How is the smartphone industry polluting and unethical?
The smartphone industry has a significant impact on the environment on a number of levels, mainly due to the manufacture, use and end-of-life of these devices. Here are a few key points to illustrate this impact:
1. Extraction of raw materials: The production of smartphones requires large quantities of natural resources, including rare and precious metals such as gold, silver, cobalt and lithium. The extraction of these materials can lead to deforestation, water pollution, soil degradation and a loss of biodiversity.
2. Energy consumption: The manufacture of smartphones is energy-intensive, not least because of the complexity and precision required in the production process. In addition, the use of these devices, as well as the network and data infrastructures required to run them, also contribute to significant energy consumption.
3. Greenhouse gas emissions: Every stage in the lifecycle of a smartphone, from production to use and transport, generates emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. The manufacture and marketing of a smartphone accounts for more than 80% of its carbon impact over its lifetime!
4. Electronic waste: With the rapid rate at which smartphones are being renewed, large quantities of electronic waste are being generated. Inadequate management of this waste can lead to the release of toxic substances into the environment, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem.
5. Pollution and health: The toxic chemicals used in the manufacture of smartphones and those released when used devices are disposed of can contaminate the air, water and soil, affecting the health of workers in the industry, local communities and the environment.
6. Water consumption: Smartphone production is also water-intensive, particularly for refining metals and manufacturing electronic components, which can contribute to water scarcity in certain regions.
Faced with these challenges, the smartphone industry is coming under increasing scrutiny from consumers and regulators to improve its environmental practices. Efforts are being made to reduce environmental impact, notably by recycling materials, increasing the energy efficiency of devices, reducing dependence on rare materials and extending the lifespan of smartphones.
What are your options for choosing a more ethical solution when changing your old mobile?
If you want to own a smartphone while minimising your environmental impact, there are a number of ethical solutions available to you. These aim to combine technology with respect for the environment, without neglecting the ethical aspect of the production and consumption of these devices. Here are a few avenues to consider:
1. Choose a smartphone designed with an ethical and ecological approach: Brands such as Fairphone or certain models from Apple (iPhone) and Samsung (Galaxy) are striving to improve the durability of their products and reduce their environmental impact. Fairphone, for example, stands out for its ethical approach, offering devices designed to be easily repairable, with easily replaceable parts and a strong commitment to recycling materials.
2. Opt for a refurbished device: Buying a refurbished phone, whether it’s an iPhone, a Galaxy, or any other brand available on the market, makes it possible to extend the life of existing products and reduce the demand for new resources. Refurbished smartphones, often sold at a lower price than new models, can be a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
3. Check the reparability index: Some countries have introduced a reparability index for smartphones, enabling consumers to choose devices that are designed to be more easily repaired. A broken screen or worn-out battery should not condemn a phone to the bin. Brands such as Samsung, Apple and other Android manufacturers, such as Fairphone, are working to improve the repairability of their products.
4. Support responsible companies: Favour brands that are committed to reducing their environmental impact, whether through ethical production practices, the use of recycled or recyclable materials, or recycling initiatives. It is also important to consider the working conditions in the production chain. Companies such as Fairphone and certain Apple and Samsung models highlight their commitment to ethical working.
5. Pay attention to environmental and social criteria: Before buying a new smartphone, find out about the environmental and social impact of its production. This includes durability, the device’s ability to be updated over several years, and the company’s policies on social responsibility.
6. Recycle your old smartphone: If you decide to change your phone, remember to recycle your old handset. Many brands and operators, such as SFR, Orange, Black Market, etc., offer take-back or recycling programmes for old phones. This helps to reduce electronic waste and recover valuable materials. The process is generally quite simple: choose which product you want to send in from a range of products on offer, then complete a form or a series of tests to find out the condition of your battery, screen or camera, and you will be offered a trade-in amount.
7. Consider the purchase as a long-term investment: By choosing a high-quality smartphone model, such as a Fairphone, with good software support (such as Android updates for Samsung phones or Apple iPhones), you can extend the life of your device and reduce the need to replace it frequently.
By adopting these approaches, not only are you helping to reduce your environmental impact, but you are also encouraging manufacturers and brands to continue down the path of more sustainable and responsible production. This demonstrates that it is possible to reconcile cutting-edge technology with respect for the environment and ethical criteria.
Choose an ethical phone:
Fairphone embodies a revolution in smartphone manufacturing, with a focus on sustainability and ethics. By designing modular phones that are easy to repair, Fairphone aims to extend their lifespan and reduce electronic waste. The company is also committed to responsible sourcing practices, ensuring that the materials used respect human rights and minimise environmental impact. Through its transparency and commitment to recycling, Fairphone does more than just sell phones; it seeks to transform the industry and show that technology that performs well and respects the environment is possible.
Choosing a Murena Fairphone equipped with /e/OS represents an ethical solution, as it combines Fairphone’s commitment to sustainability and repairability with /e/OS’s principles of privacy and security. Fairphone, with its focus on reducing environmental impact and supporting ethical sourcing practices, offers a conscious alternative to traditional smartphones. In parallel, /e/OS, an open source mobile operating system, focuses on protecting users’ privacy by limiting data collection and offering an experience without pre-installed services that monitor users’ activities. The combination of these two initiatives creates a smartphone that is not only environmentally and socially responsible, but also secure and respectful of users’ privacy, offering a truly ethical option in today’s technology landscape.