Surely a tiny mobile phone can't really be an environmental problem, right? Yet from production to usage to disposal, phones have a serious environmental impact. Not only does manufacturing a phone produce 35 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, but Lovefone mentions that the average smartphone uses more electricity than a refrigerator. And our disposable lifestyles see many users disposing of phones every year or two. Some environmentally conscious individuals purchase refurbished phones, but these users are in the minority. Most people will replace their old smartphones with a brand-new model. Smartphone manufacturers add to the problem by redesigning their operating systems to work best with their newest devices: thus encouraging shoppers to buy new.
The E-Waste Problem
Disposing of phones creates another problem - that of electronic waste. According to the World Economic Forum, the material value of electronic devices that no longer work totals around $62.5 billion. While some environmental groups and governments are encouraging the electronics market to become more circular-where recycling instead of disposal is the preferred option-it may be a while before this becomes a reality. Most smartphone manufacturers do welcome trade-ins, but how many of those are properly recycled is unclear.
One potential solution to the e-waste problem is phones that use modular, replaceable parts. The Conversation mentions a handset developed by a Dutch company called the Fairphone 2. The manufacturers claim that it is among the most sustainable of mobile phones since its parts are fully replaceable. One of the consumer benefits of this concept is that the company cannot build planned obsolescence into its handsets.
Accessories are Also an Issue
Smartphones come with a wide variety of accessories: headsets, cases, external batteries and so on. Offering both fashion and function, smartphone accessories are a multibillion-dollar market. Yet these accessories have a real environmental cost, too. Most phone accessories are made from plastic: a material that's cheap and lightweight but is extremely slow to degrade within the environment. Plastic, once discarded, can remain intact for many hundreds of years.
Alternatives such as wood or bamboo have their own drawbacks. Not being able to absorb the shock of a fall makes these materials prone to damage or shattering. One option that users may want to consider is a case from the accessory company Pela. Using biodegradable materials, Pela has developed a smartphone case that is highly durable-but doesn't stick around in the environment after being disposed of. Almost half a million people have purchased these compostable phone cases.
Resources are Getting Scarce
Smartphone manufacture is one of the most significant contributors to e-waste and greenhouse gases through their manufacture. According to Fast Company, 85-95% of the carbon impact of a smartphone's production comes from extracting the rare minerals needed for its electronic components. Smartphone manufacturers seem to be unbothered by the increasing scarcity of the resources required to put together their phones. But as users, voting with your wallet is the best way to send a message to these companies. Opting for a recyclable phone and accessories to go with it is a small change, but it's a step in the right direction. A genuinely sustainable smartphone may not be possible at our current levels of technology, but taking action to reduce the impact they have on the environment can't hurt.
