Nokia might be struggling to find enough repurposed parts to produce Remade, its fully recycled phone – but in India knackered handsets have spawned a whole ecosystem.
When Nokia sent Jan Chipchase and a group of fifteen researchers to scope out how its handsets are being used in the emerging markets, they were amazed to discover a thriving industry of street repairs and modding shops, and even completely new phones being made of Nokia parts.
Less than one per cent of phones are recycled in the US, but in India, where your mobile is often your only form of communication, it seems that a regular street service can keep the same handset going for ever. Videophones that can show the cricket and Bollywood blockbusters are so highly prized, in fact, that the idea of not recycling is considered nuts in India.
Back at Nokia HQ, the design team was impressed at their handset’s longevity and keen to push their own recycled phone. Let’s hope this will provide the incentive for Nokia to get Remade, er, made and in the shops sometime soon.
Via News.com.
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