The main characters attempt to visit the titular heavenly world in a moment near the end of The Good Place (spoiler alert). When they get to the cosmic morality scales, they discover that no human has been able to enter for generations, owing in part to the ethical constraints of modern materialism.
The example of buying a rose for someone is used, which is a selfless gesture on the surface. However, we can see that the flower was grown with environmentally harmful chemicals, was picked by an exploited labourer, has a significant carbon footprint due to travel, and so on. The conclusion of the storey is simple: being ethical in today's world is nearly impossible because supply chains have grown so large and complex, it is becoming increasingly impossible to determine where our products come from and what harm they may have caused. This is never more true than when it comes to smartphones.
Billions of these devices are in circulation, some of which include hazardous materials, are made under typically exploitative conditions, and are discarded after usage in landfills. No company is immune; the ethical and environmental issues that afflict the sector are a team effort.
So, as a customer, what can you do to break the loop and make a difference? Continue reading for five tips on how to make your future smartphone as eco-friendly and ethical as possible.
1. Think about getting a different phone
When it comes to something like a smartphone, there are so many different and obscure components that it's nearly impossible to assure that each one is made and obtained responsibly. That hasn't prevented some people from attempting it.
Fairphone, a Dutch company, was one of the first to do so, with its raison d'être being the development and marketing of phones that are as fair as possible in terms of human and environmental costs. Workers are given a livable wage, parts are purchased at fair-trade costs, factories are located in conflict-free zones, and production techniques are as environmentally friendly as feasible.
It's even reflected in the design of the Fairphone, the company's hallmark product line. Each of these sold may be dismantled and each of its basic components changed using only a Philips screwdriver. These are cellphones that are designed to last a long time.
Of course, there is a monetary cost associated with all of this. Stricter manufacturing criteria mean fewer production numbers and greater prices, which means no economies of scale - to put it another way, the ordinary Fairphone isn't cheap, and its components are frequently out-of-date when released. The most recent cellphone, the Fairphone 3+, includes a Snapdragon 632 (a 2018 processor) and a design from that era, all while costing a cool £439 (approximately $550 / AU$775) at the time of writing.
If you can get over this, Fairphone offers something unique in the smartphone industry: accountability, transparency, and the chance to make a personal difference.
2. Minimize material costs
There are no materials in today's smartphones that lend themselves to long-term sustainability. There is nothing that degrades well, whether it's metal chipsets, plastic phone casings, or anything else.
Some have attempted to offset this by introducing biodegradable phone cases, such as those offered by Nokia and Teracube, a tiny business. These offer some peace of mind in regular use and also have the advantage of being binnable if the necessity arises. Teracube goes even farther, offering to plant one tree for every phone sold, which is a nice touch.
As a result, if phones do not degrade, the problem becomes one of recycling. The subject of e-waste and its disposal is complex, but the bottom line is that many recyclers will strip phones of their precious metal inside, and the husks will wind up in a landfill. Neither of these actions is environmentally friendly.
Other than simply selling your old phone for profit, donating it to a charity is a compassionate option. Oxfam, for example, will accept and upcycle smartphones before distributing them to individuals in impoverished nations who are in desperate need of one.
Old phones may be repurposed in a variety of ways, some of which are entertaining.
3. Be prepared to stick it out for the long haul
Of course, the most environmentally friendly smartphone is the one you have in your pocket right now. Though every passing month might bring a new shiny device to covet from afar, most of our needs in the present can be met by even the most basic devices.
So, except from the brief pleasure it provides, there's no need to ride the upgrading carousel. With year-on-year smartphone improvements becoming increasingly incremental in nature and annual prices growing, keeping your handset for the long haul is quickly becoming the most sensible option. This is especially true now that companies like Samsung and Nokia are committed to monthly and annual software updates for years to come.
While it may not be the most thrilling option, waiting a little longer is better for the environment, and there are plenty of methods to make an old phone look brand new.
4. Read outside of the lines
A little knowledge may go a long way when it comes to sustainable practises. Samsung, for example, will go to great lengths to portray their phones in a favourable light, but these will rarely include anything about the environment.
Because the industry is largely focused on selling new phones and increasing profits, it is up to the consumer to do their homework and learn more about the products they buy.
There are resources available to assist, with organisations such as Greenpeace and Mossy Earth providing intriguing and useful resources to assist in making the best option possible.
Some manufacturers have begun to recognise the beneficial influence this could have on their image, and both Nokia and Apple are now providing more information on the environmental impact of their work.
Half the battle is having the appropriate information on hand, and the more knowledge you have, the better decision you will be able to make.
5. Keep an eye out for a return on your investment
Smartphones are a strange outlier in the market; despite the fact that they can and frequently do cost more than $1,000 / £1,000, makers and marketplaces still assume that consumers will want to update at least every two years.
In contrast to an iPad, a laptop, or a car, which are purchased as investments, this ‘fast fashion' approach is in stark contrast. Despite their importance in our lives, we tend to conceive of phones as essentially disposable.
To counteract this, the challenge becomes purchasing a phone as an investment that will be retained for many years. The first challenge is to find a device with extensive software support, followed by deciding what is most essential to you, whether it is the camera, display, battery life, or something else.
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