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Tools & Research

Interactive research and digital tools that support a circular economy.

Compost League

2025

What if we harnassed the power of collective impact to make the future more sustainable?

PlayPath

2022

Books are so cool and we always read the best stuff. This project rocked so much! Because of a super secret process, we upended convention thinking for play grounds.

The Waterside Gobbler

2019

What if we harnassed the power of collective impact to make the future more sustainable?

E-waste Lifecycles
EV Incentives
Critical Materials in Phones
Critical Material Demand
E-waste Lifecycles
Wheel of Ideas

SUPERFUN Studio

2025

Interactive research

What

The Wheel of Ideas is an AI-powered concept generator that turns a brief prompt into a polished one-page document — complete with visuals, structure, and a point of view. Spin the wheel, get a starting point, refine from there.CanU Blocks was my first public design project — a set of modular building blocks designed to spark open-ended creative play. It's a simple idea with a lot of range: the blocks connect in enough configurations to keep kids (and adults) inventing.

It's built for the moment when you need to get an idea out of your head and into a shareable format fast — whether that's a pitch, a workshop provocation, or a concept brief.

200020102020203020402050
CRT Flat Panel Solar EV Battery Win10 EOL Smartphones
Select a wave above to explore it, or scroll through the cards below.
01 · Declining wave
CRT Monitors & TVs
Peak disposal: 2005–2020
~2.3
Mt stockpiled (US alone)
⚠️1–2 kg of lead per unit in funnel glass (~20% by weight)
🏭Manufacturing ended 2010–2015. Limited recycling markets cause continued stockpiling.
📋Classified as RCRA hazardous waste due to lead content.
Lead Glass Copper
02 · Active wave
First-Gen Flat Panels
Peak disposal: 2015–2025
6.5
yr avg lifespan (was 9yr)
⚠️Mercury in pre-2009 LCD backlights requires special handling
📉TV lifespan dropped from 9 years (2011) to 6.5 years (2022)
📺Production era 2005–2012 now reaching mass end-of-life
Mercury Indium Plastic Glass
03 · Emerging wave
Solar Panels
Peak disposal: 2030–2050
78
Mt global waste by 2050
⏱️25–30 year lifespan — early 2000s installations now reaching EOL
💰$15B recovery value by 2050 in silver, silicon, and copper
🚨Currently ~90% landfilled. Recycling infrastructure urgently needed.
Silicon Silver Copper Aluminum
04 · Fast growing
EV Batteries
Peak disposal: 2035–2050+
20.5
Mt end-of-life by 2040
📈343% increase from 2025 to 2030 alone (0.9Mt → 5.2Mt)
🔋Recycling capacity at ~1/3 utilization — major volume arrives late 2030s
⚡Battery demand hits 3 TWh by 2030. Critical minerals bottleneck looming.
Lithium Cobalt Nickel Graphite
05 · Imminent
Windows 10 EOL PCs
Support ended: October 2025
240M
PCs at risk
🔒Windows 11 TPM 2.0 requirement excludes ~20% of installed base
🗑️Functional hardware made obsolete by software requirements
💡Opportunity: Linux conversion, refurbishment programs, extended support
Copper Gold REEs Plastics
06 · Continuous
Smartphones
Ongoing ~2.5yr replacement cycle
~5B
units drop out of use annually
📱16+ billion phones owned globally. 6B+ manufactured annually.
🗄️Over 50% stored obsolete in drawers — most don't reach recyclers
⚖️Part of 4.6Mt small IT category (2022). Only 22% formally recycled.
Lithium Cobalt REEs Gold Copper
The next decade is critical. Solar panels, EV batteries, and software-obsoleted PCs will create unprecedented e-waste volumes. Infrastructure built today determines whether these become waste streams or resource streams. Plan for wave timing, not current volumes.
Primary source: UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 (ITU/UNITAR)
Methodology: E-waste projections use sales/lifespan models with Weibull distributions fitted to empirical EU data.

By category:
CRT — EPA RCRA, Electronics Recycling Clearinghouse
Flat Panel — GEM 2020/2024 (5.9Mt in 2022)
Solar — IRENA/IEA-PVPS End-of-Life Report
EV Batteries — UNDP Analysis (2025), IEA Global EV Outlook 2025
Windows 10 — Canalys Research (Dec 2023)
Smartphones — WEEE Forum/UNITAR (Oct 2022)

SUPERFUN Studio

2025

Digital tool

Where is the most supportive environment for EVs in the US in 2026?

Using NREL API and with the help of Claude code we built a tool to find out. To download the source code click here.

Loading incentives...

Data from the U.S. Department of Energy via NREL API. Programs marked expired, archived, or repealed are filtered out. State data is updated annually — always verify current status with the relevant authority before making purchase or tax decisions.

SUPERFUN Studio

2025

Interactive research

Ever wonder what's in your cell phone?

CanU Blocks was my first public design project — a set of modular building blocks designed to spark open-ended creative play. It's a simple idea with a lot of range: the blocks connect in enough configurations to keep kids (and adults) inventing.

This project taught me the fundamentals I still use today like  prototyping quickly, testing with real users, and designing systems that invite participation rather than prescribe behavior. It's also where I first saw how physical products can shape social interaction.

$50K awarded to fund the project · 1,000+ kids and adults co-designed · 200+ ideas synthesized into the final system

Click a colored element to see its function, content, recycling rate, and projected demand. Click a gray element to see its status.

Element content & supply risk — brightly colored elements are present in the phone

Not a major component
Critical risk (Level 5) — conflict / high geopolitical risk
High risk (Level 4)
Data applies to an average smartphone model (2018–2022). Content mass varies significantly by manufacturer and battery chemistry.

[S1] Orton Geological Museum, Ohio State University — ortonmuseum.osu.edu
[S2] USGS Geologic Survey (GIP 167) — pubs.usgs.gov
[S3] He et al. (2019) / Cucchiella et al. (2015) — metal content (g/unit) in smartphones
[S4] Fairphone / CompoundChem / Cobalt Institute — recycling rates and supply chain risk
[S5] IEA / Statista / Cobalt Institute Forecasts — projected demand growth to 2030, primarily driven by EVs and energy storage

SUPERFUN Studio

2025

Interactive research

How might we visualize the demand for critical minerals

CanU Blocks was my first public design project — a set of modular building blocks designed to spark open-ended creative play. It's a simple idea with a lot of range: the blocks connect in enough configurations to keep kids (and adults) inventing.

This project taught me the fundamentals I still use today like  prototyping quickly, testing with real users, and designing systems that invite participation rather than prescribe behavior. It's also where I first saw how physical products can shape social interaction.

$50K awarded to fund the project · 1,000+ kids and adults co-designed · 200+ ideas synthesized into the final system

Li
Lithium
+30% demand/yr
Co
Cobalt
70% from DRC
Ni
Nickel
+8% demand/yr
C
Graphite
80% China refining
REE
Rare Earths
60% China mining
Cu
Copper
+30% by 2040
2024 Market Value
$325 B
Energy transition minerals
2040 Projected
$770 B
NZE Scenario (2.4× growth)
Top 3 Concentration
77% avg
Mining share (up from 73%)
Refining in China
60–80%
Across all battery metals
Demand Growth by Mineral (2024–2040)
Clean energy applications driving exponential demand increases
Demand Growth Index (2024 = 100)
Clean Energy Share of Demand (%)
Lithium (9× by 2040 NZE)
Cobalt (2×)
Nickel (2×)
Graphite (4×)
Copper (+50%)

🔋 Key Demand Drivers

Electric Vehicles
  • Each EV battery requires ~200 kg of minerals
  • EVs account for 70% of cobalt demand growth
  • Lithium demand for EVs grows 9× by 2040 (NZE)
Grid & Renewables
  • Copper demand from grid expansion up 50%
  • Rare earths essential for wind turbine magnets
  • Battery storage adding significant demand
Global Supply Chain Geography
Mining and refining concentrated in few countries
Mining Production by Country (2024)
Refining/Processing by Country (2024)
🇨🇳 China
Lithium Refining65%
Cobalt Refining75%
Graphite80%
Rare Earths90%
🇨🇩 DRC
Cobalt Mining73%
Risk LevelCritical
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Nickel Mining55%
Growth Rate+25%/yr
🇦🇺 Australia
Lithium Mining46%
Risk LevelLow

⚠️ Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

  • Single point of failure: China controls 60–90% of refining for most battery metals
  • Export restrictions: Dec 2024 — China restricted exports of several rare earths
  • DRC cobalt: 73% of mining, with ongoing conflict and artisanal mining concerns
  • Lead times: New mines take ~16–20 years to develop
  • Investment slowing: 2024 investment grew only 5% (vs 14% in 2023)
Supply Concentration Risk Assessment
Top 3 countries' share of mining and refining (2024)
Lithium Mining 75% Top 3
Cobalt Mining 84% Top 3
Nickel Mining 72% Top 3
Graphite Mining 78% Top 3
Rare Earths Mining 85% Top 3
China's Refining Dominance 60–90%

🚨 N-1 Supply Risk Analysis

If the largest supplier were removed from the market, how much of global demand could be met?

  • Graphite (excl. China): Only 35% of demand could be met
  • Rare Earths (excl. China): Only 40% of demand could be met
  • Lithium (excl. Australia): 65% of demand could be met
  • Cobalt (excl. DRC): 65% of demand could be met
  • Nickel (excl. Indonesia): 70% of demand could be met
Secondary Supply & Recycling Potential
By 2040, recycling could reduce primary mineral needs by 10–30%
Recycling Potential by Mineral (% of Demand by 2040)
EV Battery End-of-Life Volume (GWh)
♻️ Copper
Current Recycling Rate35%
2040 Potential30% of demand
♻️ Lithium
Current Recycling Rate<5%
2040 Potential15% of demand
♻️ Cobalt
Current Recycling Rate15%
2040 Potential25% of demand

🔄 Circular Economy Opportunities

Battery Recycling Scale-Up
  • EV batteries reaching EOL: 1.5M tonnes by 2030
  • Battery recycling capacity growing 25% annually
  • Hydrometallurgical processes achieving 95% recovery
  • EU Battery Regulation mandates recycled content
Policy Drivers
  • EU: 16% recycled cobalt, 6% lithium by 2031
  • US IRA incentives for domestic recycling
  • China targeting 70% battery recycling by 2030
  • Extended Producer Responsibility expanding
Primary source: IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025

Scenarios:
  • STEPS: Stated Policies Scenario — based on current policies
  • NZE: Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario

Additional sources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024, European Commission Critical Raw Materials List, S&P Global, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence

SUPERFUN Studio

2025

Interactive research

What

The Wheel of Ideas is an AI-powered concept generator that turns a brief prompt into a polished one-page document — complete with visuals, structure, and a point of view. Spin the wheel, get a starting point, refine from there.CanU Blocks was my first public design project — a set of modular building blocks designed to spark open-ended creative play. It's a simple idea with a lot of range: the blocks connect in enough configurations to keep kids (and adults) inventing.

It's built for the moment when you need to get an idea out of your head and into a shareable format fast — whether that's a pitch, a workshop provocation, or a concept brief.

200020102020203020402050
CRT Flat Panel Solar EV Battery Win10 EOL Smartphones
Select a wave above to explore it, or scroll through the cards below.
01 · Declining wave
CRT Monitors & TVs
Peak disposal: 2005–2020
~2.3
Mt stockpiled (US alone)
⚠️1–2 kg of lead per unit in funnel glass (~20% by weight)
🏭Manufacturing ended 2010–2015. Limited recycling markets cause continued stockpiling.
📋Classified as RCRA hazardous waste due to lead content.
Lead Glass Copper
02 · Active wave
First-Gen Flat Panels
Peak disposal: 2015–2025
6.5
yr avg lifespan (was 9yr)
⚠️Mercury in pre-2009 LCD backlights requires special handling
📉TV lifespan dropped from 9 years (2011) to 6.5 years (2022)
📺Production era 2005–2012 now reaching mass end-of-life
Mercury Indium Plastic Glass
03 · Emerging wave
Solar Panels
Peak disposal: 2030–2050
78
Mt global waste by 2050
⏱️25–30 year lifespan — early 2000s installations now reaching EOL
💰$15B recovery value by 2050 in silver, silicon, and copper
🚨Currently ~90% landfilled. Recycling infrastructure urgently needed.
Silicon Silver Copper Aluminum
04 · Fast growing
EV Batteries
Peak disposal: 2035–2050+
20.5
Mt end-of-life by 2040
📈343% increase from 2025 to 2030 alone (0.9Mt → 5.2Mt)
🔋Recycling capacity at ~1/3 utilization — major volume arrives late 2030s
⚡Battery demand hits 3 TWh by 2030. Critical minerals bottleneck looming.
Lithium Cobalt Nickel Graphite
05 · Imminent
Windows 10 EOL PCs
Support ended: October 2025
240M
PCs at risk
🔒Windows 11 TPM 2.0 requirement excludes ~20% of installed base
🗑️Functional hardware made obsolete by software requirements
💡Opportunity: Linux conversion, refurbishment programs, extended support
Copper Gold REEs Plastics
06 · Continuous
Smartphones
Ongoing ~2.5yr replacement cycle
~5B
units drop out of use annually
📱16+ billion phones owned globally. 6B+ manufactured annually.
🗄️Over 50% stored obsolete in drawers — most don't reach recyclers
⚖️Part of 4.6Mt small IT category (2022). Only 22% formally recycled.
Lithium Cobalt REEs Gold Copper
The next decade is critical. Solar panels, EV batteries, and software-obsoleted PCs will create unprecedented e-waste volumes. Infrastructure built today determines whether these become waste streams or resource streams. Plan for wave timing, not current volumes.
Primary source: UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 (ITU/UNITAR)
Methodology: E-waste projections use sales/lifespan models with Weibull distributions fitted to empirical EU data.

By category:
CRT — EPA RCRA, Electronics Recycling Clearinghouse
Flat Panel — GEM 2020/2024 (5.9Mt in 2022)
Solar — IRENA/IEA-PVPS End-of-Life Report
EV Batteries — UNDP Analysis (2025), IEA Global EV Outlook 2025
Windows 10 — Canalys Research (Dec 2023)
Smartphones — WEEE Forum/UNITAR (Oct 2022)

SUPERFUN Studio

2026

Digital tool

Need a one-pager in 60 seconds?

The Wheel of Ideas is an AI-powered concept generator that turns a brief prompt into a polished one-page document — complete with visuals, structure, and a point of view. Spin the wheel, get a starting point, refine from there.CanU Blocks was my first public design project — a set of modular building blocks designed to spark open-ended creative play. It's a simple idea with a lot of range: the blocks connect in enough configurations to keep kids (and adults) inventing.

It's built for the moment when you need to get an idea out of your head and into a shareable format fast — whether that's a pitch, a workshop provocation, or a concept brief.

Visit wheelofideas.com

Compost League

2025

What if we harnassed the power of collective impact to make the future more sustainable?

PlayPath

2022

Books are so cool and we always read the best stuff. This project rocked so much! Because of a super secret process, we upended convention thinking for play grounds.

The Waterside Gobbler

2019

What if we harnassed the power of collective impact to make the future more sustainable?

Compost League

2025

What if we harnassed the power of collective impact to make the future more sustainable?

PlayPath

2022

Books are so cool and we always read the best stuff. This project rocked so much! Because of a super secret process, we upended convention thinking for play grounds.

The Waterside Gobbler

2019

What if we harnassed the power of collective impact to make the future more sustainable?

CanU
The Waterside Gobbler
PlayPath
Linkedin

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