Meghan Hodges
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 has significantly contributed to various environmental issues, including deforestation and water pollution. The manufacturing process, which includes metal extraction, shipping, and production, accounts for a large portion of a smartphone's carbon footprint. The raw materials required, such as gold, cobalt, lithium, and other heavy metals, are obtained through energy-intensive mining, causing environmental pollution. Additionally, the disposal of smartphones generates electronic waste (e-waste) and releases toxic chemicals, posing threats to the environment and human health. While some companies like Apple and Samsung are incorporating recycled materials into their phones, the emerging market for refurbished and used smartphones offers a more sustainable alternative. Extending smartphone life and choosing eco-friendly phone cases are also ways to reduce the environmental impact of smartphone production and usage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of global e-waste from smartphones in 2019 | 10% |
| Total carbon emissions from smartphone usage for 1 hour per day for a year | 63 kg of CO2 |
| Total carbon emissions from smartphone usage for 10 hours per day for a year | 90 kg of CO2 |
| Percentage of a smartphone's carbon footprint produced during the production process | 85-95% |
| Percentage of smartphone's carbon footprint from usage | 16% |
| Global smartphone users in 2023 | 6.93 billion |
| Global smartphone users in 2021 | 6.3 billion |
| Global smartphone users in 2016 | 3.6 billion |
| Number of mobile phones in use worldwide in 2020 | 580 million |
| Percentage of recycled e-waste out of 41 million tonnes of total e-waste | 16% |
| Percentage of plastic phone cases that end up in landfills | 1.6 billion |
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What You'll Learn
The carbon footprint of manufacturing
The environmental impact of smartphone manufacturing extends beyond carbon emissions. The mass production of smartphones has been linked to deforestation, water pollution, and ecosystem damage. The disposal of electronic waste, or e-waste, is another pressing issue. In 2019, e-waste from smartphones was estimated at over 50 million tonnes, with only a small fraction being recycled. The recycling process for smartphones is challenging, and the lack of transparency around it persists. However, companies like Apple are increasingly utilising recycled materials in their products, such as recycled gold and rare earth metals.
The refurbished smartphone market offers a promising solution to reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing. The market for refurbished and used phones is growing, with China and India being the biggest markets. In 2021, over 251 million used smartphones were shipped globally, and by 2024, the refurbished market is expected to be worth US$65 billion. Eco-conscious brands, such as Fairphone, are also emerging, aiming to produce smartphones with minimal environmental impact and fair labour practices.
Extending the lifespan of smartphones is another strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing. Longer smartphone lifetimes could reshape the industry's revenue model, encouraging vendors to offer higher-priced, more sustainable devices. Additionally, consumers can contribute by choosing eco-friendly phone cases made from recycled or biodegradable materials, reducing plastic consumption and waste.
While smartphone manufacturing has a significant carbon footprint, the industry is evolving towards more sustainable practices. Efforts to increase the use of recycled materials, extend device lifespans, and develop eco-conscious brands are underway. These initiatives, along with a growing refurbished market, offer hope for mitigating the environmental impact of smartphone production.
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E-waste and recycling
E-waste, or electronic waste, is a critical issue in the mobile sector. The constant advancement of technology and consumer demand for the latest features have led to rapid upgrades and a mountain of e-waste from discarded phones. In 2022, out of 16 billion mobile phones worldwide, 5.3 billion were expected to become waste. This waste contains valuable materials such as gold, copper, and silver, but it is estimated that only 16% of e-waste is recycled globally, with the majority ending up in landfills or incineration.
Mobile phones have a positive impact on e-waste recycling in some countries, such as India, where they are one of the most refurbished and reused electronics. On average, a smartphone in India is used by three unique users before it becomes e-waste, leading to higher refurbishing and reusing rates. However, the majority of e-waste is not recycled properly, even with government regulations in place. Consumers often choose to throw their old electronic goods away instead of recycling them due to convenience.
To address the e-waste problem, some mobile phone companies are encouraging customers to hand in their unwanted items for reprocessing. Additionally, the right-to-repair movement advocates for laws that require companies to provide repair manuals and parts so that consumers can fix their phones themselves, extending their lifespan. Eco-brands like Fairphone aim to produce smartphones with minimal environmental impact and use 100% recycled plastic back covers, producing no e-waste.
Standardising the manufacturing process can also help with recycling. For example, if three different mobile phones made by Samsung, LG, and Lenovo have different batteries, screws, and screens, recycling becomes more challenging. By standardising these components, it would be easier to dismantle and recycle the devices.
Extending the lifespan of smartphones is crucial in reducing e-waste. With longer smartphone lifetimes, the industry can reshape revenue generation and profit by offering higher-priced devices and charging a green premium for more sustainable products. Additionally, vendors can explore generating revenue from sources other than device sales, such as selling complementary hardware with lower emissions per unit.
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Mining for raw materials
Mining activities are concentrated in specific regions, including Brazil, West Africa, India, China, Southeast and Central Asia, Western Australia, Southern Africa, and Central and North America. The negative consequences of mining extend beyond the immediate environmental pollution. Mining has been linked to deforestation and the creation of 'footprints' on the landscape, such as buildings, waste, and equipment. Additionally, the pressure on already vulnerable ecosystems is increased through incidents such as mine tailings spills.
The process of mining for raw materials also contributes to water scarcity in the regions where it occurs. A 2021 study on Global Environmental Change found that nearly 90% of mining activities from 2000 to 2019 were conducted in locations suffering from water scarcity. This further exacerbates the environmental impact of mining for smartphone raw materials.
Furthermore, the frequent upgrading of smartphones when new versions are released contributes to the problem. This practice results in a significant amount of physical e-waste, with an estimated 50 million tonnes of e-waste generated by smartphones alone in 2019. The recycling of smartphone materials is challenging, and only 15% of smartphones are recycled, leading to a waste of valuable components, plastics, and metals.
To reduce the environmental impact of mining for raw materials, it is essential to extend the lifecycle of smartphones, reuse materials, and transition to recycled materials. Tin, cobalt, and aluminum can be reused, and technology now exists to recycle rare-earth elements. Additionally, refurbished smartphones provide the same functionality at a fraction of the environmental cost. By embracing refurbished devices and recycled materials, we can reduce the need for mining and mitigate the negative consequences associated with it.
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Pollution from plastic phone cases
The production of smartphones has a significant environmental impact, contributing to climate change and global warming throughout their life cycle, from production to disposal. The manufacturing process of a smartphone accounts for about 85% of its carbon footprint, with emissions mainly arising from metal extraction, shipping, and production. The mass production of smartphones has exacerbated various environmental crises, including deforestation and water pollution.
Plastic phone cases contribute significantly to this pollution. They are made from non-renewable resources, such as oil and natural gas, and often end up in landfills or oceans after a short period of use. Plastic cases take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills, releasing harmful chemicals into the environment during this process. The transportation of plastic phone cases from manufacturing facilities to retailers and consumers also generates a substantial carbon footprint.
When plastic cases end up in the ocean, they are frequently mistaken for food by marine wildlife, including turtles, fish, dolphins, and birds. This can lead to devastating consequences, as these animals may starve to death or become entangled in the plastic, unable to swim or float. Plastic debris can travel long distances via ocean currents, spreading plastic pollution to even the most remote and pristine areas of the globe.
Plastic phone cases also contribute to the growing problem of plastic waste. They are often discarded after a short period, adding to the increasing issue of plastic pollution in oceans and waterways. This plastic waste can harm marine life and has been found in the stomachs of marine animals.
To reduce the environmental impact of phone cases, consumers can opt for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Biodegradable phone cases, made from recycled materials like plastic bottles, used electronics, or plant-based sources such as corn starch, break down naturally in the environment. Natural materials like wood, bamboo, cork, or plant-based sources are also excellent alternatives, offering a unique and natural look to the phone while being biodegradable and renewable.
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The environmental impact of usage
The environmental impact of cell phone usage is significant. In 2020, researcher and author Mike Berners-Lee stated that the number of mobile phones in use worldwide created a global carbon footprint of approximately 580 million tonnes of CO2e, which is about 1% of all worldwide emissions. The carbon footprint of a phone call is also notable, with one hour of smartphone usage per day for a year estimated to produce 63 kilograms of CO2 emissions, and up to 90 kilograms of CO2 emissions for 10 hours of usage per day over a year. As more people become smartphone-dependent, emissions from usage will continue to rise.
The telecom sector, which smartphones rely on, also has its own carbon footprint, heat emissions, and e-waste. The frequent upgrading of smartphones when new versions are released creates a significant amount of physical e-waste, with the figure in 2019 estimated to weigh more than 50 million tonnes, constituting approximately 10% of global e-waste.
The production and disposal of plastic phone cases also contribute to the overall carbon footprint of smartphones. Plastic phone cases make up a significant portion of the plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans, with approximately 1.6 billion cases discarded in landfills annually. Sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable cases, recycled cases, and cases made from natural materials, are available and can help reduce the environmental impact of phone cases by avoiding the release of harmful chemicals.
The environmental impact of cell phone usage is not limited to emissions and waste. The energy-intensive mining of raw materials, such as gold, cobalt, lithium, and other heavy metals, often causes significant environmental pollution, damages ecosystems, leads to deforestation, displaces communities and native wildlife populations, and is hazardous to human health.
To mitigate the environmental impact of cell phone usage, organisations and individuals can take several steps. Extending smartphone life, using recycled materials, and transitioning to renewable energy for operations and manufacturing can all contribute to a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Cell phone production makes up 85-95% of a smartphone’s overall carbon footprint. The manufacturing process of a smartphone accounts for about 85% of its carbon footprint, with emissions coming from metal extraction, shipping, and production. The production of a typical iPhone 14 accounts for over 80% of its total carbon emissions.
Cell phones contribute to global warming and climate change throughout their entire life cycle, from production to disposal. In 2020, researcher and author Mike Berners-Lee stated that the number of mobile phones in use worldwide created a global carbon footprint of approximately 580 million tonnes of CO2e, which is about 1% of all worldwide emissions.
The market for refurbished and used phones is growing, and companies like Fairphone are producing smartphones with minimal environmental impact. Consumers can also opt for eco-friendly and biodegradable phone cases, reducing the environmental impact of phone cases.
