Comment: Apple’s iPhone 12 comes without a charger. Ecological movement or cash grab?

BRISBANE: Apple has released its new smartphone, the iPhone 12, without a charger or headphones. Users have harshly criticized the company for this move and will have to purchase these accessories separately, if necessary.

While some see it as a cost cut or a way for Apple to benefit even more by forcing customers to buy the products separately, the tech giant said the goal was to reduce its carbon footprint.

This is the first time that a major smartphone manufacturer has launched a mobile phone without a charger. Earlier this year, reports emerged that Samsung was considering a similar move, but has yet to comply.

But even if ditching chargers is a way for Apple to save money, the action could have a significant positive impact on the environment.

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SINGLE USE PLASTIC PROHIBITION, WHY NOT E-WASTE?

Australians, on average, buy a new mobile phone every 18-24 months. In Australia, there are around 23 million unused phones and therefore there are likely to be a similar number of chargers.

Just as single-use shopping bags contribute to plastic waste, unused and discarded electronics contribute to electronic waste (e-waste).

Just over a decade ago, Australia began banning single-use plastic bags, starting with South Australia. Currently, all Australian states and territories have implemented the ban, except New South Wales, which intends to do so by the end of 2021.

Since South Australia implemented its ban in 2008, state government estimates suggest that it has avoided 8,000 kg of marine litter each year and reduced more than 4,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The benefits to the environment have been clear. So why are we so hesitant to do the same with e-waste?

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Electronic waste includes different forms of discarded electrical and electronic equipment that no longer have value to their owners. This can include cell phones, televisions, computers, chargers, keyboards, printers, and headsets.

Currently, there are around 4.78 billion mobile phone users worldwide: 61.2% of the world’s population. And mobile phone chargers alone generate more than 51,000 tons of electronic waste a year.

On this basis, the environment would benefit enormously if more users reused phone chargers and if technology companies encouraged a shift towards standardized charging that works across different brands of mobile phones.

This would eventually lead to a reduction in charger manufacturing and potentially less exploitation of natural resources.

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MEET ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS VERSUS SUPPORTED CONSUMERISM

Citing an increase in e-waste and consumer frustration with multiple chargers, the European Parliament has been pushing for standardized chargers for mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers, smart cameras, wearable electronic devices and other small to medium electronic devices. .

This would negate the need for users to purchase different chargers for various devices.

Of course, there is no question that phone companies want people to buy new phones on a regular basis. Apple itself has been accused of incorporating a feature in phones that slows them down as they age.

Apple responded by saying that this was simply to keep the devices running while the batteries were draining.

But even if this were the case, Apple’s decision to ship phones without chargers would reduce the use of precious materials. A smaller product box would allow Apple to place up to 70 percent more products on shipping pallets, reducing carbon emissions from shipping.

Exactly how much this would help in Apple’s environmental goals, however, remains to be seen, especially if many consumers end up purchasing a separate charger anyway.

Apple equates its recent “weather-conscious” changes to the iPhone 12 with taking 450,000 cars off the road a year. The company has a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

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THE CASE OF A UNIVERSAL PLUG-IN CHARGER

It’s worth considering whether Apple’s main incentive is simply cutting costs, or perhaps pushing people toward their own wireless charging devices.

These concerns are not unfounded. Apple is one of the richest companies in the world, and most of its market capital comes from hardware sales.

Without a switch to a standardized plug-in charger, a wireless charging boom could be an environmental disaster, though perhaps unavoidable due to its convenience. Wireless charging consumes around 47% more power than a normal cable.

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This can be a concern, as the sustainability benefits of not including a charger could be accompanied by higher power consumption. Currently, the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector is responsible for approximately 2% of global energy consumption.

Perhaps one solution to the dilemma is device exchange services, which many companies already offer, including Apple and Samsung.

Apple offers customers a discount on a new device if they change their old model, rather than throw it away. Similar services are offered by third parties such as Optus, Telstra, MobileMonster, and Boomerang Buy Back.

Ultimately, however, the best solution would be for the tech giants to agree on a universal plug-in charger for all small to medium-sized electronic devices, including mobile phones.

And hopefully, just as we all now carry reusable bags to the supermarket with us, in a few years we will be able to use a common charger for all of our devices, and we will wonder why all the fuss.

Michael Cowling is Associate Professor of Information and Communication Technology at CQUniversity Australia. Ritesh Chugh is Senior Lecturer and Director of Discipline, Information Systems and Analytics at CQUniversity Australia. This comment first appeared on The Conversation.