By Alyson Lundstrom (Originally Published By ZeroMe)
If you are reading this on a smartphone, you are holding a handful of precious, non-renewable resources that, if not disposed of properly, will become a toxic ticking time bomb to our earth.
One of the finer points of human ingenuity is that we can turn anything into a gadget. We are so prolific at “gagetizing” to make life more convenient that we generate 50 million metric tons of tech products annually. Sadly, only 20% of this e-waste makes it into appropriate recycling streams.
Today, over 83% of the world's population owns a smartphone representing over 6.6 billion gadgets that will eventually become tech waste. Fortunately, government regulations, voluntary corporate ESG reporting, and consumer demand is pushing the tech sector to create more sustainable products with less impactful end-of-life scenarios.
How Smartphones Affect The Earth
Your smartphone might seem small and innocent, but the average person gets a new smartphone every 2.75 years. Multiply those 2.75 years through the global population and the average human lifetime, and we’ve got a mountain of tech waste.
Non-Renewable Resources
A smartphone's impact starts at production, where almost 80% of the carbon footprint is created. Nearly all phones require 16 of 17 rare earth metals. Fossil fuel-burning extraction processes require irreplaceable elements like gold, cobalt, and lithium for crucial components. Lithium is a key component for batteries, while silicon is used for processing chips.
The Extraction Process
The extraction process to obtain the non-renewable resources used in our smartphones generates mercury and cyanide waste that goes on to contaminate water sources.
They Are Intentionally Not Built To Last
The dirty open secret of the smartphone industry is that they are built to last - just long enough. Profitability lies in consumers upgrading their technology on a regular basis, creating a crushing cyclical smartphone waste problem.
The New Generation of Sustainable Phones
What makes a phone “green”? The new sustainable generation of conscious consumer smartphones are made of low-impact components and production processes. A green smartphone may have one or more of these elements.
Upcycled or recycled components.
Use biodegradable plastic.
Longer lasting lifespan.
Absence of toxic substances like PVC, phthalates, lead, or beryllium.
The company operates with transparency of low-impact production and supply chain processes.
Water-based instead of solvent-based paint.
Use solar power.
Packaging is made of sustainable or post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials.
The Best Sustainable Phones Of 2022
The smartphone industry is ever-changing, and so are its sustainability innovations. Here are the best options in 2023.
1. iPhone 13 Pro
Apple has been on an aggressive path to meet a 2030 carbon-neutral goal.
The new iPhone 13 Pro has swapped out carbon-intensive components for 99 percent recycled tungsten. In addition, its other rare earth elements are 98 percent recycled in this model.
The 13 Pro is also Apple’s first iPhone that utilizes 100 percent recycled gold in the main board. They have also reduced energy use by more than half of its predecessor, making its total carbon footprint about 11 percent less than the previous iPhone 12 Pro.
2. Motorola Edge
Motorola is still in the game with its new Edge model. Motorola is another company working hard toward 2030 climate targets. With the Edge, they have removed mercury or cadmium from the batteries of all phones. They have also replaced harmful plastic like PVC with less impactful materials.
Power usage plays a secondary role in tech sustainability. For example, the Edge can hold power for two days on a single charge, reducing its overall energy use.
3. Teracube 2E
While not an established glitzy brand, Teracube is actively leading in sustainability and is worth taking a look at when it is time to swap phones.
Teracube’s most recent smartphone is made with 25 percent recycled polycarbonate and comes in a biodegradable phone case. Besides being a faster degrader in the landfill, it also uses 50 percent less packaging than the competition, has a replaceable battery, and basic repairs can be done by the user, making its overall lifespan longer. An incredibly generous four-year warranty also ensures that this phone sticks around for longer, making it a great sustainable choice.
Teracube also has a charitable angle - for every phone sold, they will plant a tree.
4. Google Pixel 6 + beyond
Google has been actively greening the value chain since its 2020 smartphone releases of more environmentally conscious smartphones. The Google Pixel 6 contains at least 45 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, with the case using 70 percent recycled plastic. Recycled aluminum in the housing of the Pixel 6 also uses 100% recycled content
Google also says it’s future-proofing its designs and making devices aimed at lasting longer so they “grow” with the consumer over time.
The Smart(Phone) Choice
The bottom line is that the tech we use daily is a crucial place we need to start reducing our footprint as consumers. Being considerate about an object you’ll carry on you for at least 2.75 years means investigating a company’s production processes, components, and the smartphones overall lifespan. Make a truly smart choice and buy a more sustainable version of your next smartphone.
Comments