A recent report says that the active smartphones in 2025 have reached around 7.2 billion units. The average smartphone has a high carbon footprint with the carbon dioxide equivalent being the same as 250 km of car travel or 50 km of airplane travel. Such numbers demand primacy for sustainability.
With carbon and greenhouse gas emissions at an all-time high, the mobile industry should place achieving net zero as the central agenda for their plan of work.
Also Read: Thumb-Friendly and Delightful: Mastering the Art of Mobile User Experience
Discover how manufacturers can lower carbon emissions and strive towards Net Zero.
Follow these 4 steps to manufacture for a greener and sustainable future.
1) Longevity and refurbishing of existing devices
Refurbishing an outdated phone can significantly reduce emissions and lead companies towards net zero. In fact, extending the lifespan of all smartphones worldwide by just one year could reduce carbon emissions by the same amount that would have been removed if 4.7 million cars were taken off the road by 2030. Therefore, it is obvious that increasing the lifespan of individual phones will be essential to lowering emissions and taking companies one step closer to net zero.
2) Renewable Energy Adoption
Shifting to renewable energy can help manufacturers reach their Net Zero goals faster by reducing their carbon emissions and footprints. By using renewable energy sources like solar and wind, the carbon footprint per unit can be brought down significantly. Many countries are purchasing renewable energy to meet their electricity needs. This is one of many steps towards delivering clean and affordable energy to millions of people.
3) Adopting new technologies
The creation and manufacturing phase of a smartphone’s lifecycle accounts for most of its carbon emissions and footprint. As production and manufacturing contribute the most to the carbon footprint of a smartphone, using advanced and energy-efficient equipment and solutions can help reduce emissions significantly.
To lower power consumption at the equipment level, operators should implement the latest generation of equipment and use efficient cooling technology.
By deploying 5G networks and the subsequent infrastructure for it, power consumption might be lowered significantly.
4) E-waste management
The ever-growing smartphone market simultaneously grows electronic garbage at a very high pace. After all, once a smartphone utility is perceived to be over, it ends up in some trash around the world.
Additionally, with multiple options in the market, each delivering upgrades to their flagship models every year, the amount of trash from the industry rises exponentially.
Minimizing environmental impact can be achieved by putting into place efficient e-waste management programs, such as recycling and appropriate disposal of outdated equipment and gadgets that are no longer functional.
