| Summary: | As most countries’ demand for basic necessities has been satisfied since 2000, people’s focus has shifted to making resources sustainable. Another trend observed during this period is the increasingly heavy dependence on electronic products. The trend is demonstrated by the significant proportion of the countries’ GDP attributed to electronic manufacturing (EM). Being the leaders of development worldwide, China and India faces sustainability issues in EM. As the leader of Asia’s EM industry, Japan has developed unique and effective Home Appliance Regulation Laws. Singapore, the hub of R&D in EM, is adopting a totally different approach in the sustainable electronic manufacturing (SEM).
In this report, we examine the difficulties in the current status of policies and regulations regarding green manufacturing (GM) and electronic waste (E-waste) recycling practices in EM industries of China, India, Japan and Singapore. Our study reveals that Japan has well-established regulations and the manufacturers are responsible for E-waste recycling and minimizing resources used in production system. On the other hand, China’s and India’s electronic manufacturers are less responsible for GM even though the government has implemented regulations that deal with sustainability issues. It is also worthwhile to note that Singapore’s manufacturers are responsible for SEM practices as well as engages companies that specialize in E-waste recycling, even without formal regulations from the government.
After the earthquake in Japan in March 2011, it can be assumed that the EM industry is affected, and many new regulations will be implemented. Also, future trends in consumers’ taste and how it would affect manufacturers’ decisions are discussed in the report.
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