Extending the life of mobile phones and laptops, a solution against climate change

A new report from Friends of the Earth has revealed the enormous potential of extending the useful life of our electronic devices, ending planned obsolescence, to combat climate change. According to the study, doubling the useful life of mobile phones and laptops could avoid the emission of up to 28 million tons of CO2 equivalent by 2040, an amount similar to the annual emissions of 17,000 vehicles.

Planned obsolescence, a common practice among large manufacturers to encourage the constant renewal of devices, is the main culprit of this problem. By designing products with a limited shelf life, companies create artificial demand and accelerate the production and consumption cycle, which has a devastating impact on the environment.

Greenhouse gases

The report reveals that, on average, a smartphone is discarded after three and a half years, while a laptop after six. However, these devices are usually in perfect condition to continue working. Extending its useful life would not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but would also reduce energy demand and the extraction of natural resources, such as lithium, gold and other strategic metals.

In fact, the study estimates that extending the useful life of a smartphone by one year could save 1,389 gigawatt hours of energy, the equivalent of the annual consumption of a city like Zaragoza. In addition, the extraction of 29 tons of lithium, a fundamental mineral for the manufacture of batteries, would be avoided.

To address this problem, Friends of the Earth proposes a series of measures, such as the prohibition of planned obsolescence, the obligation to manufacture durable and easy-to-repair products, and the establishment of a universal right to repair.

Boost recycling

The NGO’s head of natural resources and waste, Adriana Espinosa, has denounced the irrationality of a system that promotes the extraction of mineral resources while tons of these same materials are discarded in landfills. Espinosa has stressed the importance of promoting recycling and making the most of existing technologies to extend the useful life of electronic devices.

In short, the Friends of the Earth report highlights the need to adopt urgent measures to change our consumption and production model. Extending the useful life of our electronic devices is a simple and effective solution to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet.

Ambientum Editorial