How does buying a used iPhone help the environment?
Fifty million tons is a staggering amount, any way you look at it. What you may not know is the amount of electronic waste the world produces every year. If you want to go further into breaking down the figures, it is like trashing 1000 laptops every second. And it gets worse. Projections estimate that the figures could rise by 500% in the coming years.
So why should this be a concern to you? Well, electronic waste, or e-waste, has very high levels of toxic chemicals. These include arsenic, dioxins, cadmium, and mercury, to name a few.
Such chemicals can lead to congenital disabilities in the peripheral and central nervous systems. We discuss damaged lungs and kidneys, distorted blood composition, and death.
The devastating impacts do not end there. Countries that receive large amounts of e-waste include Asia and Africa. The pollution makes it impossible to grow food. Efforts to recycle e-waste further exacerbate health and environmental degradation.
Indeed, anyone living in the modern world must do their part to help the environment. And that includes buying refurbished electronic products like phones.
Our article looks at how buying a used iPhone can help the environment.
Environmental Concerns of E-Waste from Used PhonesÂ
Used phones contribute to the electronic waste we talked about above. A 2021 report shows that smartphones are responsible for up to 10% of e-waste. Once again, let’s put it into perspective. If you recycle that material, you could come up with more than 300,000 double-decker buses a year. Yet electronic waste recycling is at a paltry 17% as of 2019.
The reality is that addressing the environmental impact of trashed phones will be quite difficult. On average, people will replace their phones every two years. And that makes sense because developers are constantly churning out new or improved versions.
Many tech-savvy people like to keep up with current trends. And for them, the only way to do so is to keep buying what comes into the market.
It would be hard to argue about the fact that Apple products are top-tier. And they must keep their developers very busy because there’s always a new model hitting the market.
Indeed, this is one brand for which people are willing to stand in lines for hours to get the latest. You could call it iPhone Mania for good reason. When the iPhone 14 dropped on September 16, people were already lining up from the previous day.
Reuse and Recycling May Be the Answer to E-Waste Reduction
Before you join the long lines, have you considered trading your iPhone? From an economic angle, you will save a pretty penny. We can all agree that you pay for all the parks and advanced technologies on iPhones. The newest model retails at about $799; exchanging it for a used iPhone could save you a lot of money.
Unlocked used iPhones also accept any carrier or wireless plan within the US. That is a major point if you have not decided which service provider to choose.
When buying a used iPhone, please ensure that it is certified. It means the refurbished phone should work or function like a new one. That is because they pass through stringent inspections by certified sellers.
Finally, the certification comes with a return policy or money-back guarantee. That way, if the phone does not work as expected, you don’t lose your money.
And we can’t forget the benefit of buying a used or refurbished iPhone for the environment.Â
Less Waste goes Into the Minefields
As stated above, used phones account for up to 10% of global e-waste. Thus, it is easy to imagine how many phones go into landfills every year.
One way of dealing with the issue is to ensure more prolonged usage of the existing phones. And one solution is to circulate used or refurbished phones in the market for a long time.
The reality is that not everyone can afford the newest iPhones. But they would appreciate owning one, even if it is an older model.
Placing Greater Accountability on Phone Manufacturers
From a business angle, phone manufacturers need to make money. And the only way to do this is to entice customers with the latest offerings.
As of June 30, 2022, Apple had spent $25.262 billion on research and development. That covered a 12-month allocation for such purposes. A look at the previous year’s books showed a significant increase from $21,914 billion. The reason for such astronomical spending is easy to see. Competition is high, and only the best will stay ahead of the game.
There is also another interesting industry secret that not many people know about. Phone manufacturers are not very interested in increasing the lifespan of their products. Those in the know call it planned obsolescence.
You get peak functionality only for a specific period. After that, you start to notice a decline in performance. That is why, every 3 to 4 years, it becomes necessary to replace a smartphone. It is a sneaky, acceptable way of ensuring ongoing sales for the brand.
If consumers gravitate towards used or refurbished phones, it may place pressure on manufacturers to pay more attention to longevity. And that includes ensuring the availability of spare parts necessary for repairs.
It is interesting to see that Apple is stepping up on this front. The company launched a self-service repair for customers in 2021. Individual customers could access manuals, tools, and parts for the iPhone 12 and 13. Indeed, such efforts from giant manufacturers could significantly impact the contribution of used phones to e-waste.Â
