Smartphone OEMs are taking a sustainable approach to reduce environmental impact. This approach includes reusing materials, recycling devices and minimizing waste at every stage – from smartphone design to chip processing, packaging and power consumption. Based on this approach, a report states that while smartphone sustainability is reaching new highs, the industry may be far from meeting its goals.
Who runs the market?
Apple leads the smartphone market in the overall approach towards sustainability, followed by Samsung. The companies are leaders in the three major phases of the smartphone circular economy – the production of smartphones, their use and end-of-life.
According to a report by counterpoint research, Apple tops the list when it comes to longevity, updates and innovations towards sustainability. Samsung gets second place in the repair, energy efficiency and after-sales network departments.
The market research company claims that the production of a smartphone is the most important phase as it is responsible for about 80% of the total carbon footprint in its life cycle. It says that newly sourced materials used to make smartphones will be replaced with eco-friendly components as biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging is now a norm.
find a balance
According to the report, while OEMs motivate their customers to buy new, technologically advanced smartphones, they are also looking for a balance to protect the environment.
“Due to sustainability concerns, OEMs must maintain a balance between enticing consumers and caring for the environment. Chinese leaders like that OPPO, xiaomiand vivo are constantly trying to improve battery life and energy efficiency,” said Glen Cardoza, senior research analyst at Counterpoint Research.
End of life support
According to the report, OEMs have a lot to do when it comes to reclaiming their smartphones at the end of their useful life.
“Getting used smartphones back into the system is necessary in order to handle them sustainably. They need to be repaired/refurbished in order to be reused or responsibly recycled to close the loop. The main goal is to reduce e-waste, knowing how much OEMs are doing for this cause,” the report added.
Even as players in the retail refurbishment space are growing (15% in 2021 YoY), it is OEMs who need to work on their limited e-waste recovery, refurbishment and reduction. The greatest potential that can be achieved are initiatives such as trade-ins, which ensure buyback of the older devices, the report says.
“Brands like OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi have a long way to go when it comes to device takebacks and refurbishments given the volume of new smartphones they ship each year. Apple and Samsung are also leaders here, but most redemptions and refurbishments are taken care of by the other players in the secondary ecosystem,” the report said.
Who runs the market?
Apple leads the smartphone market in the overall approach towards sustainability, followed by Samsung. The companies are leaders in the three major phases of the smartphone circular economy – the production of smartphones, their use and end-of-life.
According to a report by counterpoint research, Apple tops the list when it comes to longevity, updates and innovations towards sustainability. Samsung gets second place in the repair, energy efficiency and after-sales network departments.
The market research company claims that the production of a smartphone is the most important phase as it is responsible for about 80% of the total carbon footprint in its life cycle. It says that newly sourced materials used to make smartphones will be replaced with eco-friendly components as biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging is now a norm.
find a balance
According to the report, while OEMs motivate their customers to buy new, technologically advanced smartphones, they are also looking for a balance to protect the environment.
“Due to sustainability concerns, OEMs must maintain a balance between enticing consumers and caring for the environment. Chinese leaders like that OPPO, xiaomiand vivo are constantly trying to improve battery life and energy efficiency,” said Glen Cardoza, senior research analyst at Counterpoint Research.
End of life support
According to the report, OEMs have a lot to do when it comes to reclaiming their smartphones at the end of their useful life.
“Getting used smartphones back into the system is necessary in order to handle them sustainably. They need to be repaired/refurbished in order to be reused or responsibly recycled to close the loop. The main goal is to reduce e-waste, knowing how much OEMs are doing for this cause,” the report added.
Even as players in the retail refurbishment space are growing (15% in 2021 YoY), it is OEMs who need to work on their limited e-waste recovery, refurbishment and reduction. The greatest potential that can be achieved are initiatives such as trade-ins, which ensure buyback of the older devices, the report says.
“Brands like OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi have a long way to go when it comes to device takebacks and refurbishments given the volume of new smartphones they ship each year. Apple and Samsung are also leaders here, but most redemptions and refurbishments are taken care of by the other players in the secondary ecosystem,” the report said.
