The Shift
The Old Way: Planned Obsolescence by Design
Smartphones are designed to be unrepairable and obsolete within 2-3 years, creating massive e-waste and perpetuating demand for conflict minerals.
- 50M+ tons of e-waste generated annually
- Average smartphone lifespan is 2.5 years
- 60+ elements in a phone, many from conflict zones
- Most phones are impossible to repair
The New Way: Design for Forever
Modular design lets users replace battery, screen, camera, and other components with a standard screwdriver. Software support for 8+ years.
- 10/10 iFixit repairability score (industry first)
- 8 years of software updates (2x standard)
- User-replaceable battery, screen, camera modules
- Fairtrade gold and conflict-free minerals
The Story
Founded in 2013 by Bas van Abel after a campaign highlighting conflict minerals in electronics; decided to prove a better phone was possible.
Fairphone is a Dutch social enterprise creating smartphones designed for longevity, repairability, and fair materials sourcing.
Proof Points
Industry-leading repairability rating
Longest in smartphone industry
Total Fairphones sold since 2013
Share of fair-sourced materials
Deep Dive
Innovation
Fairphone proved modular smartphones are technically feasible. The Fairphone 4 and 5 demonstrate that premium performance doesn't require planned obsolescence.
Circular Model
Beyond repairability, Fairphone operates a take-back program for old phones and invests in recycling infrastructure. They're working toward fully circular material flows.
Community Impact
Fairphone has pioneered fair material sourcing: Fairtrade gold from Peru, conflict-free tin and tungsten, recycled plastics. They publish detailed supply chain information.
Business Results
Fairphone has sold 400K+ phones and is growing steadily. The company is profitable and has proven there's a market for ethical electronics.
Key Takeaway
The best way to reduce e-waste might be to design products people don't have to throw away. Fairphone proves that longevity can be a feature, not a bug.
Founder Pathway
Best for hardware entrepreneurs with electronics background and mission alignment