The Environmental Impact of Physical Devices

What is this about?

Our phones and devices seem small and portable — but their environmental footprint is massive. This short article by the Convention on Biological Diversity, linked below, explores how technology products affect the environment throughout their lifecycle: from the extraction of rare minerals to their disposal as e-waste.

Please read the article linked in the first slide of this course (www.cbd.int/article/greening-tech-for-people-and-planet). As you read, pay particular attention to the three stages of the smartphone lifecycle: production, use, and disposal. Then come back and complete the interactive exercises.