How much water and raw materials does the production of a smartphone actually use? The refurbished platform Back Market addressed these and many other questions in its first impact report. The backgrounds.
The refurbished platform Back Market is its first Impact report presents. The company reports, among other things, on the effects of its own sales of used and refurbished electronic devices on people, industry and the environment.
How much water does the production of a smartphone use?
Back Market says it has helped prevent more than 1.3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions through the sale of remanufactured devices. The most important ecological findings of the report:
- The production of a smartphone consumes 267 kilograms of raw materials and needed 89,000 liters of fresh water.
- For the Making a laptop will be about 191,400 liters of fresh water needed.
- Only 17.4 percent of e-waste generated during the manufacture and disposal of devices is collected and recycled.
- The digital industry is expected to account for a share of 14 percent of global CO2 emissions have – more than the aviation industry.
- According to Back Market, a refurbished smartphone uses 91 percent fewer raw materials, 86 percent less water, generates 89 percent less electronic waste and releases 92 percent fewer greenhouse gases.
CO2 emissions in the digital industry
Aside from the ecological footprint, Back Market also looks at the people in its own company as well as the technology and refurbishment industry in its report. Company boss Thibaud Hug de Larauze said:
At Back Market, sustainability is at the core of what we do. This report is not just about the carbon emissions we avoid, but also about fostering a culture that cares for both people and our planet.
According to Back Market, the market share of used and remanufactured devices doubled between 2019 and 2024. In times of rising living costs, 35 percent of Europeans would intend to live in the coming year get a new smartphone. 52 percent of them consider remanufactured devices.
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The article How much water and raw material is used to produce a smartphone by Fabian Peters first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.