It is hard to deny that mobile phones –especially smart phones, are some of the most convenient electronic devices ever to be made. These handsets allows users to make calls and messages instantly to friends and family, it can access the internet, provide entertainment through music and videos, be used as a camera and more. Our society is now heavily reliant on the use of mobile phone technology.
As one might expect, this convenience comes with a price. Aside from the usual retail tags and monthly tariffs, our society gets billed with a huge carbon load –which the environment pays for.
This is why there is now a growing need for people to be more aware and responsible for their carbon footprint. And starting with changing one’s mobile phone habits is a great first step.
What people should realize is that as end users and consumers, society has the ability to dictate and decide what companies will manufacture and sell. By choosing to support eco-friendly companies and by buying green products –manufacturers can be swayed to change their approach. Nokia and Sony Ericsson have been heavily promoting their green-solutions internally with reduced packaging and better choices of raw materials. Choosing to buy handsets made out of recycled plastics will encourage other companies to do the same.
It does not end with choosing a phone either. Users have the responsibility to ensure that devices are used wisely. A smart phone can consume about a metric ton of carbon in a single year (energy wise), so ensuring that a battery charge is spent properly, and avoiding over-charging are also important steps.
Lastly, support your local recycling drives. Many companies such as Orange UK hold phone recycling programs in order to encourage people to dispose of their handsets wisely –more often than not, they also offer incentives to people who recycle.
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