Circularity in technology products is something we need to start taking seriously. With the passage of time and constant advances in technology, the consumption of tech products is increasing rapidly along with the generation of electronic waste (E-waste). E-waste is often not managed properly resulting in harmful emissions which in turn cause global pollution, habitat destruction and climate change.
Typically, E-waste ends up in landfills. There it ends up releasing toxic elements such as chromium and mercury into the environment which leads to soil, air, and water pollution. These toxic elements not only harm wildlife but also post a threat to human health.
Recycling E-waste minimizes the need to mine the earth for raw materials and puts less pressure on natural resources. It also helps to keep waste out of landfills which in turn minimizes the risk of causing health issues in people and animals living nearby areas.
Recycled e-waste provides useful materials such as glass, aluminium, copper, gold, and plastics which can be used to produce new products.
According to a report from the United Nations (UN), approximately 50,000,000 tonnes of E-waste is generated each year and there is 100 times more gold in one tonne of E-waste than in one tonne of mined gold ore.
Instead of throwing away E-waste we must consider selling or donating our used tech products such as mobile phones, laptops and televisions to E-waste recycling facilities.
Companies such as Sell My iPhone will buy your old mobile phones at reasonable prices and refurbish them to give them a new life. Other companies such as Ruezone specialise in selling refurbished devices for those wishing to be conscientious consumers.
Sometimes, people do not consider buying refurbished electronic products as they are unaware of the benefits. Therefore, we have put together a list of some of the benefits of reusing tech products. Let us explore them one by one.
Buying a refurbished device can be significantly cheaper than buying one that is brand new. You might be surprised to know that even the latest devices in pristine condition get traded into companies such as Sell My iPhone, allowing smart consumers to obtain good as new devices at bargain prices.
Buying refurbished devices an economical way to recycle electronic products, reducing the cost and simultaneously minimizing your environmental footprint.
If you minimize your own E-waste and reuse electronic devices, you can significantly decrease your carbon footprint. Much of the carbon footprint associated with electronics is generated during the production phase. From the mining of resources to the mega-factories where they are produced, more CO2 emissions are created by the production of smartphones than by their usage.
If there is circularity in technology products, less resources are required for the manufacturing of new products, minimizing your individual environmental footprint.
The manufacture of electronic products requires a lot of natural resources. To obtain raw materials such as gold, copper, silver and platinum, companies engage in large scale mining operations. These mining activities are often carried out in environmentally sensitive areas, sometimes illegally, leading to loss of habitat and reduced biodiversity. When you opt to buy refurbished electronic products, the need to manufacturing new ones is decreased which in turn preserves natural habitats and biodiversity along with minimizing pollution and climate change.
To obtain good quality refurbished electronic devices for reuse, you must give your old tech products to recycling facilities. Making use of these services increases the demand for labour in recycling industries which in turn creates employment opportunities. Reusing tech products not only helps in environmental sustainability but also creates socio-economic benefits. With more and more devices being discarded annually the opportunities for employment are vast.
When electronic devices are recycled, they are sold in affordable prices in the market. This increases the accessibility of such products to people in underprivileged positions and makes it easy for them to afford electronic goods. People can also donate their used tech products to charitable organizations, schools, or financially unstable families rather than discarding them.
We often take for granted the unparalleled access to information that modern technology has afforded us in modern society and the benefits associated. A circular electronic economy grants access to modern devices to those in less fortunate situations and to those in developing nations. It cannot be overstated the value that easy access to information carries, such as educational resources, important news, and newfound commerce opportunities.
Producing new products requires energy to mine, filter and transport the raw materials. By reusing and recycling devices you can minimize the need of production for new ones, which translates into less energy usage to obtain essential materials from the earth.
To preserve natural resources, minimize our collective carbon footprint, and promote community and environmental benefits, it is necessary that we start considering E-waste minimization as a priority. Safeguarding the environment needs to be a primary motivation for all of us as it will help lead us to a sustainable future. So, let us begin taking some initiatives and all contribute towards the betterment of the world.
Climate change is occurring at an alarming rate and has many broad-reaching impacts on human health, the economy, and the stability of the natural environment. Increased emissions of greenhouse gases that trap heat and block it from escaping the atmosphere drive significant global disruption to climate systems as we know them. Low-income, indigenous, and communities of colour are already bearing the brunt of climate change and are disproportionately on the front lines of environmental disasters. A healthy planet is not an option ? it is a necessity.
We at SellMyiPhone are passionate about doing our part to help, it is the very reason our business exists. 1.4 billion mobile devices are manufactured annually as consumers satisfy their desires to have the latest technology, the vast majority of these are upgrades to replace perfectly functional devices. Much of our e-waste is simply discarded, and the UK alone produces 1.45 million tonnes of e-waste each year.
When life around the world returns to normal, our world cannot return to business-as-usual. We have the ability to make a difference in every industry, but that can only happen when we work together. Join EARTHDAY.ORG to Restore Our Earth as we come together to make clear that climate action and restoration cannot wait. Restore Our Earth focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world?s ecosystems. In this way, the campaign rejects the notion that mitigation or adaptation are the only ways to address climate change.
Restore Our Earth encompasses goals and actions including reforestation, regenerative agriculture and sustainable food, plastic clean-ups, climate literacy, and citizen science. From capturing carbon and supporting the health and resilience of communities, to advocating for compulsory, assessed climate education, we have the ability to make lasting changes.
By recycling your device with SellMyiPhone you can save a device from ending up in a landfill, prevent habitat destruction caused by the mining of raw material used to make phones, and reduce carbon emissions related to mobile phones, the 85-95% of which are produced during the manufacturing phase.
More than 1 billion people in 192 countries now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Today, I invite you to be a part of Earth Day and to help further climate action across the globe.
Restoration is imperative to fighting climate change and making the Earth a safer, healthier, and more equitable place to live. It?s time to step up. It?s time to make a change.
