Study finds health wearables could produce over 1 million tons of e-waste by 2050

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, companies showcased new wearable health devices — glucose monitors, blood pressure trackers and fitness trackers — while a recent study warned those gadgets could create a large environmental problem.

A study from Cornell University and the University of Chicago found demand for health wearables could reach 2 billion units per year by 2050, about 42 times today’s levels. The authors warn that, unless manufacturing changes, these devices could generate more than a million tons of electronic waste and 100 million tons of carbon dioxide over the same period.

Published in Nature, the study found printed circuit boards account for roughly 70% of a device’s carbon footprint, largely because of intensive mining and manufacturing. The researchers propose two fixes: develop chips using common metals like copper instead of rare minerals like gold, and design modular devices so the circuit board can be reused while the outer casing is replaced.

One of the study’s co-authors wrote, "When these devices are deployed at global scale, small design choices add up quickly." The analysis says this environmental dimension is probably not being highlighted at CES, and recommends design changes to reduce future waste and emissions.

Key Topics

Tech, Health Wearables, Cornell University, Printed Circuit Board, Electronic Waste