In terms of the three main phases of the smartphone circular economy—production, use, and end of life—Apple leads the market for smartphones in terms of overall sustainability, followed by Samsung. When it comes to used inventory or mobile e-waste, though, there is a lot that has to be done.
According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung outperforms Apple in terms of repairability, energy efficiency, and after-sales networks while Apple performs well in terms of overall longevity, upgrades, and developments toward sustainability.
Production-Related Efforts To Environmental Benefits
The most important stage of the process is smartphone production because it accounts for around 80% of the carbon footprint a smartphone leaves behind during its life cycle. The report further mentioned that leading companies like Samsung, Apple, and OPPO have begun to spread environmental benefits through their production-related efforts. The global market for reconditioned goods expanded by 15% (year over year) in 2021, and it appears that this growth will continue in the years to come.
"Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are required to strike a balance between attracting customers and protecting the environment as a result of sustainability initiatives. Leaders in the Chinese market like OPPO, Xiaomi, and Vivo are constantly working to increase battery life and energy efficiency "said senior research analyst Glen Cardoza. When it comes to retrieving smartphones after their functional lives are through, OEMs have a lot of work to do.
Loop Hole In Sustainability System
"To manage sustainability, used smartphones must be reintegrated into the system. To close the loop, they must be recycled properly or repaired and upgraded for reuse. Reducing e-waste is the major goal here. Knowing how much OEMs are contributing to this cause is crucial "Cardoza threw in.
"While OEM initiatives on recycling, refurbishing, and reducing e-waste is very limited, carriers and players in retail refurbishment are expanding. Even the best brands do not actively pull back enough of their used stock, according to the survey. If we take into account the number of new smartphones they ship each year, companies like OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi still have a ways to go with regard to reclaiming and repairing devices. Apple and Samsung are the market leaders here as well, but according to the survey, the secondary ecosystem's other businesses handle the majority of the reclaiming and refurbishing.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
