“The act with the most negative environmental impact as an individual is purchasing new equipment. Our first lever of action is therefore to extend the lifespan as long as possible.†When reading the report For a sustainable digital published by Arcep in 2023, there is no longer room for doubt: what pollutes the most in digital technology is the compulsive renewal of devices of all kinds.
Production as the largest source of emissions
According to an information report from the Senate, “81% of French digital emissions come from terminalsâ€. Terminals is here to be understood in the sense of phones, tablets and everyday technological gadgets. The rest of the digital industry therefore shares the remaining 19%, including 14% due to data centers and 5% to networks.
“The production of new equipment would represent 75% of the total impact of the productâ€
If we want to be even more precise, it is the production phase of these terminals which is the most ecologically speaking. According to Arcep, “the production of new equipment would represent 75% of the total impact of the productâ€. To put it another way, three-quarters of your phone’s carbon impact was generated before you even put it in your pocket for the first time. The same goes for televisions and computers, which are even more polluting.
Making it last, the only viable solution
The use phase of these devices is therefore only worth 25% of their total carbon footprint. The importance of making your terminals last first and foremost, then repairing them and buying refurbished ones as a last resort is therefore essential. After an analysis of the life cycle of the Fairphone 4, by smoothing the carbon footprint of a phone over five to seven years rather than three, the latter falls by 30 to 40%. , according to Fairphone.
Before sorting through your emails, consider repairing the screen of your phone rather than putting it in the closet.