Tech-ling one e-waste mountain at a time: a guide to sustainable technology

As you are reading this from your beloved screen, have you ever wondered what happens to your laptop, phone or other tech at the end of its life? Usually they end up in drawers or get sent away for destruction.

We’ve all been down the “out of sight, out of mind” road. The thing is… at the very end, your old tech probably ends up in landfills and becomes electronic waste. Every 14th of October is International E-Waste Day, so let’s discuss it today! This year’s theme is to educate consumers – a.k.a you and I – to be more conscious and circular about our tech consumption. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

E-waste brings a serious threat because it has a significant effect on the environment and health of every-living-being! The impact of e-waste on human health itself is nothing short of dangerous as it contains more than 1,000 harmful substances such as mercury and lead that can contaminate the soil, air, water and food chain 😣. Some of us might wonder how big of a problem e-waste is. Here’s some stats to put things into perspective:

> It’s projected that there will be over 59 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated by 2022, that’s like dumping more than 3 million double-decker London buses into our planet!

> Of all the e-waste produced in 2019, only 17.4% was collected and recycled.

> The UK is the second-largest e-waste generator per person globally.

The next question is, what can we do about it? As consumers, we have a powerful role to play, and it boils down to how we choose to consume tech. Have you heard about the Circular Economy? It’s an alternative to the traditional Linear Economy model where we make, use and dispose of goods/resources. Instead, we make, use and re-use the available resources for as long as possible, essentially keeping everything “in the loop” or in circulation because to fight waste we need to waste less.

The next time you feel that your tech is not up to scratch anymore and you’re thinking about getting a new phone, laptop or tablet… hit that pause button. Can you repair it? If you are a techie yourself, iFixit offers a repair manual for free. Or, you can find companies like Klyk to help you repair and renew your beloved device. Otherwise, the next best thing is to consider buying refurbished.

Photo by Klyk.

Circling back to the Circular Economy principles, refurbished technology is essentially using existing tech devices that have been repaired and sanitised so that they are ready for their next life. This way, there won’t be any “waste” because these devices are ready to be used again! If the condition is not as good, the parts can be used to complement other devices’ refurbishment process. Buying refurbished also helps to cut CO2 emissions. For example, it takes 500 pounds of fossil fuel, 50 pounds of chemicals and 1.5 tonnes of water to make a computer and monitor. Buying a refurbished laptop can save up to 300 kg of CO2 – that’s what a Boeing 747 emits when flying for 128 hours!

A very important thing to remember though is that not all refurbished tech was created equal. We should be careful about where we decide to buy these refurbished tech devices from.

Here’s a guide to buying refurbished tech:

1. Check the manufacturers and types

> Apple products are well made. They are built to last, which means they are a great option to buy refurbished. However, Apple devices can’t be easily opened up and Apple is making this harder every year. This means you need to make sure you are buying from a trusted buyer (with a 12-month warranty) because if there are any faults they can be expensive to repair. Also inspect its Battery Health from Settings (iPhone) or System Preferences (MacBook).

> The winner of the refurbished tech world? Windows Laptops and Desktops! Go for the best brands such as Dell, HP and Lenovo. It’s essential to check the processor and make sure it’s suitable for your needs, because other parts have likely been upgraded or replaced to make sure it's working properly.

> There isn’t much market for refurbished Android mobile phones except for Samsung. If you are interested in buying a refurbished Samsung, narrow your search to only reputable dealers to make sure it has been tested and comes with a warranty (a very important point we’ll discuss down below!).

2. Look closely at the Device Grade

Refurbished tech has a grading system. The grade indicates how well it works and what it looks like. Bear in mind that each seller has their own grading system, but in general there are 4 grades:

> As Good As New. As the name suggests, it looks and works like the new ones would. Usually these are the returned or re-manufactured products.

> Grade A (Excellent). Small signs of wear and tear, battery health of above 80%.

> Grade B (Good). Some marks of usage, battery health of above 80% – it’s like the condition of your phone with a good case and screen protector.

> Grade C (Fair). In working condition with visible marks and signs of wear & tear and a well-used battery.

Photo by Klyk.

3. The most important thing to consider: tech device warranty!

A warranty is essential, even when buying new tech. If anything happens, you have the peace of mind to have it replaced or repaired. Reputable sources usually offer warranty, for example, Klyk offers a 1-year “no quibble” warranty for every tech purchase. It doesn’t hurt to find out about their refurbishment process too, mainly because it helps you understand the process your future tech device has gone through. This brings us to our last point, beware of “cheap deals”! Buying refurbished tech should get you your money’s worth, but if it’s too cheap there’s probably something wrong with it.

When you do have the need to upgrade your tech, save £50 off your purchase at Klyk!*

Use the code GOODFIND50 at the checkout. Sounds good?

*With a minimum purchase of £500, for all products, one use per customer

Words by Astrid Ginting from Klyk.