Using WhatsApp written message service is quick and efficient. Mark Zuckerberg who has the largest share of Meta Platform’s, Inc., a publicly traded company may have realized WhatsApp would help reduce carbon emissions.
According to the BBC news information service from Great Britain 5 million phones were to be thrown away in 2022 alone. E-waste is a growing global environmental issue that isn’t going away.
The amount of waste created by used phones is significant:
Annual e-waste
The world generates around 40 million tons of e-waste each year, which is equivalent to throwing away 800 laptops every second.
Mobile phones
In 2022, the international Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum estimated that 5.3 billion mobile phones were thrown away.
E-waste growth
The growth of e-waste has been higher than the growth in recycling over the past decade.
Environmental impact
E-waste contains hundreds of toxic substances, including lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and flame retardants. Incinerating e-waste releases harmful toxins into the air.
Carbon emissions
A single user making two minutes of calls per day creates 47 kg of carbon emissions annually.
The mobile industry is working to develop a more "circular" supply chain for smartphones. The goal is to have at least 20% of new mobile devices collected through operator take-back schemes by 2030.
One Brazilian company that began its journey in the United Kingdom is Doji that facilitates the smartphone secondhand marketplace by changing people’s attitude towards buying new and reusing used ones which exist and often have more shelf life available instead of dumping.
This attitude has contributed to reducing E-waste. Therefore, their contribution to E-waste reduction shouldn’t go unrewarded, and instead governments should get behind them to encourage smartphone revamping.
So instead of Trump worrying about how he can make the USA the world’s center for cryptocurrency, his endorsement would be better put to use by encouraging people to check out such an option being developed nationwide by Doji with traders whilst implementing Doji in the USA.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
P.S. I’m sorry for not realizing, but actually a WhatsApp message produces approximately 0.2 grams of CO2, not to mention that photos, videos and audios can pollute much more. The carbon footprint calls for your attention.
Vocabulary builder:
Shelf Life (n) = the length of time for which an item remains usable, fit for consumption, or saleable (sellable).
Dumping (gerund verb) = to get rid of, dispose
Revamping (v) = restoring, overhauling, give a face-lift, do up
Endorsement (n) = validation, certification, testimonial, seal of approval, backing
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