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Consumption

New smartphone (per year of 3-year lifecycle)

Uusi älypuhelin (per vuosi, 3 vuoden elinkaari)

55.9
Truecost score
Data confidence: HIGH

Carbon well-documented by multiple manufacturers and academic LCAs. Water and toxicity have higher uncertainty.

A new smartphone has a ~70 kg CO₂e lifecycle footprint, with 80% from manufacturing. Amortized over 3 years: ~23 kg CO₂e per year. Mineral mining causes significant harm.

Did you know? 80% of your phone's emissions happen before you open the box. Keeping it 4 years instead of 3 cuts annual emissions by 25% — easier than most consumer choices.
Transparent calculation

How was this number determined?

The Truecost score is calculated from absolute physical values. Each row below shows the measured value, how it was normalized, and where it comes from.

Dimension Absolute value Score 100 = Normalized Weight Weighted Confidence
Carbon Emissions 23.0 kg CO₂e 9.5 kg CO₂e 100 ×0.35 35.00 HIGH
Water Consumption 4000.0 liters 3840 liters 100 ×0.2 20.00 MEDIUM
Land Use 0.3 m²·year 51 m²·year 0.59 ×0.2 0.12 LOW
Waste 0.06 kg 5 kg 1.2 ×0.15 0.18 HIGH
Toxicity 10.0 µDALY 162 µDALY 6.17 ×0.1 0.62 LOW
Truecost score (weighted sum) 55.9

Share of your annual planetary budget

Carbon Emissions 2.42%
Water Consumption 1.04%
Land Use <0.01%
Waste 0.01%
Toxicity 0.06%
Source data by dimension

Where do the absolute values come from?

Carbon Emissions
HIGH
Average smartphone lifecycle: 57-79 kg CO₂e total (Ericsson 2020, Apple/Samsung reports). Using 70 kg as mid-estimate: iPhone 11 = 79 kg, Samsung Galaxy S10 = 51 kg, Carbon Trust average = 60 kg. Amortized over 3 years: 70 / 3 ≈ 23 kg CO₂e/year. ~80% from manufacturing, ~15% from use, ~5% transport/disposal.
  • Ericsson (2020): Life cycle environmental impacts of a smartphone
  • Cordella et al. (2021): Reducing the carbon footprint of ICT products — Journal of Industrial Ecology
  • Apple (2024): iPhone Environmental Reports
  • Samsung (2024): LCA Results for Smartphones

Well-documented by manufacturers. Range 50-90 kg depending on model (flagships higher). 80% of emissions from manufacturing phase.

Water Consumption
MEDIUM
Smartphone manufacturing requires ~12,000 L water total (semiconductor fabrication, mineral processing, battery production). Per year: 12,000 / 3 = 4,000 L. Semiconductor fabs use ultra-pure water in large quantities.
  • TSMC (2023): Corporate Social Responsibility Report — water usage per wafer
  • Wäger et al. (2011): Environmental impacts of electronics — Environmental Impact Assessment Review

Water data for full supply chain is fragmented. Semiconductor manufacturing is the largest contributor.

Land Use
LOW
Mining for cobalt, lithium, rare earths, gold, tantalum requires ~1 m² per device total (mining + processing land). 1.0 / 3 = 0.3 m²·year.
  • Nuss & Eckelman (2014): Life Cycle Assessment of Metals — PLoS ONE

Mining land use poorly documented per consumer device. Includes direct mining area and tailings.

Waste
HIGH
Average smartphone: 175-200g. Over 3 years: ~180 / 3 = 60g/year. Only 12% of global e-waste recycled (UN E-waste Monitor 2024). E-waste growing ~5% annually.
  • UN Global E-waste Monitor (2024): Electronic waste statistics

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally.

Toxicity
LOW
Mining cobalt (DRC: child labor, toxic exposure), lithium (water contamination in Chile/Argentina), gold (mercury amalgamation), tantalum (conflict minerals). Manufacturing: solvent exposure, heavy metals. E-waste: lead, cadmium, brominated flame retardants. Estimated ~30 µDALY total / 3 years = 10 µDALY/year.
  • Wäger et al. (2011): Environmental and health impacts of e-waste — Environmental Impact Assessment Review
  • Nuss & Eckelman (2014): Life Cycle Assessment of Metals — PLoS ONE

Toxicity highly dependent on mining conditions and e-waste disposal location. Cobalt mining in DRC has severe human health impacts.

Comparisons

Methodology

Based on manufacturer-published LCA reports (Apple, Samsung) and academic studies (Ericsson, Cordella et al.). Lifecycle total divided by 3-year use period.

Sources