074: smartphone lifecycle: from mine to bin
Uncover the secret life of your smartphone! Trace its journey from mine to bin and discover the true cost of e-waste.
The Life and Death of a Smartphone
The Scenario
A major technology magazine has hired you as a Sustainability Consultant. They want to publish a feature titled "The True Cost of Your Phone." Most people think the cost is just the price tag, but you know better. You need to produce a visual guide that traces the lifecycle of a smartphone, highlighting the environmental impact at every stage.
The Persona
You are The Sustainable TechnologistI have no idea what this means. You care deeply about the planet. You look beyond the shiny screen to ask: "How was this made?", "Who made it?", and "What happens to it when it breaks?". You believe in the Circular Economy—where we reuse and recycle materials instead of throwing them away.1
Phase 1: The Mine (Raw Materials)
Use a search engine to find out what a smartphone is made of.
Search for: "What raw materials are in a smartphone?" and "Conflict minerals in electronics".
Identify three key materials (e.g., Gold, Cobalt, Lithium) and find out where they come from.
Key Question: What is the human or environmental cost of mining these materials?
2
Phase 2: The Factory (Making It)
Search for the term Embodied CarbonI have no idea what this means.
Find out how much energy is used just to build a phone before it is even turned on.
Key Fact to find: Does making the phone use more energy than using the phone for two years?
3
Phase 3: The Bin (Disposal)
Search for the term E-WasteI have no idea what this means (Electronic Waste).
Investigate what happens when phones are thrown in the bin. Do they rot? Do they release toxic chemicals?
Search for "Where does e-waste go?".
Key Solution: Look up "smartphone recycling" or the "Circular Economy".
4
Create Your Lifecycle Map
Open your presentation or graphics software.
Create a one-page visual guide (infographic) titled "The Lifecycle of a Smartphone".
Divide your page into three sections: Extraction, Production, and Disposal.
Use images and text boxes to explain the key facts you found in steps 1-3.
The Twist: Add a "Better Way" box. Suggest one thing users can do to help (e.g., "Repair instead of replace", "Buy refurbished").
Outcome
A clear visual guide showing the three stages of a smartphone's life.
Identification of at least three raw materials.
An explanation of "Embodied Carbon" or "E-Waste".
One suggestion for a more sustainable future.
Last modified: December 3rd, 2025
