Making cell phones last longer could reduce pollution equivalent to 4.7 million cars – 03/03/2023 – Tech

The environmental impact caused by cell phones is one of the points that is in the sights of the telecommunications sector.

The sustainability of telecommunication was one of the main points under debate during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), one of the main technology events in the world, which took place this week in Barcelona. One of the topics in this area is creating a circular economy for devices.

A study by the GSMA, the entity that brings together telecoms, points out that by extending the average useful life of cell phones by one year, it would lead to a reduction of 21.4 million tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking 4.7 million cars out of streets.

“Adopting a more circular business model can reduce negative environmental and social impacts. In addition to creating a new market and jobs”, says the report.

Most of this impact (80%) happens before the devices come out of the box, that is, in production and logistics.

“On average, a phone has something like 1,300 components. It’s extremely complex electronics and there’s a huge supply chain that needs to be aligned,” says Steven Moore, head of climate action at the GSMA.

He also leads a task force of 20 telephony operators that seeks a circular economy for mobile devices. The goal is that, by 2050, phones are made from 100% recyclable materials and renewable energy, and that no device goes to waste.

The group, formed about 18 months ago, started with analyzing the impact of phones and now, says Moore, wants to go more into practice. They had their first discussion meeting during the MWC.

Initiatives proposed by the GSMA include an increase in the collection of old phones for recycling. It also involves public awareness and that manufacturers make products easier to fix in case of problems, avoiding premature disposal.

“There’s no phone right now that’s on par, but I think we’re already starting to see some positive signs,” says Steven.

“Apple has disclosed that around 20% of the content in its devices is recycled, and has committed to using 100% renewable energy in its supply chain by 2030 and creating a carbon-free phone by then. Samsung has not been so ambitious , but committed to using an assembly line with 100% renewable energy”, says the specialist. The two brands are the largest cell phone producers in the world.

He also mentions innovations such as the Fairphone, a startup model that allows the replacement of parts of the device for maintenance and improvements.

A change in telephone systems, exemplifies Moore, is something that could already extend its useful life. Today, many cell phones stop receiving updates after three or four years.

“The hardware [memória, capacidade de processamento e afins] It hasn’t evolved that much every year. I think we can encourage people to keep their phones longer if they know they can keep improving their functionality,” he says. “We already keep our phones longer. In the past, the average was to replace every two years. It went up to three.”

Journalist traveled at the invitation of Huawei