Western consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the huge environmental footprint they are leaving on the planet. Whilst many do not wish to forsake their consumerist lifestyles, they are becoming more conscious of the need to take steps towards protecting the environment. Many know that the massive increase in smartphone use, the rapid and continuous technology development and the resultant desire to keep upgrading are detrimental to the planet. Some mobile phone manufacturers have responded by trying to gain a greener edge over their competition.
US company GoodGuide specialise in providing information on the environmental impacts of consumer products and they have produced Cell Phone (Mobile phone) product ratings covering nearly 600 products, including radiation levels, use of sustainable materials and recycling policies.
Greenest phones include:-
Nokia C6, Samsung Blue Earth, Sony Ericsson Xperia, Palm Pixi and Motorola Citrus
The least environmentally-friendly are:-
BlackBerry Bold 9780, LG Nite, Garmin-ASUS Garminfone, Casio Exilim and Sharp STX-2
Name and shame tactics like this may well nudge some mobile phone manufacturers towards greener practices. However, do environmentally-aware handset buyers pay the same attention when they discard their mobiles? Do they hoard them, throw them in the household waste, or sell their mobiles to a reputable recycling company who will ensure the lives of these valuable smartphones are usefully extended? When the phones do reach the end of their working lives, the next challenge is to ensure they are recycled properly to recover increasingly scarce materials, such as precious metals and rare earths and more importantly to avoid dangerously polluting the earth and groundwater.