Sustainable Phones

marketingsiblaurie

Sep 10, 2024

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Created by Sustainability in Business | Published on December 1, 2022

Sustainable Phones:

Phones are one of the most universally used technologies around the world. The different features and a phone’s ability to bring together people from all areas of the world come at a cost to the environment. Let’s take a look at how we can ensure our phones are truly smartphones for our environment.

What is the problem?

The problem occurs in the supply chain. Although many of us think phones do not require many materials due to their size, that is not correct. Many rare earth materials such as silver, platinum, lithium, etc are needed to create the many components of a phone. This makes phones the world’s most resource-intensive products by weight. A further problem lies with the mining of these materials - a process that is fueled by oil which contributes to high carbon emissions.

Our generation is one that likes to keep up with the trends, often wanting the latest and best technology. This means the lifespan of our devices grows shorter and shorter with time which in turn increases e-waste. At the rate we are going, the world currently produces between 40 and 50 million tonnes of e-waste every year, and only less than 16% is recycled.

Due to the energy-intensive nature of making a phone, around 80% of the carbon footprint occurs during the production stage alone. This process produces 55 kg of carbon emissions per phone

What are sustainable phones?

Sustainable phones (also known as eco phones) are phones that are built with recycled materials and contain a longer life span. Furthermore, these phones' manufacturing processes should have little to no impact on the environment.

Criteria for a sustainable phone:

1. Supply Chain:

Make sure to check the company’s website and evaluate how transparent they are regarding their supply chain processes (i.e information on suppliers, environmental impact, materials used, energy used for production etc.)

2. Sustainable Design:

Make sure the phone is made of sustainable materials and can be recycled after it stops working. The phone should also last longer than a typical phone which aids in reducing e-waste as well.