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Session Description
Since 2000, over 30 billion mobile phones have been sold worldwide, with 1.2 billion new smartphones hitting the market in 2024 alone. The environmental cost of this is high – manufacturing these devices generates over 60 million tonnes of CO2e annually, equivalent to the emissions from all passenger cars and light trucks in Spain.
As awareness of the environmental issues grow, consumers are making more sustainable choices. According to the GSMA’s 2024 Global Consumer Survey[1], people are holding onto their phones longer and are showing increased interest in repair services and refurbished devices. At the same time, regulations are compelling manufacturers to make phones that are more durable and repairable, while concerns about mineral supply risks highlight the strategic importance of reclaiming critical minerals from old devices.
The transition to a circular economy for mobile phones – where devices last longer, are easier to repair, and are built with recycled or renewable materials – is no longer just a challenge; it is a game-changing opportunity for the entire mobile industry.
This session will bring together thought leaders from across the value chain—manufacturers, mobile operators, and refurbishers—to explore:
- How evolving consumer behaviours and regulations are shaping the future of mobile devices
- Strategies to design and make more repairable, sustainable phones
- How to seize new business opportunities from circular services and devices
- The untapped potential of collaboration in creating a circular mobile ecosystem
Join us to discover how innovation and collaboration can transform the mobile industry while meeting the demands of an environmentally conscious world.
Agenda
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15:30 – 15:35 |
Opening remarks Steven Moore, GSMA |
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15:35 – 15:45 |
Launch presentation: Rethinking Mobile Devices: The Business Case for Circularity George Kamiya, GSMA |
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15:45 – 16:25 |
Panel discussion: Accelerating the Circular Transition through Collaboration
Moderator: Steven Moore, GSMA
Panellists: · Louise Hyland, CEO, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association and MobileMuster · Andrew Butterworth, Managing Director, APAC, Kingfisher · Jean-Luc Vallejo, SVP of Devices Circularity and Sustainability, Orange · Inhee Chung, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability Center, Samsung Electronics (invited)
Discussion questions: · What are the latest consumer trends, and how is the mobile industry responding to changing consumer preferences? · How are manufacturers and other stakeholders responding to emerging regulations on eco-design and right-to-repair? · How can operators and other stakeholders encourage and incentivise manufacturers to develop more circular phones? · How are the biggest near-term opportunities for collaboration between manufacturers, mobile network operators, and refurbishers/recyclers to scale up circular business models? |
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16:25 – 16:30 |
Wrap up and next steps |