Last year’s phone just got cool again

Advocacy group GSMA, representing mobile network operators across the world, wants to push for recycling and reuse of cellphone materials as well as extending the life cycle of handsets.

The average lifespan of a smartphone is three to seven years, depending on the brand. Consumers typically replace their phones after two to three years when their contracts expire, as new models appear with more advanced functions.

GSMA wants to curb the effects that the disposal of old phones have on the environment.

Speaking at the Africa Shared Value Initiative and Shift Impact Africa conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Steven Moore, head of climate action at GSMA, said only 8.6% of all used materials is recycled. W:5.4,989p “There is a massive opportunity to improve on those figures,” he said.

It is predicted that revamping phones will hit $140bn (R2.5-trillion) by 2030 from $50bn (R908bn) at present.

Moore said: “There is a huge opportunity for businesses to get into that space and help customers who want to hang on to their phones a little longer. If we were to increase the use of every mobile phone by one year, that would be the same as removing almost 5-million cars off the road. There are huge savings we can make by holding on to our phones a while longer. We are engaging on recycling with the industry.”

GSMA wants devices to have as long a life as possible and then be recycled to make other handsets. Moore said consumer awareness is key. “We want people to want to hold on to their phones for longer and see the benefits of doing that. They will also need to be incentivised to bring back the phones they are no longer using.”

GSMA has set a target for mobile network operators as a sector to be net zero carbon emitters by 2050.