perspective on the true cost of modern technology.
Last modified: March 20th, 2026
