Environment: digital pollution is progressing rapidly in France.
The environmental footprint left by digital technology is accelerating, warn the Ecological Transition Agency and the Telecoms Regulatory Authority. They call on consumers to take responsible actions, such as the use of refurbished equipment.
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| Environment: digital pollution is progressing rapidly in France |
The increased use of refurbished devices significantly reduces the environmental footprint of their users. (Eric TSCHAEN/REA)
By Joel Cossardeaux
Posted Jan 20, 2022, 8:15 a.m. Updated Jan 20, 2022, 9:20 a.m.
Tiny clicks galore that end up forming big clouds of CO2 and mountains of material ripped from the ground. The magic of digital masks a dark side, from an environmental point of view, on which two studies published on Wednesday and carried out jointly by the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) and the Communications Regulatory Authority (Arcep) throw a Raw light.
Internet traffic represents 2.5% of the country's carbon footprint, while its vehicles (computers, laptops, etc.) and infrastructure (data centers, networks, etc.) represent an annual resource consumption of 62.5% each year. million tons and 20 million tons of waste.
Make products last
At the consumer level, the numbers are also dizzying. The digital equipment of each Frenchman, estimated at 15 connected devices, nearly double the world average, requires the extraction and transformation of no less than 932 kg of materials. As for CO2 emissions, there is no sector where they are increasing so quickly, we are assured at Ademe.
How the rise of digital can serve the ecological transition
The primary culprits are “user” terminals, ie electronic devices (between 64% and 92% of impacts, primarily television screens). Next come data centers (between 4% and 22% of impacts) and networks (between 2% and 14%).
The manufacture of a digital good represents 78% of its carbon footprint. This is almost four times more than its use (21%). A report "which confirms the importance of policies aimed at extending the useful life of digital equipment through the durability of products, reuse, reconditioning, functional economy or repair", comment the experts of the 'Ademe, in support of a second study.
Salvation through reconditioning
Ideally, the first life of a smartphone would deserve to be at least three years before giving it a second that its new user should strive to make last as long as possible. Because we must ensure “that the reconditioning market does not become a guarantee for overconsumption”, plead Ademe and Arcep.
From an environmental point of view, the game is worth the candle. The acquisition of a refurbished mobile phone allows a reduction in annual environmental impact of 55% to 91% (depending on the impact categories) compared to the use of a new smartphone. Very concretely, 82 kg less raw materials are extracted. 25 kg of greenhouse gases (GHG) are also avoided per year of use, ie 87% less than with new equipment.
Fortunately, this re-use market is booming and is attracting more and more operators who include refurbished devices in their offer. In 2020, 2.8 million units were sold. A figure that represents the equivalent of 230,000 tonnes of raw materials saved and 70,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent not released.
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