Changing the way in which electronic goods are disposed of is a vital step in reducing the impact of electronic waste.  However, another important factor is the sheer volume of electronic goods being used.  According to the Consumer Electronic Association, the average smartphone has a life expectancy of 4.7 years (Cases, 2018).  However, a recent study indicated that the average U.S. smartphone was upgraded after fewer than three years of use (Moscaritolo, 2018).  In this blog post, I will explore this phenomenon, investigating how changes can be made to consumption to reduce electronic waste.

Many of us tend to hang on to old phones once we upgrade, in case we ever need a spare.  The reality is that they’ll most likely never be used again, and by the time we decide to get rid of them, they are too out-of-date to be reused by anyone else.  We could prevent this from happening by recycling or selling old phones soon after buying an upgrade.  That way, they can be reused by someone else to prevent another phone from having to be manufactured.  Additionally, charities such as Medic Mobile recycle and refurbish old phones.  Medic Mobile helps to improve healthcare in developing country by providing workers with donated phones.  This allows them to communicate in emergencies and complete digital tasks at work, while ensuring old phones do not end up in landfills.

A second way of reducing the waste caused by smartphones is to wait longer before upgrading phones.  The longer the usage period of a phone, the less demand there is to manufacture more phones.  This helps to conserve our resources and reduces the number of phones that poison the environment in e-waste dumping grounds.  Li et al. (2010) suggested that software developers should make older and reused phones more usable.  The researchers indicated that older phones have a number of limitations (such as smaller battery life and less compatibility with new applications) that make them more difficult to be reused.

Consumers also have some responsibility in their technology purchasing decisions.  A study by Sela and LeBoeuf (2017) found that many consumers fail to compare their current phone with new options when upgrading their phone, and so they cannot make an accurate assessment of their options.  It was found that this lack of comparison (known as ‘comparison neglect’) made them more likely to upgrade their technology.  Therefore, by being more informed about the specifications of current phones and upgrade options, consumers may be able to last longer between upgrades.

An alternative way of reducing energy usage may be to use less damaging technology, such as eco-friendly smartphones.  Due to awareness of environmental issues, phone companies have begun to look into the sustainability of their products.  Some features include using recycled or sustainable materials to produce the phone and ensuring the manufacturing process doesn’t damage the environment (e.g. monitoring radiation).

One study looked into attitudes towards environmentally-friendly technology.  Nnorom, Ohakwe and Osibanjo (2009) surveyed consumers in Nigeria to explore their attitudes towards a ‘green phone’, which is produced using less toxic materials (as well as being more energy efficient) compared to standard mobile phones.  Participants were asked how they would feel about this alternative, and they indicated their willingness to pay an extra premium for this type of phone.  The study found that 74% of participants were in ‘somewhat’ or ‘very much’ in support of green phones, and 58% of participants aged 16-35 were willing to pay a 10% premium for this.

 

So what is the take-home message?  Firstly, the research teaches us that consumers are not a lost cause – they are willing to make an effort to reduce the negative effects of their consumption.  Secondly, we must be more considerate of our technology use and how it impacts the environment.  By recycling smartphones properly when we longer need them, we can help to preserve materials and reduce the harm caused by disposing of old technology.  By waiting longer before upgrading our phones, we can reduce the need for so many smartphones to be produced in the first place.