A lot of the materials in a smartphone are not at all being recycled today. Next to that, producing the average smartphone emits more than 60 kg CO2 equivalent. If we rely more on repair, having a good phone case and a screen protector we already come a long way. If all Europeans would manage to keep their phone one year longer than now, we would emit 2.1 megaton less CO2 annually by 2030, which equals taking a million cars from the road. With an average price of 530 EUR per device, European consumers could annually spend an estimated 28 billion euro in a more sustainable way and create more local jobs.
In the coming months Louis will publish a series of articles on the overconsumption of consumer electronics and the effects on the environment, climate and our wallet. Next to the smartphone, products like laptops, fridges and washing machines are being examined. The research has been constructed based on input and interviews with academics, electronics manufacturers, ngo’s, policy makers and the industry.
Photo: © Louis Lammertyn
