{"id":1304,"date":"2025-03-25T13:45:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T13:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/ditch\/?p=1304"},"modified":"2025-03-25T21:58:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T21:58:48","slug":"iphones-and-co2-how-buying-second-hand-can-cut-your-carbon-footprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/ditch\/iphones-and-co2-how-buying-second-hand-can-cut-your-carbon-footprint\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhones and CO2: how buying second-hand can cut your carbon footprint"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With over 46 different models, it\u2019s no surprise that iPhones are everywhere. But how environmentally friendly is the process of making them?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can buy a new one from a shop, pick up a used one online, or grab one from that drawer full of them in the kitchen. Mobile phones are everywhere; you can\u2019t escape their radiation, yet companies keep on making more. Regardless of how you got hold of your current blower, the journey from quarry to pocket is an environmentally devastating one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a study by Lancaster University<\/a>, the information and communications technology sector could amount to as much as 2.8% of the current global greenhouse emissions, rising to as much as 3.9% in the coming years. That takes into consideration everything from AI infrastructure to smartwatch production. To put this in perspective, global aviation contributes 2.5%<\/a> of the world\u2019s carbon emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the price comparison company Uswitch<\/a>, Apple is by far the most popular mobile phone supplier in the UK, dominating 50% of the market in 2023, with Samsung trailing behind at 30% share.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the iPhone 17 arriving this autumn, can we bear the environmental costs of yet another incremental upgrade? Well, if we look at it from a CO2<\/sub> perspective, one top-spec iPhone 16 belches out 97kg of CO2<\/sub> from production to retirement, according to Apple<\/a>, this is the same as driving your car 225 miles from Birmingham to Penzance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harmful histories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite Apple\u2019s public commitment to lowering its impact on the environment, the carbon footprint of the iPhone has risen by 76% since 2008. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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