Murena and Fairphone’s Earth-Friendly Partnership

In a world where the health of our planet is increasingly under threat, it’s imperative that we seek out alternatives that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility. The tech industry, notorious for its rapid turnover of products and disregard for ecological impacts, is ripe for transformation. Enter Fairphone and Murena, two companies leading the change towards a more ethical and environmentally conscious future.

As climate change accelerates and natural resources dwindle, the need for sustainable consumer alternatives has never been more urgent. The production and disposal of electronics, in particular, contribute significantly to environmental degradation, from carbon emissions during manufacturing to the accumulation of electronic waste in landfills. It’s clear that a paradigm shift is needed to mitigate these impacts and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

In this article we are speaking to Miquel Ballester, Fairphone’s co-founder, to delve into Fairphone’s innovative approach to hardware sustainability and learn how the company minimizes its environmental footprint. We’ll also explore Murena’s role in the partnership and how their commitment to privacy and data protection complements Fairphone’s ethos.

Miquel Ballester: “Fairphone’s journey centers on caring for both people and the planet. We meticulously prioritize 14 key materials, striving to source them responsibly and increase recycled content. Our commitment extends to fair working conditions, engaging with artisanal miners and supporting factory workers’ welfare.”

How does Fairphone minimize its environmental impact?

Miquel Ballester: Environmental responsibility is at the core of our operations. We prioritize modularity and repairability to extend device lifespans and reduce emissions associated with frequent replacements. Collaboration with suppliers to set climate targets and investment in renewable energy initiatives further contribute to emission reduction.

To give you an example, we focus on 14 focus materials that provide us with the most potential to make a significant impact. For each material, we’re working to source it from more responsible mining initiatives and setting realistic targets for increasing the amount of recycled material we use. The 14 materials are contained in multiple components and that it is not realistic to have 100% of these materials sustainably sourced. That’s why we focus on those components with a high average content of our focus materials to set a scalable example that the industry can follow. For each of the materials, we compare the weight we’ve responsibly sourced to the total amount used in our phones.

With the Fairphone 4, we aimed to use at least 40% fair and recycled materials, whereas with the Fairphone 5, we pushed this to an industry-leading 70%. In 2023, we revised our targets, aiming to get the number of focus materials up from 14 to 23 by 2030.

Moving on to the partnership with Murena, how does it complement Fairphone’s ethos?

Miquel Ballester: Our collaboration with Murena means a shared commitment to user empowerment and open-source principles. Murena’s pre-installation of /e/ OS aligns with our belief in user choice and data privacy. This partnership brings industry-wide change, championing fairness for both producers and consumers.

Murena’s dedication to privacy and data protection is exemplary. By pre-installing /e/ OS, an open-source operating system, on Fairphone devices, Murena ensures users have full control over their personal data, shielding them from invasive data collection practices.

In conclusion, how do Fairphone and Murena contribute to a more sustainable tech industry?

Miquel Ballester: Together, Fairphone and Murena redefine ethical tech by prioritizing sustainability, fair labor practices, and user empowerment. By advocating for responsible sourcing, reducing emissions, and embracing open-source software, we pave the way for a more equitable and environmentally conscious tech ecosystem. Our partnership exemplifies the transformational power of collaboration in driving positive change.

We have always believed in true ownership of the devices that we buy. In the words of our founder, Bas van Abel, “If you can’t open it, you don’t own it.” This was one of the guiding principles behind our modular and repair-first design philosophy, and why we are so against the glue-everything-shut approach that our competitors take. Murena’s /e/ OS is a logical extension of the same philosophy. Just because you buy a smartphone from a particular brand does not mean you should be chained to a specific software ecosystem. What /e/ OS does, and what we strongly endorse, is the user’s right to choose. They get to choose what operating system their phone runs on, what apps they want on it, how much of their data they want to share. The right to choose should be something every consumer should enjoy, so it’s very unsettling when major phone brands are so against that concept.

One of our core company values is also openness, something that Murena strongly advocates for as well, with their commitment to open-source software. This also helps us go beyond /e/ OS’ advantages of enhanced data privacy, actively aiding our mission to extend device longevity. In the past, open-source software has helped us increase the longevity of our phones, enabling us to provide software upgrades for many years. Software is the unsung hero of longer-lasting phones. Experience has shown us that it takes a lot of time and resources to keep operating systems updated, especially on older phones. In an industry built around selling the newest, shiniest model, it’s no surprise that updates ad infinitum aren’t in the business models of the big corporate players. That’s why alternative software routes are the answer to keep Fairphones running securely for longer.

For us, our partnership with Murena is exciting because both organizations are batting for industry-wide change in their unique ways. And it’s lovely to see how both routes can come together so beautifully together for one common goal, fairness to the people who make our phones and fairness to the people who use them.

Murena’s /e/OS is also designed to make smartphones more sustainable.

Reduced Electronic Waste: We make the /e/OS easy to support over a long time, doubling or tripling smarthphones’ lifespan, and therefore minimizing their energy impact on their overall lifespan (80% of smartphones energy impact is from manufacturing and sales). By extending the lifespan of smartphones through software updates and support, /e/OS reduces the need for frequent device upgrades. This approach helps decrease electronic waste, as fewer devices end up in landfills.

Privacy Protection: Privacy is a key aspect of /e/OS, as it prioritizes user data protection by minimizing data collection and providing alternatives to proprietary services. This focus on privacy helps users feel confident in their digital footprint and encourages responsible data management practices. An additional tool called “Advanced Privacy” integrated in /e/OS cuts millions in-app trackers and therefore reduces internet permanent usage from apps and ads on the web.

Ethical Software: /e/OS aims to provide a platform free from pre-installed bloatware and unnecessary applications, reducing the carbon footprint associated with software development and usage. By promoting efficiency and simplicity, /e/OS encourages responsible consumption of digital resources.

Energy Efficiency: Through optimization and resource management, /e/OS strives to maximize the energy efficiency of devices running the operating system. This focus on energy conservation contributes to reducing the environmental impact of smartphone usage.

Open Source Philosophy: /e/OS is built on open-source principles, allowing users to have more control over their devices. This transparency fosters a community that can contribute to improving the software and extending the life of devices through customizations and optimizations.

How do I switch to a Murena Fairphone with /e/OS?

Transitioning to /e/OS and Fairphone is straightforward and offers multiple paths.

If you already own a Fairphone, you can easily install /e/OS yourself using the intuitive Easy Installer tool. Ensure compatibility by referring to /e/OS’s comprehensive device documentation here.

Alternatively, for a seamless experience, consider purchasing a Murena Fairphone 4 or Murena Fairphone 5 directly from murena.com with /e/OS pre-installed. Take advantage of a special discount on the Murena Fairphone 4 until April 29th! Explore the offer here.

Lastly, you can also find the Fairphone 4 equipped with /e/OS directly from fairphone.com.