Inhabitat











January 28, 2008

VIDEO: The Secret Life of Cellphones

by Emily Pilloton


Our friend Lloyd Hicks has made a great that’s a perfect lead-in to our upcoming Greener Gadgets Conference this Friday. We talk a lot about the under-recycled cell phone, but with videos like this, we’re starting to think there’s hope. While it brings to light issues like product life-cycle, materials, and the impact of these objects on the environment, we can’t help but believe there are possibilities for improvement (we’re even hosting a cell phone recycling center at Greener Gadgets!). Watch the video for the full story, and check out the Secret Life of Cell Phones website for even more info.

Just to get you thinking, here’s an excerpt from the website: “Consider this: during the extraction phase, raw materials must be extracted from the earth and refined before they go to the factories where products are made. The manufacturing phase uses energy and creates pollution. Transportation between each phase generates more negative impacts on the environment from the burning of fossil fuels. During the product’s use phase, it might require energy, use more natural resources and create more pollution. When the product reaches the end of its useful life, a choice is made either to recycle it and put it back into use (creating a circular pattern of use) or toss it in the trash (a linear pattern of use). Choices are made all along this chain, and understanding what those choices are is critical if we are to protect our environment and our health.

+ Secret Life of Cell Phones
+ Greener Gadgets Conference

3 Responses to “VIDEO: The Secret Life of Cellphones”

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Kat Says:
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thanks for getting the word out there.

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jean harrington Says:
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This is best thing you have ever offered.

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bosmet Says:
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This is really interesting. We’re having a workshopweek on cradle to cradle in our school in Antwerp, Belgium right now. It’s good to hear that Belgium is pitching in to make our e-waste problem a little smaller.

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