Oct 21, 2023 | San Francisco

FAIRPHONE: The future of sustainable communication?

What is new?

In August 2023, FAIRPHONE launched FAIRPHONE 5, a smartphone that the company describes as their most sustainable phone yet. Its key features (green product features that is) are

  • 100% - renewable energy powered manufacturing with investment in projects that offset CO2 emissions

  • 70% - It uses more than 70% fair focus or recycled material

  • 8 - Years of security updates

  • 5 - Years of OS updates

  • 2.63 USD - Living wage (hourly) bonus for the workers manufacturing the phone

The phone has a modular design which means any major component can be replaced easily without having to through out the entire phone

Wait but who or what is the FAIRPHONE?

For the uninitiated. Fairphone is a Dutch electronics manufacturer that designs and produces smartphones. Named after the company, The Fairphone is a smartphone designed with a strong emphasis on ethical and environmental considerations.

Its been 3 months since the launch of FAIRPHONE 5 - and we were wondering if the FAIRPHONE is going to be the future of “Sustainable Communication”?

In this Green Product Review we will look into the Environmental Benefits and Shortcoming of the FAIRPHONE

Benefits:

  1. Modular Design: One of the standout features of the Fairphone is its modular design. It allows users to easily replace and upgrade individual components, such as the battery, camera, and screen. This extends the lifespan of the device and reduces electronic waste, a significant environmental concern.

  2. Conflict-Free Minerals: Fairphone has made efforts to source minerals like tin, tungsten, and tantalum from conflict-free regions, helping reduce the funding of armed conflicts and human rights abuses associated with resource extraction.

  3. Fairtrade Gold: The Fairphone uses Fairtrade-certified gold, promoting responsible mining practices and better wages and working conditions for miners.

  4. Recyclable Materials: The phone is designed with recyclability in mind, with materials like plastics that are easy to recycle.

  5. Transparency: Fairphone is transparent about the environmental impact of its products, from the supply chain to the manufacturing process. This transparency encourages more responsible practices in the tech industry.

Shortcomings:

  1. Limited Market Impact: While Fairphone is a leader in sustainable electronics, it remains a niche product. It has not yet achieved the scale necessary to have a significant impact on the overall electronics industry's environmental footprint.

  2. Resource Intensive: The process of creating a modular smartphone can be resource-intensive, potentially offsetting some of the environmental gains from its extended lifespan.

  3. E-Waste from Older Models: As Fairphone upgrades its designs, earlier models may become outdated, potentially leading to e-waste as consumers replace their devices with newer Fairphone models.

  4. Carbon Footprint: While Fairphone aims to reduce its carbon footprint, the production of electronic devices still involves energy-intensive processes, and carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and transportation remain a concern.

  5. Supply Chain Challenges: Ensuring a completely ethical and sustainable supply chain can be challenging, and Fairphone, like other manufacturers, may still face difficulties in this area.

In summary

The Fairphone is a step in the right direction for sustainable and ethical electronics. Its modular design, responsible sourcing of materials, and transparency about its environmental impact are commendable. However, it remains a relatively small player in the smartphone market, and the overall environmental impact of the electronics industry remains a complex challenge that goes beyond one product. While it has made important strides, there is still room for improvement in terms of reducing resource use, carbon emissions, and e-waste in the electronics sector as a whole.

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia