In 2024, over 1.2 billion new smartphones were sold in 2024 and they emitted more than 60MtCO2e from manufacturing alone.This was disclosed by the telecoms industry advocacy body, the GSMA in its Mobile Net Zero 2025 State of the Industry on Climate Action report.
 
GSMA said the 60MtCO2e emissions can be reduced by increasing the circularity of mobile phones in three main ways, including using recycled materials and renewable energy, increasing the lifespan of phones by repairing, reusing and refurbishing existing phones, designing phones to be more durable and repairable and providing adequate software and security support and ensuring no device ends up as waste by recovering and recycling phones that cannot be reused.
 
The report noted that circularity is a critical lever to reduce upstream Scope 3 emissions for both operators and manufacturers. It said materials and manufacturing account for around 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the life cycle emissions of a typical smartphone. It stated that this means that longer device lifespans can deliver substantial emission reductions and savings.
 
Citing examples, GSMA said using a device for five years instead of three years reduces its yearly carbon footprint by around 30 per cent, even when factoring in a battery replacement.
 
It said the environmental footprint of refurbishing a phone is about 90 per cent lower than manufacturing a new one. It noted that across its full life cycle, repaired and refurbished phones typically have around 80–90 per cent lower carbon emissions than new phones.
 
Meanwhile, the global telecom body observed that many phones are seeing a second or third life, with more than 30 per cent of consumers surveyed saying they give their old phones to a family member or friend and nearly 20 per cent trading in or selling their used devices.
 
According to it, nearly a third of consumers surveyed globally kept their previous phone as a backup after replacing it, adding that three-quarters of consumers surveyed reported having at least one old handset sitting unused at home, while 20 per cent had at least three phones at home.
 
Based on these figures, GSMA said there are likely around 10 billion dormant phones sitting idle worldwide. It said these phones contain valuable minerals, including 100,000 tonnes of copper, seven million ounces of gold and one million ounces of palladium – collectively worth around $20 billion based on current market prices.

The report revealed that 16 leading operators have committed to industry targets on take-back and zero waste. In June 2023, the GSMA said it announced that leading operators had committed to two new targets to reduce the environmental impact of mobile phones by boosting their circularity through reuse, repair and recycling.