The WWF's latest report highlights what society can do to tackle the challenge that e-waste presents for the environment.
Smartphones have changed our lives for the better. But despite their many benefits, they also bring with them some sustainability concerns.
Between higher demand, shorter life cycles and fewer repair options, current smartphone usage risks contributing to the rising wave of electronic waste (e-waste) sweeping across the UK and beyond.
There is hope of turning this tide, however – but only if we act now.
These are WWF’s findings in their latest report, ‘Fast Phones: Practical Solutions to Address the UK’s Mobile Phone E-Waste Challenge’ developed in collaboration with Vodafone.
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Likening smartphone usage to the prevalence of ‘fast fashion’, WWF suggests that today’s commonly held view of phones as temporary and disposable is equally as unsustainable for both the planet and its people.
What’s more, the report not only notes that the UK has a significant e-waste problem compared to other countries, at 24kg of e-waste a person. It also highlights that rates of e-waste recycling have in fact declined by 57% in the UK between 2013 and 2022.
In answer to this issue, WWF and Vodafone have made seven recommendations:
Establish safe and convenient opportunities for consumers to return phones for reuse, refurbishment or recycling.
1
Introduce ratings, improved standardisation and best practice across the industry to ensure the reliability and durability of phones.
2
Improve access to repair services for devices.
3
Define network operator targets to drive use of refurbished phones.
4
Implement greater regulation of e-waste.
5
Establish better systems to track and monitor mobile phone e-waste.
6
Launch awareness-raising campaigns across the mobile phone industry.
7
Together, these recommendations aim to: help reduce the amount of e-waste produced within the UK; increase national recycling rates; and prevent e-waste from reaching dumps or unethical, unsustainable recyclers in the developing world.
While there is still more to do, Vodafone UK already has several long-running initiatives in many of these areas.
For instance, to ensure their old phones are reused, rather than binned, people can donate them to Vodafone’s Great British Tech Appeal. Once here, phones are refurbished, bundled with free SIMs, and then distributed through charities to people who would otherwise be digitally excluded.
Vodafone customers also have the option to trade in their old phones when purchasing a new one, while the company’s stores accept a variety of consumer electronics for recycling by the company’s accredited partners.
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Phones on display in Vodafone’s physical retail stores have Eco Ratings (where manufacturers support them) to better enable customers to make informed choices about the sustainability of their potential purchase.
Vodafone UK has also been steadily increasing its range of refurbished phones available for purchase, having recently introduced a Good Grade range for phones that are in excellent working order, but have some visible signs of use.
Meanwhile, whether new or refurbished, phones purchased on Vodafone EVO Pay Monthly plans are backed by the Lifetime Service Promise. This not only includes Lifetime Warranty, an extended guarantee against manufacturer defects, but also Battery Refresh, which covers battery replacements for up to three years.
All of which is designed to encourage customers to use their phones for as long as possible and demonstrate that, together – across the tech industry, retailers, suppliers and consumers – we can help foster a truly circular economy.
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