Here we look at; How Many of Us Use a Mobile Phone; What to Consider When Buying a Mobile Phone; and Brands to Consider. This is one of over 40 ideas in our Sustainability Roadmap with Solutions to Climate Change, and part of our series on Living Sustainably.
If you already know that it’s important to buy the right electronics to avoid labour exploitation and toxic chemicals, here are the options to switch to an ethical mobile handset:
- Ethical shopping guide to Mobile Phones
- TCO Certified – the world’s leading sustainability certification for IT products
- Fairphone*
If you want some more facts before making any decisions, let’s get into the details:
Minerals mined in areas of armed conflict, exploitation of child workers, labour exploitation, funding armed groups, phthalates, PVC, brominated flame retardants and other harmful chemicals.
It might sound like I’m listing something to do with war zones and some horror story, well, I am, and unfortunately it’s all linked to the mobile phone industry.
Most of Us Use a Mobile Phone
Some of the latest research shows that 78% of people own a smartphone.
The number is even higher for people aged 16-24 with 95% owning a smartphone.
With 211 million smartphones sold annually in the EU, there’s a great opportunity for a quick win in the fight to help stop climate change by moving away from mobile phones that are produced using conflict minerals as well as the pollution and harm caused by electronics waste and manufacture.
Choosing the right smartphone is difficult, that’s where the Ethical Consumer Ethical Mobile Phone product guide can help.
Here’s a summary of Ethical Consumer’s research into 15 mobile phone brands.
What to Consider When Buying a Mobile Phone
The mobile phone industry is terrible for continually launching the next-new-thing, which creates a lot of consumption and waste.
If you can buy a mobile phone that’s modular, it will be easier to repair, either for you to keep for longer, or for selling on to others.
You could also consider buying used instead of buying new.
Mobile Phones Made Using Conflict Minerals
Look for a mobile phone that’s produced by a company with strong policies for how they source minerals.
Minerals should not be sourced from areas of armed conflict.
If you buy the wrong mobile phone you may well be part of exploiting children and others that are used to mine minerals in areas of armed conflict.
Some of the money from buying these, poorly rated, mobile phones goes towards funding armed groups that are responsible for keeping conflicts going.
Mobile Phones and Labour Exploitation
Unfortunately, labour exploitation is common in the production of electronics.
It might not happen directly in the brand’s business, but it often happens in the supply chain.
Looking for a mobile phone where the manufacturer gets a best buy rating for the supply chain is a great way to avoid funding labour exploitation.
Harmful Chemicals That Damage the Environment
Toxic chemicals are still used by some mobile phone manufacturers.
Choosing a mobile phone manufacturer that has or is phasing out the use of toxic chemicals is a great way to do your bit to avoid the climate change pollution and harm caused by the use of toxic chemicals.
Mobile Phone Brands to Consider
Fairphone* got a top rating as the brand that’s putting people and planet before profit.
Alphabet (Google), Apple, Fairphone, LG, Lenovo, and Sony had the best conflict mineral policies.
Fairphone had the best supply chain management policies.
Apple and Huawei had the best toxic chemicals management policies.
You might have noticed I used ‘got’ and ‘had’ quite a few times there. That’s because it’s worth noting that the ethical mobile phone product guide was last updated in 2019. A lot can change in 2 years, especially in the technology space.
Nokia got a worst rating in quite a few areas because Ethical Consumer couldn’t find certain policies, however, when I did my own research I could find those policies, which is one reason I decided to buy a Nokia.
Here Is What You Can Do
- Use the Ethical Mobile Phones guide
- Try the Sustainability Roadmap
- Check out #VoteWithOurMoney
- Use the Company Directory
- Be inspired. We can live climate positive
- Talk to your friends and colleagues
- Share this with others
Where Next?
There is so much inspiring information to give you ideas of how to help climate change by growing, eating, and living sustainably, you can:
- Read Our Articles
- Sign-Up to Our Free Email Newsletter
- Get Started and Vote with Your Money
- Try the Sustainability Roadmap
- Use the Company Directory
- Support Nafford Junction
Sources Used to Create This
- Ethical shopping guide to Mobile Phones
- TCO Certified – the world’s leading sustainability certification for IT products
- Fairphone*
Production Notes
This was produced by me, James Walters, as a personal project to help stop climate change by inspiring others to grow, eat, and live sustainably.
Any advice given is the opinion of those involved and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice.
* We include links we think you will find useful. If you buy through those links, we may earn a small commission. It’s one way to support our work and to inspire as many people as possible.