Why your smart phone is killing the planet and how to make it stop

Who could imagine life without smart phones? They’ve made life SOOOO much easier and while I still marvel at their technology, it has pretty much become the new normal. But unfortunately these wonders of modern tech have a dark side. The companies who bring us the magic conceal an ugly reality behind their clean, cutting-edge image. From dangerous mining practices, hazardous chemicals and poor recycling to excessive energy and resource consumption driven by a business model that counts on us buying a new phone every 2 years, this industry is having a MASSIVE impact on our planet. But by making some better choices WE can turn things around.

What is so wrong with smart phones?

The excessive & unnecessary waste

Over 1.5 billion smart phones are sold each year, which means around the same number is discarded (this could be to landfill, recycling or the back of a drawer). A lot of phones don’t get recycled and even those that do may be harming people and the planet. Only around 15% of e-waste is recycled properly. Most e-waste is processed in countries like China, India and Ghana, where much recycling is unregulated, releasing toxic chemicals and heavy metals into air and waterways and causing significant harm to workers.