The Fairphone uses two conflict-free minerals out of a possible four, uses open design and software, and safe factory conditions for workers.
SEE:The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
A Fairphone employee holds up an iPhone in comparison to Fairphone prototype during a design challenge bootcamp the company held.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
The Fairphone, which was created in the Netherlands, has dual SIM cards.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Someone holds a prototype of a Fairphone. To date, Fairphone has shipped over 25,000 phones.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
A pile of old phones that were thrown out, whose parts can be used for pieces in Fairphone production.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Fairphone partnered with Closing the Loop, a Dutch foundation which aims to solve the problems with electronic waste disposal policies in developing countries.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
The Fairphone team went to Ghana to inspect how phone collection was managed and how community outreach is done by local partners.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
People who competed in the bootcamp design challenge in Amsterdam last year had three days to design a DIY phone that could last.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
At the GuoHong factory in China, Fairphone and the factory both pay $2.50 each on top of production costs to put toward a worker’s welfare fund, and workers vote what to spend it on.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
GuoHong is the manufacturer for Fairphone. The manufacturer wanted to break into the international market, even if it was with a few thousand phones made.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Workers at the GuoHong factory in China test out the Fairphone.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Fairphone sets up at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Fairphone employees visited mines in the Congo to see where minerals for phones come from.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
The Fairphone team visited mines in the Congo and learned about the life cycle of our smartphones.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Fairphone team members talk to local partners in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Fairphone hosts workshops and posts videos about how to disassemble old phones and utilize the parts inside, hoping to reduce e-waste.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Fairphone team members meet throughout Europe to practice “urban mining,” which allows them to use parts of old phones people have thrown away or donated.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
At the Fairphone opening night, a display of precious minerals is shown to drive home the importance of conflict-free minerals and fair trade policies.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
A shelf of Fairphone prototypes sits on display at opening night in the office.
SEE: The gadget with a conscience: How Fairphone crowdfunded its way to an industry-changing smartphone
Lyndsey Gilpin is a former Staff Writer for TechRepublic, covering sustainability and entrepreneurship. She's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.
