FAIRPHONE3: The Smartphone That’s Shaking Up The Tech Industry
From finding directions to reading the news, we use our phones for pretty much everything but making calls and with 95% of us owning a smartphone, it is seen as a necessity to our day-to-day lives. But do we really understand the true cost of this simple luxury? By creating a business model with sustainability at its core, Fairphone aims to counteract the dark practises of the industry and give us a way to scroll, like and comment without feeling guilty.
With at least two models released every year, a phone has now become that status symbol we’ve succumbed to and a two-year average lifecycle, which brands have capitalised on. Fairphone promises a lifecycle of at least five, and by giving you the ability to fix your phone when needed, the company reduces its CO2 emissions that result from manufacturing and shipping.
Studies show that building a new smartphone accounts for 85%-95% of the device’s total CO2 emissions over its two-year lifespan, with less than 1% of all devices being recycled — which means utilising your 2009 iPhone 3GS takes up just as much energy as buying a new one. And as our devices get bigger so do the CO2 levels, Apple disclosed that building an iPhone 7 Plus creates around 10% more CO2 than the iPhone 6s but do we blame the innovators or blame the demand that requires supplying?
CO2 isn’t the only factor that Fairphone addresses when tackling sustainability, as they acknowledge the human rights violations which has become accepted part of global trade. Key materials used in the production of smartphones are often mined in conflict areas where worker exploitation is rife. Fairphone aims to responsibly source these materials and are currently the only brand to use Fairtrade approved gold within their devices.
“It is a disruption to our current short term thinking in the world, but also it is a disruption to the idea that profit is more important for a company than the people or care for the planet”
— Eva Gouwens, Fairphone CEO
The Dutch social enterprise released the first-generation Fairphone back in 2013 and since then the company has been working to improve its products aesthetically. The third-generation comes at a time where consumer interest in sustainability is rampant. Not only does it appeal to the environmentally conscience millennial, but also presents itself as an example to tech giants at a time where pressure is heightened for corporations to adopt a more sustainable approach to their products.
Keeping to the current trend of minimalism, durability and longevity the device boasts a sleek modular design that allows for the repair/replace of faulty parts at home. The start-up box comes with everything you NEED (even a mini-screwdriver) but doesn’t include a charger or earphones, encouraging you to reuse ones you already own. The device is being sold for a cool €450, with spare parts (if needed) ranging from €19.95 for a speaker module to €89.95 for a 5.65in HD display, making it an inexpensive alternative to the select few manufacturers.
The accessibility to life-changing information doesn’t discriminate against age or background and isn’t exclusive to chosen scholars anymore, as prominent activists such as Greta Thunberg have proved. As the new generations continue to consume and possess the ability to filter out fake news it’s in our nature to utilise the platforms available to voice our opinions on the injustices we see. Being able to speak up against climate change deniers — no matter what authority they hold is a feeling of the majority, therefore making the road to global change inevitable.