Black Friday: a smartphone costs more than 649€
E-waste is now the fastest-growing category of domestic waste, with 25 million tonnes generated annually, primarily in Europe and the United States. To put that into perspective, this is equivalent to the combined weight of the populations of the U.S. and Canada.
What’s in Your Smartphone?
Each smartphone contains over 60 different elements, including valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and platinum. Yet most of these high-value materials are dumped or burned, rather than recovered or reused.
Recycling Falls Short
Despite the potential for reuse, only 10-15% of e-waste is collected and recycled. The rest? It often ends up in developing countries, where it releases hazardous substances that harm both the environment and human health.
The Cycle of Consumption
With many of us upgrading our phones every 2-3 years, the demand for new devices—and the e-waste they create—is unsustainable. If this cycle continues, the environmental and health consequences will only worsen.
A Black Friday Decision
This Black Friday, before buying a new phone, ask yourself: Do I really need it? Contributing to the e-waste crisis has lasting costs—not just for today, but for generations to come.
Because in the end, we all pay for this.
Source:
E-waste: An assessment of global production and environmental impacts
Apple and Samsung Environmental Reports.
Global E-Waste Monitor 2020: Published by the United Nations
