In this episode of Circle Up, we take a closer look at the electronics that shape our daily lives and the strange journey they take once we’re done with them. Phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds, chargers, monitors, even solar panels… they’re everywhere, and they move through our hands faster than almost any other product category. But unlike cars, which come with a built‑in culture of maintenance and longevity, electronics are designed to cycle quickly. That gap didn’t happen by accident, and it has huge implications for our homes, our communities, and the materials we rely on.

To understand what’s happening behind the scenes, we visit Sycamore International, where CEO Steve Figgat oversees one of the region’s most sophisticated electronics refurbishment and reverse‑logistics operations. His team manages the full lifecycle of device ...