How to reduce e-waste with Nokia phones that are made to last longer

Recycling is only part of the story

We were thrilled to receive an invitation to Frankfurt to speak at the E-waste World Conference, where we had the opportunity to share our thoughts on what it takes to keep phones and tablets out of the landfill. This also included a brief panel Q&A together with other industry leaders in this field, Fairphone and Logitech. HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones has earned the Ecovadis Platinum ranking, putting us in the top 1% of most sustainable companies in the world. Because we believe that connecting the world won’t cost the earth, this is an important topic for us.

The E-Waste World Conference focuses on addressing the growing issue of electronic waste and finding more sustainable solutions. Our objective was to shed light on the often-overlooked aspect of circular economy: what happens before devices reach the recycling stage. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of durability, repairability, and the challenges we face in driving sustainable practices.

Smartphones: the poster child of e-waste

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, but their rapid turnover rate contributes significantly to the problem of electronic waste. Roughly 80% of the energy consumption of a mobile phone is created by the manufacturing process, whilst only 20% of mobile phones are ever recycled. That means that a lot of us will buy a new phone while leaving the old one in a drawer somewhere. Countless devices are also discarded prematurely, filling landfills and posing environmental hazards. At the E-waste World Conference, we were invited to discuss the root causes of this issue and present our perspective on tackling it.

Durability as the foundation of sustainability

We believe the battle against e-waste all begins with devices that are made to last longer. This is why all our products undergo rigorous testing processes, including durability tests against everyday knocks and drops. Simply put, if a smartphone lasts longer, it won’t need replacing as soon. That can reduce the number of phones we buy overall.

To demonstrate the robustness of our devices, we recently put Nokia C12, our most affordable smartphone, against the top selling models in the $75-125 price band. The testing was completed by a third-party lab in Finland, who essentially dropped the phones until they stopped working. Not only did Nokia C12 outperform all other devices, in some instances it endured almost 3 times as much damage.¹

Damage caused by accidental drops are among the top causes for replacing a phone. That’s why it’s important for both the planet and the phone owner to build phones that stand up to those everyday knocks and mishaps.

Nokia XR21: Sustainability through durability

Pushing durability to the extreme, we launched the Nokia XR21 in May this year - and it’s proven to be our most durable smartphone to date.

Looking to maximize the usage of recycled materials in our products, we tested various recycled compounds. However, we found that those compounds didn’t deliver the level of durability we wanted for the external parts of the phone. Nokia XR21 is tested against military standards² to take on drop after drop from heights of up to 1.8 meters, and after that get jet blasted by 80-degree water at up to 100 bar pressure. I’ve personally taken these tests much beyond what we certify for, and successfully driven over my own phone with an electric SUV on multiple occasions – for testing purposes, of course, not just for fun. That said, it is obviously not covered by our manufacturer's warranty and should never ever be tried at home. I ran over my phone so you don’t have to.

Anyway, back tracking to recycled materials. Instead of utilizing them for the device exterior as we do for other devices, we put them on the inside. Nokia XR21 is built around a 100% recycled aluminum chassis. We added in a big battery that keeps 80% of its original capacity even after 800 full charging cycles,³ delivering as much as 4 years of use. Add to that, 3 years of warranty⁴ and a 1-year screen replacement guarantee, just in case. It also gets 3 years of Android OS upgrades from the device launch date - our longest software upgrade promise to date. All in all, Nokia XR21 aims to extend the traditional lifespan of a smartphone and reduces the need for premature replacement.

Nokia phones are driving repairability for all

Another way we’re increasing the lifespan of our devices is through improved end-user repairability. We’re heavy promoters of right-to-repair and have partnered up with the people who know DIY the best, iFixit,⁵ to make accessing official parts, guidance and tools easier starting with the Nokia G22 and Nokia G42 5G.

We wanted to start off our repairability journey with a device under the €200 mark, followed by a repairable 5G phone under €250. This makes repairability much more accessible, rather than going up to a price point that would cut off a lot of people. With no heating, alcohol or specialized tools, Nokia G22 and Nokia G42 5G users can swap out their dead battery, bent charging port and broken display – all without losing their 3-year warranty.⁴

iFixit gave Nokia G22 a score of 8/10 in their repairability index, which we gladly take for our first repairable device, especially considering the sub-200 Euro price-point which is notoriously difficult for driving any kind of sustainability innovations in design. To achieve this, we looked at our previous devices and considered how to gain access to the insides of the device and how the components are attached. Our design team built a whole new type of removable back cover that fuses together the 100% recycled back plate with the side frame, combining premium looks of a modern “sandwich-design” with pop-off functionality. We also made sure to use the same type of screw to attach most of the components inside, so you’ll only need a standard Phillips 00 screwdriver.

For the battery, we decided to go with a modern soft-shell battery that allowed us to keep the device nice and thin, and to allow for up to 3-day battery life⁵ with the same 800 charging cycles³ as Nokia XR21. That of course needs to be attached to the body somehow, and we opted out from using glue requiring alcohol (and melting time) to remove the battery, instead going with a sticker holding the battery in place combined with a strong pull tab to allow for simple removal with only a little force.

The repairable Nokia G22 and Nokia G42 5G are the most recent steps we’ve taken on our broader sustainability journey. We’ll be taking even bigger leaps in the future, so watch this space.

Transparency and empowerment

We believe in empowering users by offering transparency about the repair process. By providing clear instructions on how to replace components like a broken screen, we want to enable users to make informed decisions on what it takes to get their phone fixed. For some, this means jumping into some DIY action. For others, it means a visit to the service center. It's crucial to shift the mindset from disposability to repairability, and making the repair experience exciting rather than worrisome is a key part of this.

Challenges ahead

While we strive to promote repairability, two significant challenges emerge. The first is making it possible and increasingly easier to repair devices and to keep them in use for longer.

The second one is just as important: encouraging smartphone consumers to embrace repair instead of replace. That requires a big shift in mindset. We are committed to improving the repair process, focusing on user-friendly designs, accessible repair tools, and simplified procedures. By working towards making repairs hassle-free and even rewarding, we hope to remove perceived barriers to do-it-at-home repairability. A broken screen could ruin your day. We are changing that.

To wrap up

Our participation at the E-Waste World Conference gave us a platform to share our commitment to driving sustainability and repairability in the smartphone industry. Through durable devices, repair-friendly designs, and transparent practices, we aim to reduce electronic waste and empower users to make environmentally conscious choices.

The journey ahead may have its challenges, but we are dedicated to creating a smartphone future where sustainable practices and repairability take center stage in a quarter with an attractive design and a product specifications list.

The fact is, durable and repairable devices are better for us as well as the planet. Let’s keep them in our hands for longer – where they belong – and out of the landfill.