Urs Lesse’s expertise is in the field of political science, but he also has a more practical interest.
Every four weeks he sacrifices his time to help people in his hometown of Aachen repair their phones.
But he can’t help you with any brand of phone – only a brand called Fairphone.
For the past eight years, Mr. Lesse has been an active member of an unpaid skill-sharing network of dedicated Fairphone users. He organizes local community meetings and helps with repairs.
“I don’t fix phones unless I have to, but I’ve always been strongly motivated to encourage people to try to fix their own Fairphones,” he says.
“It’s always been about sharing information and breaking people’s inhibitions about daring to open their phones,” he explains.
With a modular design, Fairphone devices allow components such as the screen, battery, USB ports, and cameras to be easily swapped out, repaired, and customized by their owners.
“The Fairphone 2 could be disassembled in less than two minutes,” says Mr. Lesse. “There were models where you didn’t even need tools to remove the display to replace it yourself.”
Fairphone’s customers range from programmers drawn by the phones’ software capabilities to consumers looking for a more sustainable product.
Founded in 2013, the company follows four principles: sourcing raw materials from conflict-free mining areas and manufacturing products that are recyclable, durable and repairable.
According to the United Nations, a record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste was generated worldwide in 2019 – a 21% increase in just five years – with cellphones accounting for a significant portion of that. Also, only 17% of e-waste has been recycled.
Fairphone argues that phones that are easy to repair last longer, generate less waste and therefore have a positive impact on the environment.
“We know that extending the life of a phone by at least two years reduces CO2 emissions by 30%,” says Miquel Ballester, co-founder of Fairphone.
So far, the Dutch company has sold around 400,000 devices – making it a very small player in the smartphone market.
“Fairphone is still a niche product that isn’t found in many stores, so the community network is important,” says Mr. Lesse.
Nonetheless, Fairphone has been making waves within the industry, particularly in Germany, where it has earned considerable support.
Germany has awarded Fairphone numerous certifications and awards, most notably the German Environmental Award in 2016, the most valuable environmental award in Europe.
Mr. Ballester believes that this government recognition, as opposed to industry market endorsements, is one of the reasons Fairphone has gained such a large following in Germany compared to other European markets.
Germans tend to be less attached to big brand status and therefore more adventurous when it comes to trying smaller European brands, the company says.
In Hamburg, Ingo Strauch, who also volunteers for co-users, says that many put data protection and the ease of use of the phone above the environmental benefits.
The company’s popularity in Germany could also be due to Germany’s individual purchasing power. “Germany is a prosperous country. The willingness to dig deeper into their pockets for an apparently fair product is therefore also higher,” says Lesse.
Fairphone says its priority isn’t just growth, it wants to transform the way the industry works. “We don’t necessarily want to be the biggest in the industry, but we do want to be the most influential and make sure other manufacturers adopt some of our initiatives,” says Mr. Ballester.
There are indications of a shift in preferences in society, says Prof. Dr. Sigrid Kannengiesser, who specializes in media practices and sustainability at the University of Bremen.
She points to the rise of repair cafes in Western Europe and North America, as well as the European Commission’s recent announcement of introducing a right to repair,
“Consumers, politicians, but also some actors in the economy understand that our societies and the way of life of many people have to become more sustainable,” says Prof. Kannengiesser.
The big players in the industry have taken note. Last year, Apple launched its “Self-Service Repair” initiative, giving customers access to Apple parts and tools.
“Self Service Repair is designed for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic equipment,” says the company.
How does Fairphone’s latest model, the Fairphone 4, compare to other phones?
Chris Hall of gadget website Pocket-lint.com is largely positive: “The Fairphone 4 is a solid mid-range device, but its distinguishing feature is sustainability rather than excellence in every other area.
“It’s impressive that it offers some water resistance but doesn’t offer the same level of protection as flagship phones. That’s a small downside considering it’s a mid-range device.
“As such, while offering reasonable performance, it will never be a powerhouse, and when it comes to sheer performance.”
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Fairphone is not the only phone manufacturer that focuses on sustainability. The German family company Shiftphones, founded in 2014, has also developed a modular, sustainable smartphone.
Sales have doubled every year for the past six years, but that too is a small player with 70,000 units sold.
Shiftphones founder and CEO, Samuel Waldeck, believes that working together would enhance the two companies’ ability to influence their larger competitors.
“I think it would be a very important signal to work together, also for the rest of the market,” he says.
“The whole industry is working against you … if you merged, you would have more units alone, which would make a lot of difference.”
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