The Environmental Impacts of My PS5 DualSense Controller: Local and Global

The PS5 Controller: Local and Global Impacts





This week, I looked deeper into the environmental impacts of my PS5 DualSense controller. At first, it seemed like a simple item a fun gaming tool I use to relax but when I traced where its materials come from, how it’s made, and what happens when it’s disposed of, I realized I had never thought about the geography behind it. Its environmental effects happen both locally and globally.

Production Impacts

The controller is made of multiple materials:



Where do these components come from:



From what we learned in class about uneven development and global supply chains (Lecture 1), it is clear that production affects some regions more than others:

  • Lithium battery: Lithium is mined mainly in Chile, Argentina, and Australia. Mining uses massive amounts of water and can pollute rivers and soil. I was surprised to learn how much local communities are affected. You can read more about it here.
  • Circuit board metals: Copper and gold often come from Africa and South America, which can reduce biodiversity and harm ecosystems. 
  • Plastic parts: Produced from petroleum globally, adding carbon emissions from fossil fuel use.

 Local Effects:

Some environmental impacts happen right where the materials are sourced or processed. For example, lithium and cobalt mining in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can deplete water, damage soil, and disrupt ecosystems. Local communities often bear the brunt, including exposure to toxic chemicals and poor labor conditions.

Watch this great documentary on cobalt mining here:


 In Wisconsin, e-waste recycling and disposal are local concerns: if old controllers or packaging are not properly recycled, harmful chemicals can leach into soil and water. Even at home, throwing away electronics instead of recycling them can hurt the local environment. According to the Wisconsin DNR E-Cycle Program residents can safely recycle electronics to reduce local pollution and protect ecosystems. 


Global Effects:

Even though I use the controller here at home, it has a global impact. Manufacturing in China, Malaysia, and Japan, combined with shipping components across continents, contributes to carbon emissions and climate change. This is connected to Lecture 4, where we discussed how human activities, even small ones add to global greenhouse gas emissions. If you want to learn more about how electronics contribute to climate change, check out this resource from the Global Electronics Council. They break down how production, transportation, and use all add up to a big carbon footprint.

These impacts are both local (mining sites, factory pollution) and global (carbon emissions, contribution to climate change).

Transportation and Distribution

The assembled controller is shipped worldwide to stores like Best Buy, GameStop, and Amazon. Lithium, metals, and plastics travel thousands of miles. Some parts are local to assembly plants, but overall, the product relies on a global supply chain.

If you’re curious what all these materials and tiny parts actually look like, this teardown video breaks open a PS5 controller in a really cool way:


 Waste and Disposal


When the controller reaches the end of its life, it becomes electronic waste (e-waste). Improper disposal can release toxic chemicals like nickel, lead, and lithium into soil and water. Recycling options exist, but e-waste often ends up in landfills or informal recycling centers, especially in developing countries. This Geneva Environment Network resource highlights the serious environmental and health risks caused by e-waste worldwide.

Reflection

Looking at the lectures and my research, wealthier countries like mine consume and discard electronics at high rates, while poorer countries often bear the environmental costs. Even a small, personal item like my PS5 controller is connected to water depletion, ecosystem damage, carbon emissions, and waste around the world.

Thinking about solutions, I realize that recycling electronics, supporting ethical mining, and using fewer disposable electronics can help both locally and globally. This reflects what we have learned in class about sustainable development: small, informed actions at the individual level can combine with larger efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

Expanded Resources & Extras

  • Watch a Teardown Video: Curious about what’s inside your PS5 controller? Check out this YouTube teardown that takes apart the DualSense step by step. It’s a fun way to see all the tiny components in a controller.

  • Learn More About Lithium and Cobalt Mining: Understand the environmental and social effects of mining the materials in your controller with this Earth.org article. It explains how mining affects water, soil, and communities in places like Chile, Argentina, and the DRC.

  • E-Waste & Recycling: Electronics can harm the environment if not disposed of properly. Learn about safe recycling options through the Wisconsin DNR E-Cycle Program or read about global e-waste challenges in the Geneva Environment Network’s report.

  • Global Electronics Impacts: For more insight into the environmental impact of electronics, including carbon emissions from production and transportation, check out Global Electronics Council resources.



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