The mobile phone market is one of the most resistant to entering into the dynamic of the three "R"s (reduce, reuse, recycle). Consumers are increasingly demanding four things from smartphone manufacturers: that they are more durable , that their components can be easily replaced, that the minerals used do not come from conflict zones or areas where slave labour is present , and that they are recyclable . Greenpeace's Green Electronics Guide has analysed the companies that best respond to these questions.
One of the biggest problems today is planned obsolescence . Smartphones are currently programmed to last around 18 months. In addition, users have a headache repairing them when they break and around 65 million tons of e-waste are generated every year . “The technology sector has changed the world in an astonishing way. However, the business model that subsists under the manufacture of these products is stuck in the past , it depends on a linear production system and requires constant consumption, sacrificing the health of workers and environmental impact to reduce costs. It is not a sustainable model ,” concludes the Greenpeace report .
Of the 17 companies evaluated by Greenpeace , only six publish a vietnam phone number basic list of suppliers, according to ElMundo.es . Apple , although it scores a “C” for “use of resources”, leads the way in the use of renewable energy. Dell and HP also score highly, with the exception of the use of chemicals. In the middle of the list are Sony and Google . In contrast, in the last positions are Amazon, Samsung, Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi.
This year, Fairphone , a social enterprise founded in 2013, tops the Greenpeace list . Founded by Dutchman Ban Van Abel, the company is trying to create an “ethical, smart and durable phone .” Fairphone spokesperson Fabian Hühne says they want to inspire and influence the industry. “Our goal is precisely to have other companies copy us, to save resources and to design durable products. We alone cannot solve the major problems generated by the electronics industry: we need others to get on board .” “For us, the circular economy is inseparable from social issues. Sourcing fair materials, from conflict-free areas and in decent working conditions is essential. So is transparency in the supply chain . ”
Fairphone has already sold 140,000 units of its first two modular smartphones . These types of phones allow for much easier repairs and also save 30% of greenhouse gas emissions over their life cycle. “People should support brands that are doing well and demand that their favourite electronics companies make their products more sustainable,” said Mallorcan Miquel Ballester, who heads Fairphone’s product and resource efficiency strategy.