There are many everyday actions that can be done to help protect the environment, such as recycling, avoiding wasting water or using the car less. However, we can also do it with technology.

According to a United Nations report, approximately 50 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide each year, a figure that could triple by 2050.

In addition, despite its drop due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, in the second quarter of this year the global sale of smartphones to end users registered a figure of 295 million units.

For this reason, there are several companies that have launched sustainable cell phones, which offer a longer useful life in order to reduce the waste generated by frequently replacing smartphones, and even offer the opportunity to replace some items to upgrade or repair.

Teracube

One of these companies is Teracube, which offers users warranties of up to four years - covering any damage, at no additional cost to the user -, replaceable batteries, and the use of recycled materials , all framed in the philosophy of "repair, not replace".

At the beginning of October it launched Teracube 2e, it includes the Android 10 operating system and has a 1.8 Ghz octa-core processor, as well as 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage.

Crafted from recycled materials and in a biodegradable casing, this device comes with a fingerprint sensor, face unlock technology, and a headphone jack. It also has a 4,000 mAh battery, is easy to repair, and has its Indiegogo campaign that achieved the funding goal it had set in less than two months. It will be sold for a price of 84 euros (around $15,350, according to today's exchange rate in Argentina).

Fairphone

Another company offering sustainable mobile phones is Fairphone, which designs "products with longer lifespans and that are easy to repair." "We take care of reducing waste and making the most of what we already have," the company says on its website.

The sustainable Fairphone 3 smartphone arrived in Spain at the end of 2019 and incorporates a modular design made up of a screen, battery and camera that can be individually repaired, which helps extend the life of the device and minimize its environmental impact.

In addition, Fairphone phones, which use recycled materials, feature a 3,040 mAh battery that can last a full day, as well as 64GB of memory that can be expanded up to 400GB with an SD card.

This phone is available in two versions: the Fairphone 3, which has 12 and 8-megapixel cameras, and the Fairphone 3+, with a 5.65-inch Full HD+ display and 48 and 16MP cameras.

The Fairphone 3 can be obtained through the company's website for a price of 419 euros ($76,500), while the Fariphone 3+ is available for a price of 469 euros ($85,700).

The company also has a recycling service for old mobiles, since, as they themselves point out, "the more we reuse and recycle, the less we will have to extract from the mines and manufacture". In addition, in the event that a mobile from the brand is delivered, a refund can be obtained when buying one of its latest models.

Shift

Shift6m is a German proposal that can be easily fixed. To do this, it has a modular design and easy access to the battery and the screen, since it only has one type of screw head that holds the device together and, in addition, the mobile box includes a screwdriver to make repairs.

However, this device is not so easy to repair like the Fairphone 3, since it has some overlapping components and short connection cables.

The Shift6m has a 5.7-inch Full HD AMOLED screen and Gorilla Glass protection, a 4,242 mAh battery, a 21MP rear camera, a 13MP front camera and is available through the official SHIFT website for 555 euros ($101,000). Its casing is also made of recyclable polycarbonate.