Waste generation has significantly increased worldwide in the last few decades, and there are no signs of slowing down. Humans globally produce more than two billion metric tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with the figure expected to grow by 70% by 2050.
The only way to stop the slow march into environmental destruction and the destruction of the planet for resources is for humans to move to more sustainable practices as a society. This includes recycling initiatives, moving towards renewable energy sources, and, more popularly, shifting to circular economies.
When it comes to the refurbished phone industry and the circular economy, buying second-hand can greatly extend the lifespan of a phone model, and also reduce the impact the industry has on the environment.
Buying refurbished is also gaining popularity in many parts of the world. With new phone models being released annually, refurbished is a great cost-effective alternative. Estimates expect the refurbished phone market to keep growing year-over-year.
How The Mobile Phone Industry Impacts The Environment
The smartphone industry impacts the environment, contributing to climate change and global warming on multiple fronts. The entire life cycle of a mobile phone impacts the environment, from production to disposal.
To produce a smartphone, manufacturing companies need to extract raw materials from the environment. This includes gold, cobalt, lithium, and other heavy metals. Not only does this require energy, but extraction often results in environmental pollution and destruction.
The mass production of smartphones in mega factories also contributes greatly to climate change. Statistics report that 85-95% of a smartphone's overall carbon footprint is during the manufacturing phase.
The tiny components of a mobile phone, like the screen, speakers, and batteries, are also mass-produced. Meaning they have their own overall carbon footprint and result in environmental pollution, too.
Research has shown that the environmental impact of mobile phones goes beyond just the physical hardware. It also extends to the actual usage of mobile phones as well as the networking and data centres that phones utilise.
According to the International Energy Agency, data centres consume approximately 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This is nearly 1% of the global electricity demand, contributing to 0.3% of all global CO2 emissions.
What Is The Circular Economy?
A circular economy refers to a system where materials never become waste. Instead, products and materials are constantly being put through circulation in an economy through maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling. This is where the name ‘circular’ economy comes from.
The world’s current economy is built on taking materials from the Earth, making products from them, and eventually throwing them away as waste. The process is linear, not circular, and is unsustainable in the long term. Society is already seeing how this type of economy impacts the environment.
On average, Australia generates over 75 million tonnes of waste, which is a serious concern for the long-term impacts on the environment and waste management systems.
Data from the National Waste Report 2022 reveal that out of all the waste generated in the country, approximately 500,000 tonnes is e-waste. Only 54% of the e-waste produced was sent to recyclers, and 35% of the materials inputs were recovered.
When it comes to smartphones, if the industry were to operate in the circular economy model of production and consumption, it would bring about a range of benefits, including reducing the amount of e-waste generated yearly.
Circular economies are just one of the few strategies for bringing about a greener future and more sustainable industry practices. Other similar strategies include moving towards renewable energy and reusable packaging.
How The Mobile Phone Industry Operates In The Circular Economy
Currently, smartphone manufacturers are exacerbating the devices' environmental impact by pushing yearly upgrades. Fortunately, the mobile phone industry is slowly moving towards a circular economy.
More phone manufacturers are beginning to focus on designing their devices to last longer and be easier to repair or upgrade, which helps extend product life cycles. For instance, enhanced frames and screens help phones last longer.
The circular economy model promotes operating the mobile phone industry with a recycle, reuse, and refurbish mindset. For instance, phones are made of precious materials like gold, silver, and copper.
The recycling mindset encourages companies to be more mindful of e-waste management and create take-back programs. These programs are run by mobile phone manufacturers and carriers, incentivising users to return their old devices rather than discard them. Then, the materials can be reused or placed back on the market as refurbished devices.
Many phone manufacturers, like Apple and Samsung, are also now running their own pre-owned device programs. They sell certified pre-owned and refurbished phones directly that have been tested and put through quality assurance. This helps extend the life of products.
Due to consumer demand for a circular economy, many manufacturers are also now changing how long they support a device. This allows consumers to use them for longer, and regular updates contribute to a circular economy, enhancing security and performance.
How You Can Help The Problem
Consumers play a vital role in the smartphone circular economy. If you’re looking to participate and contribute to a more sustainable future, there are a few steps you can take. These include:
- Repair instead of replace. If your phone is having any issues, or you’ve physically damaged the device—like breaking the screen—go to a repair place instead of replacing it.
- Instead of buying a brand-new smartphone when you want to upgrade, consider purchasing a refurbished or certified pre-owned device. This helps contribute to reusing items.
- When looking to discard an old phone, consider either reselling the device, donating the phone, or bringing it back through a take-back program. This contributes to the economy through recycling and reuse.
- Where possible, participate in trade-in programs. Many phone manufacturers and carriers offer trade-in programs for customers to exchange their old phones when upgrading for credit towards a new one.
- When shopping for a new phone, consider supporting eco-friendly brands. Certain manufacturers take extra steps to ensure their devices are manufactured with a reduced impact on the environment. They also ensure their devices are supported for longer and made with durable materials.
Contributing to a circular smartphone economy also goes beyond just the device itself. Other factors to consider are smartphone accessories, ensuring they’re disposed of properly and eco-friendly.
Where possible, it is also important to educate others and share information about the impact the smartphone industry has on the environment. Spread awareness about the amount of e-waste produced yearly and how refurbished phones and recycling can help reduce the impact.
Buy Refurbished Phones At OzMobiles
Participate in a circular economy with OzMobiles and contribute to sustainable practices. In our store, we stock a range of devices, including refurbished Samsung Phones and refurbished iPhones, including the latest models.
When you shop with OzMobiles, you can expect quality. All the devices we sell undergo an extensive refurbishment process, which includes testing every component to ensure it is fully functional and running optimally.
All the devices we sell also come with a free 12-month warranty, as well as a 30-day risk-free return policy. So, if you have any issues with the device or have a change of heart, the OzMobiles team is here.
If you’d like to learn more about how the refurbished phone market operates in the circular economy or need help finding the right device, contact us today. Our team would love to answer any questions you have and help connect you with the perfect phone.
