02 has recently introduced a UK eco rating scheme for mobile phones and it is easy to understand why when we consider some sobering statistics.
It is estimated that there are over 4 billion mobile phones globally that add up to a massive carbon footprint over their lifetime of more than 100 million tonnes. Just to give some idea of the significance of that figure. To offset it would require the UK to stop using every car and lorry and ground all domestic flights for one year. When we consider the scale of mobile phone use it’s not difficult to appreciate that modest environmental improvements can make a sizeable difference. In the UK alone, over 1700 mobile phones are replaced every minute. What’s more, CO2 is just one factor in the eco rating scheme.
To be useful the scoring system needs to consider the overall environmental impact of the product for its entire lifespan. This “cradle to grave” assessment starts with the raw materials used in manufacture, the impacts of the manufacturing process, packaging, lifespan, energy efficiency and whether the device can be reused or recycled easily. Environmental scientists refer to this as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Another important factor in eco scoring is whether the mobile phone contributes to environmental sustainability in indirect ways. For example, if the handset contains a camera, MP3 player or SatNav that does away with the need to own separate devices, or contains software that makes journeys by
public transport or foot easier. These factors are somewhat more tenuous and difficult to measure, but they provide incentives to greener behaviour.