Smartphone production is too intensive for the world, Greenpeace’s report

Smartphone production and disposal over the last 10 years is proving to have a significant impact on our planet, according to a Greenpeace USA report released yesterady on the sideline of Mobile World Congress 2017, which kicked off in Barcelona.
In From Smart to Senseless report it warned: “Electronics manufacturing is highly energy-intensive and its energy footprint is growing significantly, as the volume and complexity of our electronic devices continues to expand.”

According to its research, manufacturing of devices is by far the most carbon-intensive phase of smartphones, accounting for nearly three-quarters of total CO2 emissions.

Based on a 2016 survey by Greenpeace East Asia of consumer habits around the world, more than half felt smartphone manufacturers were releasing too many new models each year. Also, more than 80% of respondents felt it was important for new phones to be easily repaired and designed to last.

Greenpeace has calculated that since 2007, about 968TWh has been used to manufacture smartphones – almost as much electricity as one year’s power for India, which used 973TWh in 2014.

Greenpeace is calling on the whole IT sector to embrace a circular production model in order to address the root cause of many of these environmental challenges. Samsung should lead by example and publicly commit to recycle the Galaxy Note 7s while minimising their impact on people and the environment. It must also be transparent about how it intends to deal with these phones.

“What has happened with Samsung’s recall of the Galaxy Note 7 is indicative of a wasteful and unsustainable system. Rushed design and production cycles can lead to wasteful mistakes, not to mention the impact on our planet,” said Jude Lee, Global Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia.

Greenpeace in Hong Kong said a Hongkonger owns an average 4.25 mobile phones at one time, even more than South Koreans and Americans.