This initiative aims to promote sustainable digital technologies

Smartphones have now become an essential part of our lives. Most of the world’s population now owns a smartphone, and on average they buy a new one every two to three years. Therefore, you can imagine the huge amount of e-waste that a particular product line generates every year. Citing this issue, several European companies have launched a small but powerful initiative to promote more sustainable ways to maintain digital technology.

The organization, named FairTEC, aims to collectively address the social and environmental impacts of modern digital technologies. The initiative was launched by six European companies, each with different technical expertise, with the aim of providing a sustainable digital environment for end users and promoting the responsible use of mobile devices.

Today, we are already seeing major technology companies taking significant steps to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt greener ways of operating their businesses. Apple, which provides solar energy for its massive Apple Park facility, has stopped shipping power adapters in iPhone boxes to reduce e-waste in the environment. This has become an industry trend as companies follow the Cupertino giant and stop including power adapters in device boxes.

However, most of these steps are unsystematic and considered a side effort for companies. Meanwhile, FairTEC member companies aim to bring the environmental impact of smartphones and their accessories to the forefront and address important issues.

The companies that founded FairTEC include Fairphone, which makes modular and easily repairable smartphones; Commown, a company that provides smartphone rental services; and /e/OS, a French software organization that offers Android OS without Google services; and UK utility companies. The provider uses a low-carbon utility called The Phone Coop.

Together, these six companies aim to provide users with more sustainable digital technologies that respect privacy and have a positive impact on the environment. This initiative also supports the Right to Repair movement, as we believe that improving the repairability of smartphones will significantly reduce e-waste in the environment.

“For us, joining an initiative like FairTEC felt very natural because we all share its values ​​and intentions. “We believe that there is a rich ecosystem out there, and that by working together we can benefit end users in more effective and tangible ways,” said Alexis Noetinger of the e Foundation, which developed /e/OS. states.

The initiative currently only operates in Europe, as all member companies are based in the region. At the moment, we are focusing on mobile technology and communications industry. However, the founders encourage participation and believe that organizations in similar industries, such as consumer advocacy companies and companies focused on customer privacy and data security, can join the movement in the future. There is.

“We have a strong vision for the impact we want to achieve, and this can only be achieved by working with like-minded organizations,” says Luke James, Sales and Partnerships Manager at Fairphone. However, “we must remain open to other responsible parties within the industry joining FairTEC,” James added.