GREEN FUTURE: HOW TECH GIANTS CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
HOW TECH GIANTS CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
With consumers encouraged to upgrade their smartphones on a near-annual basis and the throwaway culture of technology continuing apace, e-waste is fast-becoming one of the key environmental concerns. Less than 40% of our phones, tablets, and laptops are recycled, with the rest destined for landfill. The key to change lies with us - and our technology giants.
THE RISE OF E-WASTE
Though e-waste has been a concern for a number of years, it’s only in the past decade that consumers have adopted technology in such a way that is causing catastrophic damage to our environment. According to one recent study, the average home now contains 19 devices, with IOT technologies such as smart speakers ballooning that figure. Data out of Europe suggests just 40% of e-waste in the European Union is recycled, with practices varying depending on the territory. In Croatia, for example, 81% of all tech is recycled, whereas, in Malta, it’s just 21%. The data is even more concerning in the United States. Although the US produces more than 6 million tons of the world’s electronic waste every year, less than 20% of it is recycled, with the vast majority headed to landfills. What is particularly shocking is that a great deal of “technology recycling” involves companies shipping their e-waste to other countries, with usable parts then repurposed and extracted and the rest thrown away. The process in itself causes great harm to the planet; in some nations, for example, gold is recovered by placing circuit boards in hydrochloric acid, which can poison local waterways and affecting
the health of citizens in some of the world’s poorest countries.
According to a report from Marketwatch, consumers replace their mobiles every 15 months, and with new technologies such as 5G coming to the fore, that timespan could be shortened further. Worldwide, close to 50 million tons of electric waste was generated last year, which highlights the growing importance of recycling and repurposing technology and the precious materials used in their creation. The United Nations suggests that less than 20% of e-waste is recycled, which could mean we’d see 120 million tons of electronic scrap by 2050.
Not only is this bad for our wildlife, but it can present a real danger to human life, too. Indeed, some of the most common substances found in technology products include lead, antimony, and nickel, which are toxic elements that can pollute our rivers, lakes, and seas, releasing gases into the atmosphere that can harm our ecosystems. And let’s face it: there are only so many precious metals left - once they run out, we’ll be forced to recycle in order to innovate. Politicians and environmentalists are increasingly calling for “responsible consumption” - encouraging consumers to hold onto their devices for longer and choose products that come from sustainable sources. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to reduce e-waste is to avoid replacing products so regularly. For example, do you need a new iphone every 12 months, or can you make your new iphone 12 last until the iphone 15 release? Is it possible to make do with one Homepod in your living room, or do you really need one in every room of your home? As a consumer,
challenging the norms and ignoring marketing strategies that push for constant upgrades will go a long way not only to help you reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment but also save you some serious money. Reusing technology is also vitally important, passing down old smartphones, fridges, and televisions to friends and family, or those less fortunate via donations to charities. Recycling is the final option when your technology simply doesn’t work - if it’s not possible or too expensive to repair it, handing in your old devices to the manufacturer or dedicated recycling company is recommended.
And for businesses, there are benefits to recycling, too. Companies including Apple and Samsung are increasingly pushing their Trade-in offers, encouraging consumers to hand in their old smartphones and technology products when they’re buying a new device. Not only does it serve as a good PR exercise and help companies offer discounts on new products, but it can aid in their production of new devices, too. According to a study in Environmental Science & Technology, it’s around 13 times more expensive to extract materials from natural deposits than it is to recover them from technological waste. “Circular economies” are being formed in many industries, with companies able to create the latest, greatest devices without having to depend on virgin resources, saving them money and reducing their overall impact. Indeed, a report from the International Telecommunication Union suggests that recycling old technology could generate $62.5 billion in annual opportunities, creating
millions of jobs under a ‘take, make and dispose’ model that could represent the future.
THE CONCERN OVER WORKING FROM HOME
2020 represented a cultural shift in the way we work and interact with tech, with billions of us forced to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19. Although the pandemic is now under control in large parts of the world, a spike in home office equipment sales has caused many to grow concerned over the amount of new e-waste we’re producing. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, half of those who moved to telework during the pandemic bought new IT equipment with most failing to recycle the equipment they were replacing. 11% of those who purchased new technology put their old devices in the bin, whilst only 13% chose to recycle. With offices around the world forced into temporary hibernation due to new work from home policies, experts predict that around 23% of all computers won’t be needed again and that the equivalent to 1,000 laptops per second will be thrown away in the coming year. It’s an unintended consequence of the pandemic and will no doubt change the way we think about our devices. As mountains of e-waste enters our landfills, companies need to adapt in order to reduce their personal impact and make it easier for consumers to dispose of unwanted technology products safely and sustainably. Forward-thinking companies can indeed benefit from the telecommuting boom, transitioning to greener IT practices and moving things over to the cloud. Cutting down on the number of
devices needed in the office not only increased efficiency and security, but it makes firms more resilient and flexible. With 60% of businesses plan to allow employees to continue remote working in the coming years, policies must be developed to combat redundant PCS and laptops, whether that’s donating them to good causes, redeploying them into workers’ homes, or recycling them. According to a report from 3stepit, 36% of decision-makers don’t know where their electronic waste ends up, with 10% confessing to dumping it in the landfill.
THE RIGHT TO REPAIR
Over the past several years, pressure has been mounting on manufacturers to change the way they design their products. The Right to Repair movement has gained momentum in Europe, with campaigners arguing that they should be able to repair their electronic devices freely and without the risk of damaging their warranty. Technology companies have received real criticism for developing devices that are designed to become obsolete within a few years, making them intentionally difficult to repair or refurbish to maximize their profit margins and force consumers to upgrade. And it’s not just consumers or the environment who are out of pocket as a result of these dodgy selling practices - small businesses suffer, too. One report suggests that recycling and reusing computers could create an additional 300 jobs a year for every 10,000 tons of computer waste processed rather than disposed of.
One of the companies singled out for its poor product repairability is Apple. The iphone is one of the greatest examples, with Apple
making it difficult for its smartphones to be repaired without visiting an Apple Store. The company even sues companies that repair devices. Thanks to proprietary screws, unibody enclosures, and other manufacturing and design techniques, it’s virtually impossible for some products to be repaired or replaced, with batteries often glued to some other component or adding complex and sensitive parts that make repairs tough. Airpods are the greatest example of this, with ifixit giving the product a zero rating for repairability. Indeed, if your Airpods or Airpods Pro break, you can either take them back to Apple if they’re in warranty, or you’re forced to buy a new pair. Even attempting to open the Airpods will result in you ripping apart the hardware. The company has, of course, said that it works hard to improve the sustainability of its products, but argues that its highly-integrated design on products like its Macbook Air and Airpods allows the firm to create “products that are not only beautiful, thin and powerful, but also durable, so they can last for many years.” Apple adds that “authorized providers can ensure the quality, safety, and security of repairs for customers” in most cases, and that it takes its responsibility for recycling products seriously.
APPLE’S COMMITMENT TO E-WASTE
Like most tech giants, Apple isn’t perfect, but it has made great strides in order to create a more sustainable product portfolio. Last year, it made a big commitment: removing Earpods and the charging brick from packaging to reduce the amount of e-waste it produces. During a keynote to unveil its new iphone 12
range, Apple’s VP of environmental initiatives, Lisa Jackson, said that there were 700 million Lightning headphones and two billion wall adapters in circulation and that by removing new ones from its packaging, it can both reduce the weight of its packaging to cut carbon emissions during the transportation of new devices, and also cut down on the amount of junk that’s sent to landfills. The company is already carbon neutral and promised that its products would be by 2030, making them all with “clean energy and no carbon footprint,” a truly impressive target that sets an industry benchmark.
Apple already uses low-carbon materials, and the average energy consumed by its products has decreased by 73% since 2008.
The company’s Reliability Testing Lab conducts over 100 rigorous tests that simulate real-world conditions to maximize product durability and longevity. Apple has also received an A+ Mind the Score rating two years in a row, and many of its products are significantly more efficient than the ENERGY STAR requirements. The firm says that it’s committed to one day sourcing 100% recycled and renewable materials across all of its products and packaging, and thanks to investments in recycling technology, products like the iphone can be used to extract virtually every element from a smartphone to be reused again. Apple also continues to invest in natural carbon removers such as forests and wetlands, as well as in clean energy production like wind and solar around the world.
There’s no denying that technology giants have a long way to go to reduce their impact on the environment, but Apple is standing head and shoulders above its competitors in its commitment to change. Impressive technological innovations have made our devices longer-lasting and more powerful than ever before, and under-the-hood changes designed to reduce e-waste continue at pace. In the decade ahead, we’ll continue to reevaluate the role technology plays in our lives, making changes to the way we source and invest in products, and ultimately create a cleaner planet. For Apple, the future has never looked greener…