When speaking about technology, most people aren’t thinking about the environmental impacts that take place behind the making and manufacturing of their product. Technology is ever changing and ever growing. Technology seems to replace itself before the newest product has even fully caught on. It seems like most people have 2-year phone contracts and are given an upgrade after the period is up, this is great for cell-phone companies but terrible for slave-mine workers who are getting the metal for technology. Cell phones and other technology is also filling our landfills as they become outdated or obsolete.
Technology is not typically ‘green’ or environmentally friendly, and definitely not slave-free. But there is one company that we will look at today that is working hard to remove itself from the cycle that has been created to create a positive cycle! This is a company called Fairphone and they specialize in cell phones, smart phones to be exact.
Their approach is completely revolutionary and ideal for those who want a functional phone while helping the earth. They’ve got an ideology and methodology that allows them to keep slaves off the market and keep cell phones out of landfills.
They put a high value on:
- Conflict Free Mining
- Full Lifespan of Cell Phones
- Social Entrepreneurship
Within the full lifespan on cell phone emphasis they address the importance of recycling old phones. This company is based in Europe, and they take in old phones and use them for parts for their smartphones and they have created a beautifully functional phone that takes a path different from the rest.