Helena Joyce
Smartphones have become an indispensable part of modern life, with over half of the world's population owning one. However, the mass production of these devices in mega factories has a significant environmental impact, contributing to climate change and pollution. The manufacturing process accounts for 85-95% of a smartphone's carbon footprint, with emissions generated from metal extraction, shipping, and energy-intensive production. The disposal of smartphones also creates e-waste, with less than 15-16% of smartphones being recycled. As the demand for smartphones continues to increase, it is important to address the hidden eco-cost of their production and disposal, and encourage more sustainable practices in the industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of carbon footprint produced during the production process | 85-95% |
| Percentage of smartphones recycled | 15-16% |
| Global smartphone users in 2021 | 6.3 billion |
| Global smartphone users in 2023 | 6.93 billion |
| Global smartphone users expected by 2026 | 7.5 billion |
| Percentage of the world's population owning a smartphone | 50% |
| Average emissions generated by a brand-new smartphone in its first year of use | 85 kg |
| Percentage of emissions from manufacturing processes | 95% |
| Average annual carbon emissions from smartphone usage | 63 kg of CO2 (for one hour of usage per day) to 90 kg of CO2 (for 10 hours of usage per day) |
| Percentage of carbon footprint created during the manufacturing process | 80% |
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What You'll Learn
Energy consumption and emissions
The manufacturing process of a smartphone accounts for about 85% of its carbon footprint, making it the most damaging device to the environment. These emissions mainly come from metal extraction, shipping and production. The production of the integrated circuits used in smartphones consumes significant amounts of energy.
Smartphone factories require huge amounts of power to run every aspect of their facilities, from the production line to testing facilities, and even to maintain the correct temperature and humidity of their environments. The carbon footprint of a smartphone continues after it is built and ready for service, with the impact of packaging and shipping equating to around 2kg more per smartphone.
The actual usage of smartphones also produces an environmental impact. Research on the annual carbon emissions from smartphone usage provides an estimate of an average of 63 kilograms of CO2 emissions produced from only one hour of smartphone usage per day for a year, and up to 90 kilograms of CO2 emissions produced for 10 hours of usage per day for a year. While the impact of the production process is much higher than that of the smartphone's use, CO2 emissions from usage continue to increase as more people become smartphone-dependent.
The practice of frequently upgrading smartphones when new versions are released creates a large amount of physical e-waste. In 2019, the figure was estimated to weigh more than 50 million tonnes, constituting approximately 10% of global e-waste. About 41 million tonnes of e-waste is produced each year, but less than 16% is recycled, according to a UN report. The good news is that up to 80% of a smartphone is recyclable, including almost all of the gold, copper, cobalt, and tin contained within it.
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E-waste and recycling
Smartphones contribute to approximately 10% of global e-waste, or about 50 million tonnes in 2019. This waste is highly polluting and wasteful, with the potential value of raw materials in e-waste valued at USD 57 million in 2019. However, recycling rates across electronics stood at only 17% in 2019, indicating a need for improved recycling practices and infrastructure.
The recycling and refurbishment of smartphones can play a crucial role in reducing e-waste. While recycling is necessary for phones that have reached their end-of-life stage, extending the lifespan of smartphones is a key strategy to minimise waste. This can be achieved through repair and refurbishment, which keeps materials in use for longer and reduces the need for energy-intensive recycling processes. However, smartphone manufacturers have often been resistant to providing spare parts to third parties and have limited infrastructure for large-scale refurbishment. As a result, consumers face challenges in accessing affordable and convenient repair services.
To address these issues, governments should encourage green consumption and strengthen legislation related to eco-designed products. Regulatory frameworks should focus on the informal recycling sector and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Additionally, measures such as providing tax relief and subsidies to local recycling companies can improve recycling rates. Cooperation between electronic device manufacturers and local waste management authorities should also be increased.
Proper disposal of smartphones is essential to minimise environmental and health risks. Hazardous substances, such as lithium batteries, must be removed and stored separately to ensure safe recycling and protect both the environment and individuals involved in the process. Data sanitisation and destruction are also crucial aspects of responsible smartphone disposal, preventing mobile phone-based scams and identity theft.
The emergence of a thriving market for refurbished and used smartphones offers a promising path towards sustainability. Over 251 million used smartphones were shipped globally in 2021, and by 2027, an additional 200 million shipments are predicted. Extending smartphone lifespans through refurbishment and reuse can significantly reduce carbon emissions, even when accounting for the emissions associated with refurbishing and shipping.
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Water systems and water pollution
The production of smartphones has a significant environmental impact, with the manufacturing process accounting for about 85% of its carbon footprint. This includes emissions from the extraction of raw materials, shipping, and energy-intensive production. The mass production of smartphones in mega factories contributes to climate change, with the batteries, integrated circuits, speakers, and screens used in their manufacture creating carbon footprints, heat emissions, and environmental pollution.
Water systems are particularly vulnerable to pollution from smartphone production. Metal extraction and mining can induce massive solid and liquid waste, which can contain potentially eco-toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. These toxic by-products often leach into water systems, contaminating water bodies and affecting fish, wildlife, and farmland.
The impact of smartphone production on water systems is evident in copper mines, where nearby water bodies can turn reddish after being contaminated. Additionally, in China's Inner Mongolia, a lake is filled with electronic waste, including smartphones, as the country produces most of the world's rare earth metals. The improper disposal of electronic waste, or e-waste, further contributes to water pollution.
To address water pollution from smartphone production, it is crucial to ensure responsible and sustainable mining practices. Reducing the use of new smartphones, extending their lifetimes, and promoting the market for refurbished devices can also help mitigate the environmental impact on water systems.
Furthermore, the rising popularity of refurbished phones offers some hope for reducing water pollution. By reusing and recycling smartphones, the demand for new devices decreases, resulting in less metal extraction and mining. This, in turn, can help reduce the amount of toxic waste that enters water systems.
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Carbon footprints of smartphone factories
Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, with over half of the world's population owning one. However, the mass production of smartphones in mega factories significantly contributes to climate change, with 85-95% of a smartphone's overall carbon footprint produced during the manufacturing process.
The environmental impact of smartphone factories is extensive. Firstly, the extraction of raw materials, such as precious metals and chemical elements, is an exceptionally carbon-intensive process. Mining damages ecosystems, causes deforestation, displaces communities and wildlife, and is often hazardous to human health. It is predominantly powered by fossil fuels, contributing to the carbon emissions associated with smartphone production.
The manufacturing process itself consumes significant energy, particularly when producing integrated circuits. The production facilities require specific humidity and temperature control, resulting in high fossil fuel emissions. Additionally, the assembly, distribution, and transport phases of manufacturing also contribute to the carbon footprint.
The carbon footprint of smartphone factories is further exacerbated by the frequent release of new models, encouraging consumers to discard their old phones prematurely. This results in a substantial amount of physical e-waste, with less than 16% of smartphones being recycled. The recycling process for smartphones is challenging, as it involves ensuring people recycle their old phones, recovering valuable components, and supporting smartphone recycling companies.
To reduce the carbon footprint of smartphone factories, companies can increase the use of recycled materials, improve the energy efficiency of manufacturing facilities, and extend the expected lifetime of smartphones. By addressing these issues, the smartphone industry can play a crucial role in mitigating its environmental impact and contributing to sustainability efforts.
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Environmental impact of smartphone usage
Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, with over half of the world's population owning one. However, the mass production and usage of smartphones have also led to significant environmental concerns, including deforestation, water pollution, and carbon emissions.
Factory Pollution
The manufacturing process of smartphones accounts for a large portion of their carbon footprint, with estimates ranging from 80% to 95%. The production of a typical iPhone 14, for example, accounts for over 80% of its total carbon emissions. This includes metal extraction, shipping, and the energy-intensive production of integrated circuits. Additionally, the heat generated during manufacturing affects communities living near factories, particularly in vulnerable countries already bearing the brunt of climate change, such as China, Vietnam, and India.
E-waste and disposal
The frequent upgrading of smartphones when new models are released creates a significant amount of electronic waste (e-waste). In 2019, the global e-waste from smartphones was estimated at over 50 million tonnes, and less than 15-16% of smartphones are recycled. The disposal of smartphones in landfills leads to pollutants leaking into the water cycle, impacting natural ecosystems, and adding to airborne pollutants.
Data centres and usage
The networking and data centres needed for software development and usage also contribute to carbon emissions. While the impact of usage is lower than production, it is increasing as more people become smartphone-dependent. Reducing smartphone usage and extending the lifetime of devices can help mitigate these emissions.
Steps towards sustainability
Some smartphone manufacturers are taking steps towards sustainability by using recycled materials, such as recycled gold and rare earth metals. Additionally, the market for refurbished phones is growing, and companies are exploring bundling contracts with refurbished devices. Consumers can also make a difference by choosing phones with efficient batteries, demanding ongoing software support for old devices, and supporting smartphone recycling initiatives.
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Frequently asked questions
A lot. The manufacturing process of a smartphone accounts for about 85% of its carbon footprint.
The emissions-laden manufacturing process, the energy-intensive mining and extraction of raw materials, and the carbon-intensive shipping of components and products all contribute to the pollution generated by smartphone factories.
The mass production of smartphones in mega factories greatly contributes to climate change, with carbon footprints, heat emissions, and environmental pollution. The environmental impact of smartphone factories also includes deforestation and water pollution.
Extending the lifetime of smartphones, using recycled materials, and improving the energy efficiency of manufacturing facilities can help reduce the pollution caused by smartphone factories.
