Entrepreneurship in electronic waste management: A design thinking approach
Electronic waste (e-waste) is becoming an increasingly significant problem, particularly due to its hazardous and toxic content. The paucity of business management research on technology-based e-waste disposal management exacerbates this issue. The novelty of this study lies in the application of design thinking not to prototype a solution, but to gain a deep understanding of stakeholder experiences and pain points, translating them into structured problem categories that support the development of an ecopreneurial information and communication technology-driven e-waste management system. Understanding the perspectives and experiences of these e-waste stakeholders helps us identify the real issues. In the empathise stage, we conducted interviews with 10 participants, who were chosen to represent the three main stakeholder categories: e-waste disposers, government institutions, and recycling institutions. In the define stage, an affinity diagram was used to analyse the gathered data and formulate the problem. We identified four primary issues with e-waste treatment: inadequate systems, a lack of socialization, low public awareness, and high processing costs. It can be concluded that developing an efficient e-waste disposal management system is a top priority. To realise the possibility of creating an ecopreneur business, further study is suggested to proceed to the ideation stage, where solutions to the four identified problems can be generated.
Basel Convention. (2013). Development of Technical Guidelines on e-waste. Available from: http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Ewaste/TechnicalGuidelines/tabid/2377/Default.aspx [Last accessed on 2023 Jan 5].
Bratsberg, H. M. (2012). Empathy maps of the foursight preferences (No. 176; Creative Studies Graduate Student Master’s Projects). Buffalo State College. Available from: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1180&context=creativeprojects [Last accessed 2023 June 24].
Brindhadevi, K., Barcelo, D., Chi, N. T. L., & Rene, E. R. (2023). E-waste management, treatment options and the impact of heavy metal extraction from e-waste on human health: Scenario in Vietnam and other countries. Environmental Research, 217, 114926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114926
Gonen, E. (2009). Change by Design: How design thinking transforms organisations and inspires innovation. Markets, Globalization & Development Review. MUT Journal of Business Administration, 4(2), 8. https://doi.org/10.23860/MGDR-2019-04-02-08
Citarum Harum. (2021). Bijak Dalam Mengelola Sampah Elektronik (Wise in Managing Electronic Waste). Available from: https://citarumharum.jabarprov.go.id/bijak-dalammengelola-sampah-elektronik/ [Last accessed 2023 April 18].
Citarum Harum. (2022). Siapkan Titik Pembuangan Sampah Elektronik (Preparing E-Waste Drop Point). Available from: https://citarumharum.jabarprov.go.id/kota-bandungsiapkan-titik-pembuangan-sampah-elektronik/ [Last accessed 2023 April 18].
Defitri, M. (2022). Mengenal Komunitas E-Waste RJ yang Kelola Sampah Elektronik (To know E-Waste RJ Community that manage e-waste). Waste4Change. Available from: https://waste4change.com/blog/mengenal-komunitas-e-waste-rjyang-kelola-sampah-elektronik/ [Last accessed 2023 April 20].
Dinnata, R. (2017). Pemerintah Dorong Industri Pengolahan Sampah Elektronik (Govt push e-waste processing factory). Bisnis.com. Available from: https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20171002/257/695100/pemerintah-dorong-industripengolahan-sampah-elektronik [Last accessed 2023 April 21].
Fanthi, R., Fajarwati, A. A. S., & Chadijah, S. (2021). E-waste for interior accessories: An exploration of material recycling. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 794(1), 012070. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012070
Forti, V., Balde, C. P., Kuehr, R., & Bel, G. (2020). The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows and the circular economy potential. Washington DC: United Nations University.
George, S., & Michael, A. (2023). E-Waste Management System (EMS): An Online Platform to Sell Crafts Made From Tech Waste. In Rawani, A., Sahu, M., Chakarabarti, S., & Singh, A. (Eds.). Sustainable Approaches and Strategies for E-Waste Management and Utilization. Hershey PA: IGI Global. pp. 122–139. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-7573-7
Harikaran, M., Boopathi, S., Gokulakannan, S., & Poonguzhali, M. (2023). Study on the source of e-waste management and disposal methods. In Rawani, A., Sahu, M., Chakarabarti, S., & Singh, A. (Eds.). Sustainable Approaches and Strategies for E-Waste Management and Utilization. Hershey PA: IGI Global. pp. 39–60. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-7573-7.ch003
Inegbedion, H. (2022). Entrepreneurial design thinking and business success: Empirical evidence from Nigeria. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(2), 186–198. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(2).2022.16
Iqbal, M., & Dyah, T. (2022). Menggugah Rasa Resah Pada Masalah Sampah (Encourage concern about waste). Validnews. Available from: https://validnews.id/kultura/menggugah-rasa-resah-pada-masalah-sampah [Last accessed 2023 May 3].
Jafar, R. (2015). E-Waste–Sampah Elektronik. Jakarta: Ewaste RJ. Jain, M., Kumar, D., Chaudhary, J., Kumar, S., Sharma, S., & Singh Verma, A. (2023). Review on E-waste management and its impact on the environment and society. Waste Management Bulletin, 1(3), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2023.06.004
Jimenez, I.A.C., Mauro, S., Napoli, D., et al. (2021). Design thinking as a framework for the design of a sustainable waste sterilisation system: the case of Piedmont region, Italy. Electronics, 10(21), 2665. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10212665
Khalid, H. (2022). Timbunan Sampah Elektronik dan Pengelolaannya di Indonesia (Electronic Waste Piles and Their Management in Indonesia). Environment-Indonesia. Available from: https://environment-indonesia.com/timbunan-sampah-elektronik-dan-pengelolaanya-diindonesia/ [Last accessed 2024 Jan 12].
Lu, J., Desta, B., Wu, K. D., Nith, R., Passananti, J. E., & Lopes, P. (2023). ecoeda: Recycling e-waste during electronics design. In: Proceedings of the 36th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, October 29-November 1, 2023. San Francisco CA USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3586183.3606745
Machado, F., & Grilo, A. (2020). How can design thinking and lean startup improve waste collection systems. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, June 22-24, 2026. Portugal. pp. 655-666.
Madrigal, A. N., Iyer-Raniga, U., & Yang, R. (2024). Exploring design thinking processes in circular economy strategies for PV waste management in Australia. In: Proceedings of the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, June 12-14, 2024; Online. 1363(1), 12051. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1363/1/012051
Massari, S., Principato, L., Antonelli, M., & Pratesi, C. A. (2022). Learning from and designing after pandemics. CEASE: A design thinking approach to maintaining food consumer behaviour and achieving zero waste. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 82, 101143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2021.101143
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oak: Sage. Nnorom, I. C., & Osibanjo, O. (2008). Overview of electronic waste (e-waste) management practices and legislations, and their poor applications in the developing countries. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52(6), 843–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.01.004
Nowakowski, P., & Pamuła, T. (2020). Application of deep learning object classifier to improve e-waste collection planning. Waste Management, 109, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.04.041
Nuryanto A.D, & Suzianti, A. (2022). Pengembangan Desain Antarmuka Pengumpulan Sampah Elektronik Berbasis Kebutuhan Dengan Pendekatan Design Thinking (Development of Need-Based Electronic Waste Collection User Interface Design With Design Thinking Approach). Bachelor Thesis. Engineering Faculty of Universitas Indonesia. Available from: https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail?id=20518225&lokasi=lokal [Last accessed on]
Parajuly, K., Kuehr, R., Awasthi, A. K., et al. (2019). Future e-waste scenarios. StEP (Bonn), UNU ViE-SCYCLE (Bonn) & UNEP IETC (Osaka).
Perkins, D. N., Drisse, M.-N. B., Nxele, T., & Sly, P. D. (2014). E-waste: A global hazard. Annals of Global Health, 80(4), 286–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2014.10.001
Plattner, H. (2010). An Introduction to Design Thinking Process Guide. Standford: The Institute of Design Standford. Peraturan Pemerintah No. 27 Tahun 2020 tentang pengelolaan sampah spesifik (Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 27 of 2020 concerning the Management of Specific Waste). (2020) (testimony of President of Republic of Indonesia). Available from: https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/138876/pp-no-27-tahun-2020 [Last accessed on]
Puspa, A. (2023). KLHK Prediksi Timbulan Sampah Elektronik Capai 12 Ribu Ton Per Hari pada 2030 (The Ministry of Environment and Forestry Predicts Electronic Waste Generation Will Reach 12,000 Tons Per Day by 2030). Media Indonesia. Available from: https://mediaindonesia.com/humaniora/558430/klhk-prediksi-timbulan-sampahelektronik-capai-12-ribu-ton-per-hari-pada-2030 [Last accessed 2024 Jan 15].
Rahman, F. (2022). Sampah Elektronik dan Hak Untuk Memperbaiki (Electronic Waste and Right to Repair). Pusat Studi Lingkungan Hidup Universitas Gadjah Muda. Available from: https://pslh.ugm.ac.id/sampah-elektronikdan-hak-untuk-memperbaiki-right-to-repair/ [Last accessed 2024 Jan 15].
Rive, P. (2017). E Wastrels and Eco-Disasters: Speculative Design, Innovation and Global e-Waste. In Loue, C., Slimane, S. B. (Eds), In: Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, September 21-22, 2017; Paris, France. pp. 548–555. Rois, M., Mubarak, A., & Suzianti, A. (2020). Designing Solution for Organic Waste Management System with Design Thinking Approach (Case Study in Depok). In: Proceedings of the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, October 21-22, 2025; online.
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research Methods for Business A Skill Building Approach, 7th ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Shreyas Madhav, A. V, Rajaraman, R., Harini, S., & Kiliroor, C. C. (2022). Application of artificial intelligence to enhance collection of E-waste: A potential solution for household WEEE collection and segregation in India. Waste Management & Research, 40(7), 1047–1053. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X211052846
Sundar, D., Mathiyazhagan, K., Agarwal, V., Janardhanan, M., & Appolloni, A. (2023). From linear to a circular economy in the e‐waste management sector: Experience from the transition barriers in the United Kingdom. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(7), 4282–4298. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3365
Wanderley, A. R. M. C., & Bonacin, R. (2019). Designing mobile and iot solutions for sustainable smart cities: Studies with electronic waste disposal. In: Streitz, N., Konomi, S. (Eds), Distributed, Ambient and Pervasive Interactions. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 212-226.
Wang, C., & Anand, S. (2024). Creative Design-Driven Interdisciplinary Studio Course for Electronic Waste Management. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Educational Studies, 19(2), 69-80. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-011X/CGP/v19i02/69-80
Widodo, R. (2023). Biasnya Anggapan Pada Limbah Elektronik (biased assumptions on electronic waste). Validnews. Available from: https://validnews.id/kultura/biasnyaanggapan-pada-limbah-elektronik [Last accessed 2024 Jan 12].
Yin, R. K. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 5th ed. Thousand Oak: Sage Publication.
Yu, Z., Gao, C., Yang, C., & Zhang, L. (2023). Insight into quantities, flows, and recycling technology of E-waste in China for resource sustainable society. Journal of Cleaner Production, 393, 136222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136222
