| 18.11.2021
We have an e-waste problem – how can smartphone refurbishing help?
Electronic or e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream globally. In 2019, a record of 53.6 million metric tons of globally generated e-waste was reported. Electronic devices contain an extensive list of precious metals as well as harmful chemicals; if no product recovery procedures are applied, we lose scarce resources and create a negative environmental footprint.
Our smartphones and small telecommunication devices contribute to about 4.7 million tons of e-waste annually. Nowadays, smartphone consumers tend to keep their devices for longer time, however, the lifecycle of a smartphone is still only about 2 years on average.
How can we prolong the lifecycle of smartphones and reduce the amount of e-waste, meanwhile changing the consumption habits of consumers towards more sustainable alternatives?
Read the conversation with Felipe Cañete, Business Development Manager from Swappie, a Finnish iPhone refurbishing company, about the reuse of smartphones and consumer perspective on purchasing refurbished devices.