Every day, a phone may be used for calling, working, studying, taking photos, or browsing the web. But before appearing in the user's hands, it has gone through a long chain from raw material extraction, component manufacturing, assembly, transportation, to use and end-of-life disposal. Viewed from a carbon footprint perspective, a phone does not only emit carbon when plugged in to charge. The vast majority of emissions occur right during the manufacturing process.
How much CO₂e can a phone carry?
There is no single figure for all types of phones. The carbon footprint depends on materials, components, capacity, manufacturing location, electricity source used, transportation method, and the duration the device is used.
Studies on the lifecycle emissions of electronic devices estimate that a smartphone can have about 50 kg of embodied CO₂e emissions. This figure is only representative because calculation methods and evaluation scopes among studies may vary.
Apple's new iPhone 16 lineup reduces carbon emissions by 30%
Manufacturers have also started publishing more detailed data. According to Apple's environmental report, the iPhone 16 Pro 128GB has a carbon footprint of about 66 kg CO₂e across its assessed lifecycle. For the iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB version, this figure is 74 kg CO₂e.
The figures above do not mean a phone directly "emits" that many kilograms of CO₂ gas. This is the amount of greenhouse gases converted into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) generated across the stages of the product's lifecycle.
Where does the carbon footprint lie?
The lifecycle of a phone can be envisioned through four main stages: manufacturing – transportation – use – end-of-life. Among these, manufacturing typically constitutes the largest share.
For the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple calculates that manufacturing accounts for about 81% of the total carbon footprint of the 128GB version. Transportation accounts for about 3%, use for 17%, and end-of-life disposal for under 1%. This highlights an easily overlooked point: a significant portion of a phone's carbon footprint appears before the user turns it on for the first time.
Why does manufacturing emit so much?
To create a phone, many different materials and components are needed: metals, glass, plastics, batteries, displays, chips, circuit boards, and various other electronic components.
Each component has its own production chain. Raw materials must be mined, refined, processed into materials, and then continue through multiple stages to become components.
These stages consume energy. If the electricity and heat used in manufacturing come from fossil fuels, the product's carbon emissions will increase.
That is also why transitioning to low-emission electricity, recycled materials, and more efficient production processes can alter a product's carbon footprint.
Apple, for instance, stated in the environmental report for the iPhone 16e that using recycled materials and low-carbon electricity significantly reduced emissions compared to the product's baseline scenario.
So is charging the phone the largest source of emissions?
Charging and using a phone still generate emissions, depending particularly on the electricity grid of the power system where the user lives. However, in many lifecycle assessments, this part is significantly smaller than emissions from the manufacturing process.
In the case of the iPhone 16 Pro 128GB, Apple estimates that the use phase accounts for about 17%, while manufacturing accounts for 81%. That does not mean saving electricity when using a phone is unnecessary. It shows that if we want to reduce the carbon footprint of electronic devices, looking only at electricity consumption during use is not enough.
What does a longer-lasting phone mean?
If the majority of emissions already occur during manufacturing, extending the lifespan of use can help distribute the initial emissions over more years of use.
Instead of changing phones just because a new model appears, repairing them, replacing batteries when appropriate, or continuing to use the device longer can reduce the demand for producing new devices.
At the product level, this is also why factors such as reparability, durability, the use of recycled materials, and component recovery are increasingly included in sustainable design discussions.
A carbon footprint is not just a number
A product's carbon footprint is calculated based on its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and use to end-of-life disposal. This is also the approach used by organizations such as the Carbon Trust when assessing the carbon footprint of products.
Therefore, when looking at a figure like "66 kg CO₂e", the important thing is not just whether the number is large or small. It is necessary to know where that figure comes from.
A phone can have a lower carbon footprint thanks to recycled materials, cleaner electricity in manufacturing, lower-emission transportation, or a longer lifespan. In other words, an item's carbon footprint begins long before it appears on store shelves. And by understanding where that "footprint" lies, consumers, manufacturers, and regulators alike can determine what needs to change to reduce emissions.
