When they were first invented, mobile phones were status symbols, only owned by the wealthy and elite. They were the size of large bricks or maybe even housed inside a briefcase making them a cumbersome yet coveted device to be able to call someone anywhere and anytime you wanted. Fast forward to today, and mobile phones are not just a cool accessory, they are a necessity. Landline and payphones have floated off into obscurity so if you want to connect with someone for work, fun or in an emergency you better have this bit of technology handy in your phone or purse.
The other part of the evolution of the modern mobile is its ability to play music, calculate sums, surf the internet, provide navigation, send and receive email and more, and more, and more, and more. Every year phones seem to be capable of new functions that blow your mind as you hold it in your hand. The downside though with these little electronic wonders, is that they are a massive source of e-waste and there and the fact that they need substantial packaging and an electronic charge means that they, overall, are not a very eco-savvy product.
Is it possible for a phone to be eco-friendly?
The trailblazing companies whose goal it is to craft environmentally sound phones are unfortunately outliers in the realm of large-scale manufacturing. What does this mean? In short, there are a couple phone options that fall into this category but the market isn’t yet competitive and often their products are sub-par when it comes to battery life, photo quality, file storage space and sound quality. Still there are a couple of models worth mentioning although you have to live in one of a few limited counties to score one.
Teracube
There are a couple of really appealing things about the 2e, which is the newest model from this American company called Teracube. It’s middle of the road price-point of US$199 (NZ$290). It is also made of recycled plastic and its ease of use/functionality is fine if you are not a “super phone” user. Its warranty lasts for an incredible full four years however, its software is not upgradable. Note, All out-of-warranty faults such as cracked screens or a drop in water cost(s) a fixed US$59 (NZ$85).
Farifone
Only available in Europe at the moment, the Fairphone 3 is another go-to worth mentioning. It has a higher price point than the Teracube but something really cool about it is that it is essentially a DIY device. This means that you can easily access its parts with something as simple as a screwdriver if repairs are needed. Broken camera? No worries, just get the replacement part and even the non-tech proficient can easily make the repair themselves. The same is true for the earpiece, speaker, display, etc. Pretty neat, huh? A good read of their website will also give you insights into their environmental policies and ratings and more eco-conscious features such as mindful packaging.
If there are limited phone models available what else can I do?
Cards on table, there aren’t many choices around sustainable phones on the market, especially in New Zealand. That said, there are behavioral choices that you can make as a consumer that, as a mobile user, will lessen your impact on the environment. For instance, when selecting your next device, consider the following:
- Any eco-friendly packaging
- Typical daily energy consumption
- The incorporation of recycled materials
- The price
- The warranty
- The software system
- The camera quality, battery life and more
Quality should be your first priority as the longer it lasts the less the chance that it will end up in a landfill. You should also consider repairs when needed in lieu of replacement when unfortunate damages occur. The stats are actually pretty bleak and a bummer when you think about the plethora of retail shops that offer affordable repairs. In fact, according to Consumer, a government website in New Zealand “Faulty batteries and broken screens should be easy to fix, yet just 43% of the screens were repaired. While 73% of failed batteries were fixed, owners reporting reduced battery capacity (still usually reported as a major fault) were less likely to seek repair (35%).”1 Additionally, consider this:
- Only 14% of owners repaired their broken phones. Many found it too expensive or difficult.
- Those that did choose repair were charged $220 on average.
- Just 3% had recycled their phone as e-waste2
Consider refurbished
Unfortunately, there are alot of tech-gurus out there who are regularly upgrading to the latest and greatest mobile models even if their current ones works just fine and has lots of life in it and they sell it off. This is a winning situation for those wanting a reliable phone close to the newest on the market but want to opt for something recycled. There are literally hundreds of online and bricks and mortar stores that sell retooled phones from the most famous and trusted brands on the market. This includes Apple, Nokia and Samsung. Often these come with a warranty so you can have peace of mind that your “new to you” mobile will have longevity. The extra bonus is that you can save hundreds of dollars too when you purchase used versus new.
Protect your purchase
While it can be a pain to fork down money for extra items, take care of your phone. This may sound obvious but thousands of phones are made irreparable when owners opt for cheap cases that don’t prevent damage when dropped or buy screen protectors that stop shattering. You will thank yourself for getting this extra ounce of protection the first time you drop this expensive piece of essential tech.
- consumer.co.nz August 2021, Sustainable phones, A new generation of smartphones are jostling for the smallest environmental footprint
- consumer.co.nz August 2021, Sustainable phones, A new generation of smartphones are jostling for the smallest environmental footprint