Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Each year, cell phone manufacturers surprise us with new models, but behind each new launch arises a question: What happens with devices that are no longer on the market but continue to be part of our day-to-day operations? This is a technological challenge and, at the same time, an environmental problem that is gaining global relevance.
It is a concern for both companies and regulators. In line with the 2030 Agenda, the European Commission is promoting standards to make smartphones more durable, energy efficient, and easy to repair. With this purpose, companies are adopting sustainable practices. The new iPhone is a good example: its battery contains 95% recycled lithium and its casing is made from reused aluminum. These types of practices reduce the extraction of new resources and promote a circular economy, where each device has a longer lifespan and a lower impact on the environment.
Apple is not the only company working in this direction. Samsung has launched the Trade-in and Upgrade program to offer users discounts when they turn in their old devices for recycling. This encourages the reuse of materials and allows the recovery of valuable components, such as metals and electronic elements, reducing the demand for new resources. According to the Energy Technology Perspectives report by the International Energy Agency, if these initiatives are adopted on a large scale, the need to extract materials could be reduced by 25% by 2030.
The urgency is not only environmental, but also practical. The Global E-waste Monitor report by the United Nations University reveals that in 2021, 57 million tons of electronic waste were generated. While the recycling of components such as lithium and cobalt is growing, there are still logistical and technological barriers.
This is where the circular economy plays a key role: it's about recycling, but also about changing our relationship with devices. The European company Fairphone specializes in manufacturing modular phones, which allow for the replacement of parts such as the battery or camera to extend the useful life of the device.
Companies are working on improving the efficiency of their devices so that, by consuming less energy, they also generate a lower carbon footprint. Samsung, for example, is looking into ways to create more efficient batteries that maintain high performance without increasing energy consumption.
With these steps, we are approaching a model where smartphones are not just disposable gadgets, but tools with multiple lives and a lower impact on the planet. Because the true advancement in technology is not only in innovation, but in the commitment to make it sustainable.
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