Around 1.8 billion cell phones were sold worldwide in 2019 alone, including a large proportion of smartphones. The large number can also be explained by the fact that many devices are replaced quickly. New devices attract with better performance and are easy to get because of the mobile phone contracts customary. On the other hand, old devices can usually not be upgraded and repaired only with difficulty. But production pollutes the environment, and working conditions are often poor. The first manufacturers are trying to produce “fair” devices.
The smartphone is a constant companion for many people. Young people in particular often state that they can hardly imagine life without a mobile phone jailbreak download. Most already have their own device as a child. Three out of four ten-year-olds have their own smartphone.
The product generations change very quickly. Technical development is progressing very quickly. Many users especially young people often only keep their smartphones for a year or two before deciding on another, mostly technically more sophisticated model.
But the manufacture of smartphones has far-reaching effects on people and nature. Valuable raw materials are required for the products. These include metals such as iron, copper, aluminum, nickel and zinc as well as other substances such as indium, tantalum and gold.
The extraction of metals is often associated with a very high impact on the environment. Gold, for example, causes many times more greenhouse gas emissions than steel, which essentially contains iron.
In addition, some of the raw materials are extracted under problematic circumstances.
Valuable resources are required to manufacture smartphones, but the devices are not used for that long. They are often replaced early on, even though they are still functional. The reason is that many consumers want more up-to-date devices.
The continued use of the replaced devices is then of decisive importance in how this affects the environment. There are already initiatives and platforms for reusing used devices. They should be used to reduce the impact on the environment.
The proper disposal of old electrical appliances is therefore of particular importance. The devices can be handed in at the local recycling center free of charge. Large electrical retailers are also obliged to take back small electrical appliances free of charge. This also applies if a new device is not purchased at the same time.
