Fairphone launches its most sustainable smartphone yet

Global – Dutch tech company Fairphone, known for its commitment to ethical smartphone manufacturing, has unveiled the Fairphone 5 in collaboration with Swedish design agency Above. This release underlines Fairphone’s dedication to reducing the environmental and social impact of battery metal mining.

Key features of the Fairphone 5 include its ground-breaking battery, made from recycled steel, nickel alloy, tin and plastic. Fairphone also aims to improve the working conditions of supply chain labourers of metals such as lithium, gold and cobalt. Its initiatives include sourcing lithium from a mine audited against the standard set by the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance – recognised as an industry leader. Moreover, Fairphone employs ‘mineral credits’ to offset its material use, supporting safer mining conditions and creating fairer models of production.

Beyond its battery, the Fairphone 5 is e-waste-neutral, with Fairphone recycling an equivalent amount of electronic waste for every new phone sold. The brand is also maintaining its commitment to creating repairable tech, with Fairphone 5’s battery being removable and replaceable, along with nine other modules including the cameras, loudspeaker, USBC-port, SIM card and SD card slot. Design agency Above has created these components to be easier to remove than before, aligning with consumers’ demand for the right to repair, as discussed in Six tech brands developing DIY repairable devices.