How the Mobile Industry Is Revolutionizing Sustainability Practices

The mobile industry has made significant strides in addressing climate change, driven by ambitious goals and collaborative efforts by key organizations. These initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainability, and foster a circular economy, ensuring that the industry contributes positively to global environmental efforts.

The world saw the beginning of this taking shape in 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) when the Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 countries, aiming to reduce the emission of gases contributing to global warming. A goal was set to limit temperatures to rise no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, along with a long-term goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.¹ In addition to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) and the guidance provided by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), industry bodies across geographies and sectors are driving to provide more specialized guidance to achieve these goals. Most recently, for the mobile sector, these include:

• In 2021, the United Nations High-Level Climate Champions launched Race to Zero, a global campaign to rally businesses and governments to strive for net zero. Later that year, the Race to Zero campaign recognized the mobile industry as a “breakthrough sector” with over 20% of mobile network operators by revenue setting net-zero targets.²
  

• In 2023, the GSMA and 12 leading global operators set new pace-setting goals, including:³
  • By 2030, the number of used mobile devices collected through operator take-back programs will amount to at least 20% of the number of new mobile devices distributed directly to customers.
  • Also by 2030, 100% of used mobile devices collected through operator take-back programs will be repaired, reused, or responsibly recycled.
    
• In 2024, the UN COP 29 Conference issued several directives that will help further drive circularity and mitigate the environmental impact of the mobile device industry, including:⁴
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing and operation
  • Improving e-waste management through recycling programs
  • Using sustainable materials in device production
    
• In 2025, the GSMA issued two new reports during MWC Barcelona.
  • Rethinking Mobile Phones: The business case for circularity⁵ provides the latest data and trends on mobile phone sales, consumer preferences, regulations, and policy, as well as how these trends are converging to strengthen the commercial business case for circularity.
  • Quantifying the Carbon Savings of Circularity: Mobile Phones and Network Equipment⁶ guides accounting approaches and methodologies to quantify the carbon savings of circularity actions and initiatives for emission inventories and avoided emissions claims.
    

Within the mobile industry ecosystem itself, significant strides are being made to integrate sustainability more fully into everyday business operations. Industry-leading brands across network operators, OEMs, and vendors alike are turning ideas into actions with measurable results.

The concept of the circular economy has become a driving force for sustainability in business. Strategies and solutions related to circularity were featured prominently at both the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year and the Mobile World Conference (MWC) in Barcelona just last month.

Further, the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has issued not one, but two reports on the value of circularity in the business world, both of which outline actual cost savings, new revenue streams, increased customer loyalty, and carbon reduction benefits for businesses that implement circularity best practices.^1,2

This shift to fully integrating sustainability into business operations is an accomplishment itself. Even more inspiring are the ways industry-leading brands are turning ideas into action with measurable results.

Supporting circularity with take-back programs

Trade-in and upgrade programs have grown to become mainstream for many companies on a global scale. Since 2009, Assurant and its partners participating in our programs have accomplished the following.

• 180 million devices repurposed
• 36,000 metric tons of potential e-waste kept out of landfills
• 9.4 million metric tons of manufacturing-related CO2 emissions avoided

And that’s just a start. Increased intent in new programs like certified pre-owned sales, assured buyback programs, and device as a service means there’s still room to grow for device reuse and recycling. In fact, according to Counterpoint Research, the refurbished smartphone market grew 5% last year,⁷ compared to only 3% for new smartphone purchases.³

As manufacturers and brands seek to deliver stronger value, recycled and repurposed devices will continue to figure largely in consumers’ purchase decision-making process.

Responsible management of resources and emissions

One of the most direct planet-forward benefits of circularity is the reduction of harmful CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. So far, as of this year, more than 50 carrier operators have committed to net-zero emissions targets by 2050, and many are on track to achieve that benchmark ahead of schedule.⁸

At Assurant, we’ve introduced Assurant Carbon IQ to support those goals by helping carriers quantify scope 3 carbon emissions from their mobile device programs. That data can then be used to develop plans to extend the useful life of devices and capture the savings it generates for the business. By providing this critical first step, we hope to facilitate greater adoption of circular business models by establishing CO2 emission baselines and measurable benchmarks of success along the way.

On the manufacturing side of the equation, top industry leaders are making impressive commitments to recycled materials and reduced waste. 

• Samsung, for example, has said it’s incorporating recycled materials into all Galaxy products and aims to eliminate plastic from its mobile product packaging by the end of this year.⁹
• Apple has also made strong commitments to sustainability by pledging to be carbon neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030, which includes using 100% recycled materials in all products and investing in renewable energy projects.¹⁰

With marketing, supply chain, and sustainability teams coming together to make circular business models an everyday reality, efforts like these are catalysts that will hopefully shape the way forward for the entire industry. However, no single stakeholder can achieve circularity alone.

The importance of collaboration and policy support

Individually, phone manufacturers, network operators, refurbishing providers, recyclers, users, and governments all play important roles across the mobile phone lifecycle and value chain. These groups all must work in partnership on joint efforts such as:

• Device take-back programs, including trade-in and upgrade
• Sourcing recycled materials for devices, as well as device packaging
• Facilitating repair services to extend the usable life of devices
• Raising consumer awareness to promote preference for sustainable products
• Drafting legislation and policies that incentivize and accelerate circularity

Cooperation between individuals, businesses, and communities presents the strongest chance for circular business models to reach their full potential in terms of financial sustainability. When that happens, environmental goals and customer satisfaction follow swiftly behind, spurring on even more innovation and value throughout the industry.

The path to progress relies on environmental strategies working hand in hand with business goals to elevate the overall impact. A more resilient and sustainable future is calling. It’s up to all of us to make sure the mobile device industry is ready.

¹  Paris Agreement - Climate Change, Nations, CO2 | Britannica

² Launch of UN Race-to-Zero Emissions Breakthroughs | UNFCCC

³ MOBILE INDUSTRY EYES FIVE BILLION ‘DORMANT’ PHONES SITTING IN DESK DRAWERS FOR REUSE OR RECYCLING - Newsroom

⁴Summary_Global_Climate_Action_at_COP_29.pdf

⁵GSMA: Rethinking Mobile Phones: The business case for circularity 

⁶GSMA: Quantifying the Carbon Savings of Circularity: Mobile Phones and Network Equipment

⁷Counterpoint Research: Apple Reaches New High in Global Refurbished Market in 2024, But Supply Remains a Challenge

⁸GSMA: Mobile-Net-Zero-2024-State-of-the-Industry-on-Climate-Action.pdf

⁹Samsung: Sustainability Vision for Mobile: Galaxy for the Planet

¹⁰Apple: Apple commits to be 100 percent carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 203