Christmas message: be sustainable. Repair your broken phone

According to many people, the most wonderful time of the year has arrived. The streets fill with Christmas lights, the general motto is peace on earth and the late Michael Jackson’s song “Heal the world” is played above average on the radio. As part of “Heal the world, make it a better place,” it’s time for a serious note.

Smartphones make life much easier. Everything you used to need at least eight separate devices for is now summed up in a tiny computer that also fits in your pocket. And while just about all manufacturers claim their product is sustainably produced, smartphones on the other side of the world also create a big problem.

Waste mountains and child labor

More than 1.22 billion smartphones were sold worldwide in 2024, up 7.1% from the previous year. And a new phone usually means sending an old model to the eternal hunting grounds. Because the sustainable recycling of electronic devices costs a lot of money and is not well regulated everywhere, a large proportion still ends up – often illegally – on a waste heap in high-poverty countries such as Ghana, Nigeria or Bangladesh.

Unfortunately, children are still used there to dismantle, burn or sort the devices. This poses a great danger to their health and to anyone living near such a landfill. Not to mention the enormous environmental damage this causes.

Sustainable and good for the wallet

Fortunately, there is a way we can all do our part. A broken smartphone really doesn’t have to end up in the trash. For many people, a slow battery or cracked screen is reason enough to switch to a newer model, while a small repair is often enough to make your phone feel like new again. A new battery works wonders, your phone feels fresh again, and you extend its lifespan considerably. This way you avoid another phone ending up in landfills. And the best part is: it also saves a lot of money. For about €50 you often have a new battery, and with a sim-only subscription you’re even cheaper.

And, of course, this does not just apply to the battery. Is there a huge crack in your screen? Get it fixed. Phone accidentally taken during the New Year’s dive? Get it fixed. Charger broken? Buy a new charger, not a whole phone. In short: think sustainable, think repair & think refurbished! On top of that, most smartphones today technically last much longer than two years. Thanks to software updates and powerful chips, they remain usable for years. You really don’t need a new model every year.

Want to know more about refurbished phones? Then read; Why you should buy a refurbished smartphone.

Our Christmas message: ‘Heal the world, act sustainably’

There are a hundred and one ways you can do your part to make the world a better place. Getting your phone repaired instead of buying a new one is one of them. Of course, we don’t want to deny you the pleasure of a new phone, but have you received a notice from your provider that you may switch to a new subscription with a new smartphone? Then think about whether you really want to. Consider whether your old device could not last another year or two with a minor upgrade. Still can’t resist the temptation? Turn in your old appliance so that it is sustainably recycled and
‘heal the world, make it a better place, do sustainable’ .
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