"We’ve been optimising for carbon while ignoring the systems that actually keep the planet alive. This report is a first but crucial step in understanding the full extent of the negative impact...
"We’ve been optimising for carbon while ignoring the systems that actually keep the planet alive. This report is a first but crucial step in understanding the full extent of the negative impact that tech manufacturers make during the production process."
The global economy is intrinsically linked to nature, with over half of the world's GDP estimated to be moderately or highly dependent on natural capital. The electronics industry negatively impacts this natural capital through resource depletion, freshwater use, and biodiversity loss, particularly in mining areas. Wildlife populations have declined by 73% the past fifty years and parts of our planet are approaching dangerous tipping points driven by nature loss and climate change. This poses significant threats to humanity, nature and our economies.
By sharing this report, outlining our analysis and the (public) sources we used, we want to help move the electronics industry forward faster, driving a much-needed focus on nature and biodiversity beyond climate and taking positive action immediately. The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) framework offers a solid foundation for a holistic environmental due diligence and impact assessment, including biodiversity. The assessment highlights Fairphone's impact and dependencies on nature across our value chain, focusing on manufacturing stages and the mining of minerals present in our products.
I might read the report... But without reading it one thing caught my eye: What does the other near half depend on? I'm having trouble understanding how you create value (even in the nonsensical...
I might read the report... But without reading it one thing caught my eye:
The global economy is intrinsically linked to nature, with over half of the world's GDP estimated to
be moderately or highly dependent on natural capital.
What does the other near half depend on? I'm having trouble understanding how you create value (even in the nonsensical manner of GDP) without using natural resources in the value-chain.
The quote you are citing states “moderately or highly dependent on”. While the first few pages of the report don’t elaborate or cite where they get that statistic from, I’m assuming that...
The quote you are citing states “moderately or highly dependent on”. While the first few pages of the report don’t elaborate or cite where they get that statistic from, I’m assuming that industries “lowly dependent on” natural resources are excluded.
For example, lots of service-based industries in the financial sector (e.g., banking) are only really dependent on the resources needed to construct equipment, and therefore probably generate an extraordinary amount of GDP per dollar of natural resources invested.
"We’ve been optimising for carbon while ignoring the systems that actually keep the planet alive. This report is a first but crucial step in understanding the full extent of the negative impact that tech manufacturers make during the production process."
Link to the report itself: https://www.fairphone.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-impact-of-consumer-electronics-on-nature-and-biodiversity.pdf
I might read the report... But without reading it one thing caught my eye:
What does the other near half depend on? I'm having trouble understanding how you create value (even in the nonsensical manner of GDP) without using natural resources in the value-chain.
The quote you are citing states “moderately or highly dependent on”. While the first few pages of the report don’t elaborate or cite where they get that statistic from, I’m assuming that industries “lowly dependent on” natural resources are excluded.
For example, lots of service-based industries in the financial sector (e.g., banking) are only really dependent on the resources needed to construct equipment, and therefore probably generate an extraordinary amount of GDP per dollar of natural resources invested.
Perhaps they mean organic natural capital? You dont need much of a functioning local ecosystem to do mineral extraction.
Always comes back to fresh water. Man.