| When it comes to purchasing a new mobile, one of the | | | | materials. |
| last things people take into consideration is how | | | | There is a wealth of options manufactures can |
| eco-friendly a prospective handset will be. | | | | implement to make their phones more efficient, some |
| With the ever increasing interest in environmental | | | | as simple as giving users more control of standby time |
| friendly products though, many consumers are now | | | | and screen brightness control. |
| beginning to question the impact their handsets’ are | | | | Some overhauls that both manufactures and carriers |
| having on the environment, and the changes that can | | | | can incorporate are to; use less packaging and to |
| be made to help lessen this problem. | | | | move towards green company practices. With |
| The movement towards “greener” handsets | | | | regards to packaging, companies could simply use less |
| though is proving a considerably slow one. This is | | | | and ensure if not all but the majority of the materials |
| because a great majority of the responsibility of | | | | used are recycle. |
| making handsets more environmentally friendly lies with | | | | Lastly, it is down to us, the end users – not only can |
| the manufactures and carriers, who, being very large | | | | we help drive manufactures to making more |
| corporations are not accustomed to making rapid | | | | eco-friendly phones, but we can take some very |
| changes. | | | | simple steps to ensure we are doing our part. A quick |
| A further problem lies with the end user, the consumer | | | | list of these has been outlined below - |
| – if they do not express a desire for a greener | | | | - Educate yourself on greener practices through |
| phone then manufactures simply will not invest their | | | | manufactures websites, and support the efforts they |
| time and resources in developing them. | | | | are working towards |
| As mentioned, manufactures are the major player | | | | - Opt for paperless billing, if you have access to the |
| when it comes to making the shift to greener phones. | | | | internet, then there’s no reason not too! |
| Some of the biggest areas they are working on are | | | | - Make sure you recycle any old mobile phones |
| their choices’ of materials and making their | | | | - Try to avoid updating your handset every few |
| handset’s more energy efficient. For instance, all | | | | months; mobile phones have a long lifespan so |
| handsets cannot be disposed of in normal household | | | | there’s no need to update them that often. If you |
| waste, because of the toxic materials used to make | | | | do however, then have a look online, where you’re |
| them. There are however, alternatives to these and a | | | | bound to find the best mobile phones deals. |
| few major manufactures are experimenting with such | | | | |