As we continue to use the natural resources of our planet, sustainability is becoming a greater concern every day. That’s why it’s imperative that we shop for sustainable, low-impact products to help keep our little blue marbles alive. Surprisingly, smartphones can actually fall into this category. Yes! There are eco-friendly smartphones that are considered sustainable.
Here is a list of seven sustainable phones you can buy to help you go a little greener, along with what makes them sustainable and eco-friendly to begin with.
What makes a smartphone an eco-smart phone?
Some boxes must be checked for the phone to be considered sustainable. It’s all about how small the impact of the manufacturing process is on the environment. Also, it comes down to when the phone can be used, redirected, and repaired before it goes to the trash. People usually exchange their phones every two years, but the phone can be used at least twice.
For the phone to be sustainable:
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Requires parts that can be easily replaced and repaired.
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It should have low radiation emission.
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It must be made of recyclable materials.
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It should be designed to last longer than regular smartphones.
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The manufacturing process should have a low environmental impact.
1. Fairphone
Fairphone It is a company created with sustainability in mind. Its eco-friendly smartphones are very popular among environmental enthusiasts, and the company currently sells the Fairphone 3/3+ and the Fairphone 4.
These phones are manufactured from aluminum by ASI certified sellers and from 100% recycled plastic. They are modular phones with their parts ready to be taken out and replaced. Even batteries can be removed easily; They are not glued into place like phones are nowadays. The only thing that may be bittersweet for some users is the fact that these phones do not come with any built in chargers.
Fairphone has awards and certifications to its credit. It is the first and only company to incorporate Fairtrade gold into its supply chain. It is among the top 1% in the Ecovadis rating system, and is certified by B Corp for business use to address social and environmental issues. When it comes to sustainability, it doesn’t get much better than the Fairphone.
2. Teracube 2e
Teracube It is another company that focuses on sustainability. Teracube 2e was funded through a campaign on Indiegogo.
This phone shares some distinctive features with the Fairphone phones. It has a large battery that can be replaced to increase the mileage of the phone. The manufacturing process produces less carbon than most other companies, and the phones themselves come in 50% less packaging. Like the Fairphones, the Teracube 2e does not come with a charger in the box.
One of the main selling points of the Teracube 2e is the four-year warranty. Most manufacturers sell their phones with a one-year warranty, with some companies staying two years. This is great, because one of the biggest causes of e-waste is the lack of support after a certain period of time.
3. Transfer phones
German company Transformation A phone brand that prioritizes issues in the smartphone industry: fair working conditions and repairability. Like the companies listed above, the internal parts of Shift phones, including the battery and camera modules, can easily be removed and replaced.
Shifting places a strong emphasis on safe working conditions. The company specifically excludes Coltan Conflict Mineral Company (columbite – tantalite). This ore has been associated with poor working conditions in the mining industry since the early 2000s, and there are environmental concerns as well.
Unlike Fairphone and Teracube, Shift has an ecosystem of different devices to buy. Along with four different phones, the company is working on a laptop, tablet, and standalone monitor that you can connect the phone to.
If you value repairability above all else, you may want to consider these phones. However, you must keep in mind that these phones are not made from recycled materials, and they cost a pretty penny compared to the first two companies.
4. Latest iPhones
The two signs mentioned above are two that you may or may not have heard of, but everyone knows what iPhones are. Starting with the iPhone 6, iPhones have scored highly for sustainability and repairability. For starters, Apple is really good at keeping their old phones up to date with software updates; Older devices like the iPhone 6 are still getting recent updates. Picking up an iPhone will ensure you a lot of longevity.
As for the body, these phones use aluminum that can be recycled. iPhones are also free of chemicals like brominated flame retardants (BFR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which are harmful to our health.
Besides avoiding harmful chemicals, Apple is careful to exclude conflicting minerals from its supply chain. according to ethical consumerApple, Google, Fairphone, LG (when they made the phones), Lenovo and Sony are the best companies to get non-conflict minerals.
5. Sony Xperia phones
Sony is making a major push to help reduce its environmental footprint with its devices. Xperia phones get high marks for being environmentally friendly. These phones are made using mostly recycled materials and are very strong. The company has also reduced the dangerous chemicals found in the phones. This is all part of a company-wide initiative for a greener earth.
6. Refurbished phones
It’s worth noting the phones on this list because they are a big part of sustainability: recycling.
A refurbished phone is a used phone that is being repaired to function as close to new as possible. Millions of people buy refurbished devices, which greatly reduces the amount that manufacturers have to produce. We can only imagine how much waste is saved just by buying refurbished phones.
7. Subscription phones
This may not be a popular option for most people, but subscription phones help in the same way that refurbished phones do. When you get a subscription, you basically rent it out for a certain amount of time (usually two years), and at the end of that time you return that phone. These phones are then returned to the company so they can be repurposed.
It’s the little things that have the biggest impact
Therefore, you cannot live in the forest, wash your clothes in the river, or tie yourself to a tree; he is fine. But little things like buying a used or eco-friendly phone can make an impact. So while it’s tempting to get hold of the next exciting and shiny smartphone, it could mean more than just settling on last year’s flagship instead. It’s the little things we do today that can help us reach a brighter (and greener) future.
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