This book sheds light on the complex and challenging study of the illegal trade of electronic waste (e-waste) and tropical timber. It provides a comparative analysis of these two issues, covering the legal and illegal avenues in which e-waste and tropical timber are traded throughout the world. Of particular interest to me was electronic waste due to my work in the area of mobile phone recycling.

The first section of the book takes the readers on an insightful analysis of all the organisations involved in the e-waste lifecycle and the rise of the global e-waste commodity market. The research undertaken by the author included interviews with key informants and field studies. This empirical research provides new perspectives and a wealth of material and interesting anecdotes throughout the book. You learn about the role of the e-waste producers, retailers, charities, refurbishers, scrap dealers, dismantlers, waste tourists, smugglers, and e-waste brokers, who are all involved in the trade of e-waste.

Bisschop describes the interface between the legal and illegal trade of e-waste from Europe to developing countries, with particular focus on the trade between Belgium and Ghana. Through the interviews conducted by the author we learn about the motivations and issues faced by the players who are involved in trading and governing e-waste through these countries. The book highlights the environmental, social, and economic problems and opportunities this trade brings to many developing countries.

The second section of the book discusses the illegal trade of tropical timber between Europe and Africa. Once again, case studies from the Belgium market and research interviews conducted at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium trace stories of illegal logging and production of tropical timber in Africa and the players involved in the process, including corporate actors, government authorities, non-government organisations, and organised crime. Bisschop uses research and interview notes to connect the legal, illegal, and informal actors involved in the trade of tropical timber.

The research findings presented in this book reinforce the difficulty in how to govern the illegal trade of e-waste and tropical timber, not just by government players but also by corporations who have extended producer responsibility arrangements for the take-back and recycling of their electronic products and production of timber products. The traceability of these products remains an issue for everyone involved.

Contributing to this governance issue is the diversity of government actors who play a role and can influence the trade of e-waste and tropical timber throughout the world. It takes a look at the complex arrangements between local, state, national, and international government bodies who are involved in the trade routes, and the challenges faced by policy makers in these areas. It calls on governments to work together and ensure that their governance mechanisms can cut across national and institutional boundaries. The book proposes a need for further research and multinational action to tackle these problems. For government bodies, the book raises opportunities to improve governance and positively influence the transportation of e-waste and tropical timber around the world.

The principal audience of this book, from an academic perspective, is those interested in the growing area of environmental crime and governance. It provides recommendations on how to improve the process and protect the developing and vulnerable countries from the importation of unwanted and environmentally hazardous e-waste and the illegal logging and production of tropical timber. It also recommends avenues for further research on environmental governance and transnational environmental crime.

In terms of e-waste Bisschop also provides insights for industry recycling and take-back programs that have a vested interest to ensure that e-waste recycling is undertaken in a safe, ethical, and legal process. It has relevance to consumers and non-government organisations that need to make decisions about the growing issue of their electronic consumption and provide end-of-life programs for electronic reuse and recycling.

In reference to tropical timber, the book provides corporate actors with insights into the complex web of illegal logging, timber production, and shipping. It reinforces the need for timber certification and the importance of corporate actors to support this process to ensure high standards in legal timber production and traceability within the industry. It also calls for non-government agencies and consumers to continue to raise awareness about the harmfulness of the illegal timber trade. Bisschop sees the importance of consumers to make conscious choices and increase the demand for sustainable and certified timber will have a positive flow-on effect throughout the industry.

The importance of this book is the empirical research undertaken by Bisschop and how this research can positively contribute to the study of environmental crime. The research has provided new insights into the network of actors and their interrelations on this subject. The research reveals the ecological harm caused by the illegal trade of e-waste and tropical timber and comprehensively questions the complex governance framework for managing this harm.