Recently, the United Nations Climate Panel released a disturbing report. It describes how we humans have drastically affected and changed the climate through our activities. Many reasons are given for the climate problem. The amount of waste we produce is one of them. Many people immediately buy a new phone when their old one has a small defect. Think, for example, of a battery that runs out quickly. However, it is a lot more sustainable to have your old one repaired instead of buying a new one.
Smartphones rule the world
Smartphones. It is impossible to imagine our lives without them. Nowadays, almost all of our matters, both private and business, are done via our cell phone. Think of sending messages through WhatsApp, paying a bill using your ING app and the verification code you receive on your mobile phone to log in somewhere using DigiD. Of course it is not impossible to do these things without your mobile phone, but not having one will not make your life easier.
- According to the CBS 84% of Dutch people surfed the Internet via their cell phone outside their home or workplace in 2018. This makes the Netherlands one of the leaders in smartphone use in Europe.
- According to bankmycell, there are 3.8 billion smartphone users in the world, which is 48.2% of the world’s population.This is an unimaginable amount of people who own a smartphone these days and this number is only expected to grow in the years to come. And this shouldn’t be a surprise. Smartphones make our lives a lot easier. At The Fixables we know everything about that.
How sustainable are all these smartphones?
Unfortunately, all of these smartphones come at a cost. Not only are they expensive for consumers, but the production also has an enormous impact on the climate. This impact on the environment has several reasons. First, because of the specific raw materials that are needed for the production. The production of smartphones requires over 100 different raw materials. But also simply just because of the enormous amount of smartphones that are produced.
- According to Trouw the so-called e-waste (waste consisting fo defective or obsolete electronic devices) is the fastest growing source of waste in the world.
- Every year, 1.4 billion new ones are made with an average lifespan of 2 to 3 years. After only a few years, a new one is purchased and the old one is discarded.
- Only 20% of these discarded smartphones are recycled. Of that 20%, only 5% of the materials are actually recovered.Cell phones make up a large share of the Earth’s e-waste and therefore also have a large contribution to the urgent climate problem outlined by the United Nations.
Repairing your smartphone is sustainable
So all those discarded phones have a huge negative impact on the environment. Often these phones are still in relatively good condition and easily repairable. Unfortunately, at The Fixables we know that there are lots of people who are unaware of this. With a simple repair, these cell phones can often be brought back to life. Consider, for example, repairing a crack in the screen, a broken speaker or replacing the battery. These kinds of repairs are relatively cheap and give your ‘old’ smartphone a second life. At The Fixables, we do these kinds of repairs for very competitive prices which can be found here! But the owner of the device is often not only concerned about cost. It is of course also tempting to buy a newer model smartphone for other reasons. A newer model often has a better camera and the latest technological features. The looks of a newer model can also weigh in on the choice. All of these reasons weigh differently for everyone of course. But even though buying a newer model might be fun, it’s definitely not cheaper or more sustainable than repairing.
Reusing your smartphone is better for the environment and your wallet
At The Fixables, we hold sustainability in high regard. We believe that we are all responsible for doing our part to solve the climate crisis by living more sustainably and making conscious choices. By buying a new phone, while your old is still easily repairable, you are not contributing to a world with less waste. Reusing smartphones is better for the environment and it’s also a lot cheaper. Fortunately, for you (and for the environment), we offer repairs for all types of smartphones at very competitive prices. Read more about what we can do for you and your phone here. You can even send your cell phone to us free of charge, or we will gladly pick it up to repair it. Recycle your smartphone and make your phone sustainable!
P.S. After you’ve had your smartphone repaired it might be an idea to use it more carefully. We recommend getting a phone case. A durable phone case is the tip to expand your phone’s lifespan. We sell them in our stores in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Bussum. Will we see you there?
We would be happy to help you give your smartphone an extra push in the sustainable direction. Here are a few more tips for treating your phone more carefully.
- Charge your battery less often. It is better for your battery life to let it run out completely before recharging it.
- Buy a phone case or screen protector for protection.
- Use your power saving mode. This feature extends your battery life.
Need more tips on how to preserve your phone? Go to The Fixables.
