About MeContact MeWrite a Guest Post – Eco & Home Blog

ARE THERE ANY ECO-FRIENDLY MOBILE PHONE PROVIDERS?

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Andrew

The mobile phone industry has been focussing on ethical technology finally. The efforts have been seen through the struggle by some companies to develop eco-friendly mobile phones in an efforts to build their reputation and also help solve the waste problems. The shift to the eco-friendly mobile phones is also propagated by the slow but increasing demand for environmentally friendly devices. Even though more people would want to own eco-friendly mobile phones, they do not easily find the market while some even do not know if such phones exist. For those who might be unaware, there are already established eco-friendly mobile phone and broadband providers some of which are noted here.

One of the noticeable eco friendly broadband services in the UK is the Three mobile services providers. This includes providing mobile broadband, WiFi, data SIMs and Android and iPad tablets. Three mobile states that they are responsible for upholding ethical standards as they use innovation to improve their services in addition to respecting human rights.

In order to protect the environment, Three mobile are considering that climate change is a threat to the environment hence are working hard to protect it by managing their footprint and also supporting their suppliers and customers to live a more sustainable life. Three mobile http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/get-cheaper-mobile-phone-contract/ are reducing their carbon footprint by making changes in their operations. Such operations range from waste reduction in areas around work and encouraging recycling to the use of renewable energy and refurbishing equipment so that the efficiency of their data centre can be improved.

One evident effort to eco-friendliness in this company is their approach to e-waste; through the Reconnected program, they have devised a better way to do amazing things with the old phones. Another thing is that they have an infrastructure that supports their own network with another mobile operator. This approach enables Three mobile to reduce the impact they have on the environment by regulating equipment, energy, and various sites that they are planning to provide coverage in.

Apart from Three, there are eco-friendly mobile phone companies including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and Sprint. Currently, all Motorola phones are PVC free and the company is, with its MOTO Renew, incorporating certified carbon-neutrality in its products as well as exploring recyclable and recycled phone production. Sony Ericsson and Nokia no longer have any toxic chemicals on their phones while Sony Ericsson acquires 40% of the energy it uses from renewable resources. Sprint takes the lead when it comes to implementing green products including green information technology (IT) and buildings. All these companies, in a way, are taking into account issues concerning child labour, recyclability, and conflict minerals among other factors that promote the eco-friendly technology.

Issues concerning conflicting minerals have one of the biggest effects on the mobile phone industry. This is due to the fact that mineral trade has been propagating some of the most brutal conflicts in the world for a long time. Most companies have been reported to have failed to meet the proposed conflict mineral law and further received a lot of criticism as a result of human rights abuses.

Related to conflict minerals is the issue of child labour which is linked to some supply chains that produce smartphone batteries; some of the main electronic brands that have been associated with this problem include Samsung and Apple. The cobalt used in manufacturing the batteries is mined by underage workers but measures are put in place to eliminate child labour from the mineral mining zones, and the noted companies are encouraged to take the lead and let others follow.

On issues to do with recyclability, it is notable that there is a lot of toxic chemicals that go into mobile phones hence their disposal becomes a potential health and environmental hazard. The effects of the disposals are experienced more in the developing nations where there are lower environmental standards and labour costs. Workers are exposed to dangers as they process old mobile phones in absence of the right equipment. Such effects have prompted companies like Nokia and Sony to extinguish the harmful chemicals such as PVC plastics and flame retardants from their products. Mobile phone users are also urged to recycle their handsets in order to help mitigate environmental strain. This measure is implemented by mobile phone retailers and charity shops that offer recycling services.

Tip of the Day

If It Doesn’t Smell, Don’t Wash It

According to Real Simple, if every American made an effort to launder less — cutting out just one load of laundry a week per household — we’d save enough water to fill seven million swimming pools each year.

So if it looks clean, and it smells clean, call it clean and wear it again. Consider hanging worn clothes out on your clothesline to freshen them up between wearings

  • Stay-ad