Although the benefits of sustainability in business are long-standing and hardly abstract, awareness and implementation of sustainable practices are relatively new to most industries. Gone are the days that we view sustainability as just a well-intentioned idea. Now more than ever, consumers demand sustainable products and processes, and small and large businesses benefit from reducing their carbon footprint and taking on the reuse, reduce, recycle mindset and state of operation.
Nearly 58% of consumers say they would change their shopping habits if it reduced their environmental impact, and over 70% say they would pay more for brands and products that are more sustainable. Customer loyalty and increased sales are far from the only rewards that brands see for their efforts, though. One study conducted by three Harvard economists found that if a company invested $1 in a “high-sustainability” business model at the beginning of 1993, their investment would have grown to more than $22 by 2010 - nearly 150% the growth that a “low-sustainability” model would have seen. With so much cost-benefit potential, it seems that businesses have no choice but to make a move toward sustainability in all aspects of their operations. Below, we look at how small to medium-sized businesses can make changes that positively impact the future of commercial sustainability.
Over 50% of US businesses invest in sustainability strategies that reduce their environmental impact. Still, more than 70% of those same businesses struggle to turn those strategies into successful sources of action. With so much momentum on their side, what causes these small businesses to flounder rather than drive impactful change?
Among the most pressing reasons that small businesses don’t flourish as large organizations and corporations do is a simple lack of resources. Recognizing the importance of sustainability and reduced environmental impact within a business is one thing - making it happen is another. The simple fact for most is that they don’t have the money, time, or know-how necessary to make quick and efficient changes. Just as countries must invest money to meet sustainability goals and standards, small businesses and organizations must also invest in a greener future. For reference, firms and organizations that implement changes to meet new national or regional green initiatives and compliance standards spend over $400,000 per year to do so - most of which is due to labor increases. Small businesses can expect the same requirements for internal restructuring - making labor and cost the biggest hurdles to overcome.
There are plenty of ways small to medium-sized companies can make impactful changes that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship within their business or market. Not only can these changes drive positive growth for the environment, natural resources, or company culture, but they can also increase profit through numerous avenues. Below, we outline a few of the easiest and most common ways to promote sustainable change within a business.
Most documents used within commercial businesses, especially small businesses, can easily benefit from moving to a digital platform and ditching the paper trail. Not only will the company save money on resources, equipment, and shipping, but it will also reduce the number of natural resources used within the company. It’s a win-win.
Green energy is defined loosely as any type of energy derived from renewable or sustainable resources. More than half of small businesses globally live in areas where they have the option to collect and use at least part of their energy supply from renewable resources - making it one of the best options to save money, gain positive public opinion, and reduce the number of non-renewables used to operate the business.
Adopting the reuse, reduce, and recycle method is another standard method for businesses to start toward green practices. The most significant benefit here? It costs businesses next to nothing to implement - no worrying about a lack of resources, time, human resources. Just like many sustainable practices, simple is better.
If we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that businesses can not only survive with remote operations - but they can thrive in ways they previously had not. Offering remote work reduces the carbon footprint of businesses and their employees, and it promotes a work culture based on trust and understanding - pushing employees to make positive changes for the company on their own and without direction.
Before you jump at the opportunity to upgrade to the latest and greatest smartphone from big name brands like Apple or Samsung, you may want to consider the impact it has on the planet. Today, more than 5 billion people globally carry some sort of mobile device, and well over half of those devices are smartphones. While it may be easy to overlook the negative implications of today’s digital age, the truth is that modern-day consumerism has a detrimental impact on human populations and the environments they live. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Cleaner Production, the Information and Communications Technology industry accounted for approximately 1.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) in 2018. Although that number is relatively low on a broad scale, continued smartphone production and consumption trends would bring that figure to exceed 14% by 2040 - more than half of today’s current GHGE from the global transportation sector.
To avoid smartphones taking the lead with the technology industry’s largest carbon footprint, we must begin to make changes that curb the environmental effects we’re currently witnessing. Below, we dive further into how smartphone production and consumerism impact our planet and what we can do to turn the tides toward a more sustainable future.
Nearly all big-name smartphones contain up to 62 different metals across 80% of the stable elements on the periodic table - many of which are precious metals and are at risk due to various factors such as geological availability, geopolitics, and trade economics. On average, smartphones require up to ten times as much precious metal as most laptops and desktop computers. While precious metals present some level of environmental concern, the more significant threat lies with ordinary, everyday raw materials such as iron, aluminum, and copper - the most abundant metals that make up the smartphone in your pocket. While these metals have become commonplace throughout various industries such as energy and technology, their mining processes pose a severe threat to the environment - particularly our waterways.
According to the US EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory, metal mining is the United State’s most significant toxic pollution source. Raw material mining pollutes our waterways, air, and land through various processes - leading to environmental degradation, loss of wildlife habitat, and reduced biodiversity that often extends beyond a local reach.
The most environmentally detrimental part of a smartphone’s life cycle is its production, accounting for approximately 80% of its total carbon footprint. Apart from mining raw materials, the refining, transport, and manufacturing processes are primary factors that make smartphones one of the biggest carbon contributors in the tech industry. Research shows that while they require almost no energy to operate, the manufacturing process for each smartphone produces approximately 16kg of CO2 emissions. With over 2.5 billion smartphones in use today, the CO2 emissions produced by the development process equates to over 40 billion kg of CO2 - a significant figure for something so often overlooked.
Annual global electronic waste (E-Waste) has reached 56 million tons as of 2019 - of which less than 20% gets recycled. The toxic metals used in smartphones break down when exposed to various environmental conditions, contaminating our water cycle, polluting the air, and rendering soil and land useless without costly remediation. It's not just the environment suffering, though. In Guiyu, China - one of the world’s most prominent e-waste recycling locations - over 80% of children are experiencing respiratory issues, along with a severe risk of lead poisoning from polluted atmospheric inhalation.
To curb the impact E-waste has on our environment and human health, consumers must begin to adopt the reuse, reduce, and recycle model - while manufacturers need to take bigger steps to reduce the number of harmful materials used in their products.
To curb the environmental impact smartphone production has on the environment and human health, Teracube manufactures smartphones with an alternate mindset. We manufacture our smartphones sustainably - with our customers and planet as the focus of our operations. Teracube smartphones are engineered using eco-friendly materials and designed to last 4 years with our industry unique 4 year warranty. Teracube hopes to set an example of how technology products can be profitable and environmentally sustainable. As a final bonus, Teracube is planting a tree for every device sold - helping to offset our manufacturing carbon footprint.
The global demand for sustainability across all industries is growing at an all-time high, and it’s far from slowing down. This rings particularly true for the electronics industry, but it’s a brand new stomping ground for manufacturers and consumers alike. According to a study conducted by the United Nations University, we will have doubled our use and consumption of electronics by 2050, creating a sharp rise in the amount of manufacturing needed to keep up. If significant changes are not made to suppress the environmental impacts of electronics manufacturing and improper e-waste management, we could be facing a problem unseen before now. In the current prediction model, the amount of e-waste produced over the next 30 years will increase to over 110 million tons per year. The good news is that there is light on the horizon, with new technologies advancing our production and material sourcing that should help minimize the adverse effects seen until now.
One of the first steps toward a more sustainable future in the electronics sector is designing products with environmental impacts in mind. This can be done in many different ways, but efficiency will be the foundation for it all. Energy efficiency must take precedence in manufacturing and production, and material efficiency must become a requirement for product design. By doing so, we will not only reduce overall environmental degradation, but we can sustainably source materials without depleting resources. At the same time, eco-friendly materials will help curb pollution when e-waste is improperly managed - which presents a severe risk to the environment and its ecosystems.
With e-waste pollution on the rise, it’s more important than ever that brands and manufacturers begin to sustainably source raw materials that will help prevent or reduce further destruction to the environment. Currently, electronic devices are manufactured with materials like mercury, lead, cadmium, and lithium, all of which wreak havoc on soil, air, and water resources once they enter natural systems. Recent research has confirmed that many alternative materials can be used in place of these, including aluminum, borosilicate glass, iron alloy, and graphene. Not only will sourcing these raw materials to manufacture electronics reduce the amount of environmental degradation due to e-waste, but it will save time, money, and energy throughout the production process.
As stated earlier, energy efficiency in production is pivotal in moving toward a sustainable future in the electronics industry. While rising energy costs are a good incentive for companies to increase efficiency throughout production, the benefits seen from this would stretch to consumers and industry giants alike. Governments around the globe have begun incentivizing energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse emissions, so we are on the right track to make a positive impact on a global scale. Still, we as consumers must do our part in demanding green manufacturing for the products that are so intertwined in our lives.
Renewable energy will also continue to receive funding and support, furthering environmental health and the fight against climate change. Wind and solar power are two of the leading green energy sources worldwide, with offshore wind energy production increasing by 16% in 2020 alone. Renewable energy production even continued to rise throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, showing just how much opportunity there is in the renewable sector. If we can continue to utilize renewable energy in electronics manufacturing, companies will have no choice but to step further into a more sustainable future.
The lifecycle of electronics can be laid out pretty straightforwardly, but it’s not always as simple as it may appear on paper. For a better understanding, the general lifecycle of electronics is as follows:
While there is never one consistent roadmap for a particular product, better lifecycle management can be implemented to increase the likelihood of electronics being reused, refurbished, or recycled. As a consumer, the best way to help is to actively seek out avenues in which you can donate or recycle your used electronics. You can also buy green electronics (those that are sustainably manufactured) to reduce the environmental impact of products that end up where they shouldn’t.
Teracube is proud to be a pioneer in sustainable electronics, pushing the envelope and setting a standard for other companies to follow. We recognize that the most detrimental impacts of electronics come from manufacturing process and improper e-waste management, so we designed a line of smartphones manufactured with some green materials that have a lifespan that far exceeds our competitors. All of our phones are backed by a full manufacturer warranty, giving you the confidence you need to make a responsible purchase that contributes to a sustainable future of electronics. We also manufacture our products in a way that allows you to repair and replace individual components, reducing the overall amount of e-waste that ends up in landfills. We are big supporters of the Right to Repair, a movement taking aim at big tech companies that limit the options of consumers to repair their electronics, creating excess e-waste and adversely impacting the environment for the sake of a dollar. As a bonus, Teracube will plant a tree for every device sold - helping to offset our carbon footprint, as small as it may be.
Privacy issues are complex in any aspect, but they become increasingly complicated within the smartphone landscape. Compared to older technologies such as computers, mobile phones are a new technology that continue to evolve in terms of potential uses, functionality, and mobile platforms, which begs the question - who’s responsible for user privacy of smartphones?
While it would be nice to lay the responsibility on one individual group or organization, the reality is that multiple players can potentially leave users’ data vulnerable. These players include:
While numerous parties are collectively responsible for mobile data security, US regulators have spoken up, pinning mobile app developers as the primary party responsible for providing everything from transparency to protection of user data.
Since mobile devices consistently transmit data over our electronic networks, we must be aware of the sensitive information being transferred from one place to another. Most notably, we need to focus on our personal data that can leave us vulnerable in a variety of different ways. While we are all aware that data is used by mobile applications, websites, and just about everything else, few people actually have a strong understanding of how the data can be used. Ask yourself a question. When was the last time you read the details of the terms and conditions that we are often so eager to accept? If you’re like most of us, you just assume that these applications or web pages are using your data for harmless purposes, maybe to improve on their business or better understand their consumer base. What about the ethics behind it all, though?
In 2018, Cambridge Analytica used a mobile app to mine the data of over 50 million Facebook users without them knowing, building a voter profile of anyone who accepted these terms and conditions. This is just one of many examples of how your privacy may be invaded without your knowledge. In response to these recurring issues, policy and lawmakers have pushed back hard, trying to build the rights of individuals to protect them from such invasions. While progress is being made concerning mobile privacy, transparency must continue to increase if we wish to live in a world where our data remains ours, unless we knowingly give permission otherwise.
As mentioned earlier, many players are responsible for the safety and privacy of users and their data. While it’s true that developers, manufacturers, and mobile carriers must push for a more secure future for smartphone users, there are many things we can do on the individual level to help protect our data and improve our overall security.
The easiest and most obvious way of keeping your mobile privacy secure is by keeping your mobile phone physically safe. By keeping your device with you or in a secure location at all times, you can prevent ill-natured access to your data. It is not uncommon for thieves to use your physical device to access your data, in turn putting you and your information at serious risk. To further your device’s physical security, you can keep records of all data off of your device. This makes it harder for anyone to access your personal information.
For data breaches via operating systems, mobile apps, and any other digital processes, it’s a smart idea to enable the security features available on your phone. While not fully inclusive for every device, the following security features are commonly found on most mobile devices:
By taking the time to set up these security features, you are far less likely to run into data breaches that leave you and your information exposed.
Ask yourself a question - “When was the last time you were able to disassemble a damaged electronic device and replace a component without assistance from the manufacturer?” If you’re like the rest of us, it’s probably been a while. Although some of us have gotten used to this new age of single-use electronics and costly repairs, others have taken notice of the significant disadvantage we’re at as consumers. We’re at the mercy of big tech companies to maintain, update, and replace our electronics, and they have no competition to allow fair and competitive pricing. “Right to Repair,” otherwise known as “Fair Repair Legislation,” is a growing movement to offer consumers and small businesses the ability to modify and repair products without having to rely on the manufacturer. While the legislation is gaining momentum and seeing increased support in recent years, the pushback from big tech companies is persistent - keeping digital repair legislation from adequately taking hold. More than half of all US states now have a Right to Repair bill active, though, so the campaign has never looked more optimistic.
Fair Repair legislation began in the automotive industry in 2012 with the “Motor Vehicles Owners’ Right to Repair Act” - proposed legislation that would require car manufacturers to provide consumers with the information needed to repair vehicles. While this legislation did not pass on a federal level, most motor vehicle trade organizations recognized these consumer rights. A memorandum was signed, holding all 50 states to Massachusetts law beginning in 2018, which has since been amended to keep companies - like Tesla - from taking advantage of loopholes in the original legislation.
Many in the technology industry recognized the benefits and importance of the Right to Repair movement in the automotive industry and built a coalition to focus on tech - The Digital Right to Repair Coalition. The organization has since changed its name to The Repair Association and is now the largest organization fighting for digital repair rights in the electronics industry. Their focus is on tractors, cars, and electronics, but the change is being driven for all industries - keeping large corporations from taking advantage of consumers as technology and innovation evolves.
The environmental impact of e-waste is of growing concern, and for good reason. In the US alone, Americans dispose of over 400,000 smartphones every day - of which only about 20% is recycled. Electronic waste contains a multitude of toxic substances that wreak havoc on the environment and the life within it. Once electronics enter a landfill or waste site, the materials are degraded over time - releasing toxic chemicals into the ground, air, and water. Not only do these chemicals affect the environment and the natural processes they undergo, but studies have linked human and animal health directly to waste sites and the chemicals coming from them.
As big tech companies continue to keep consumers from updating, repairing, and replacing their current electronics, e-waste continues to grow - furthering environmental concerns. While the movement for digital repair rights is on the move, smaller brands and companies will need to play their part in pushing toward a more sustainable future. The more small companies that can show success without sacrificing profitability or environmental health, the more likely the tech industry will feel pressure to make considerable changes - legislation or not.
With so much attention put on the Right to Repair movement, some big tech companies are beginning to actively make changes to the way they do business. Microsoft, for example, released a 2019 laptop that was heavily criticized for being impossible to repair without destroying the structure of the machine - meaning replacement parts far exceeded the cost of a new device. The changing landscape for electronics repair drove Microsoft to make considerable improvements in the following year’s model. The new model not only allowed for much easier and more affordable in-home maintenance, but the company even advertised self-repair as one of its key features - a promising movement for the future of consumer repair rights.
Setting examples like those mentioned above will need to occur more frequently to provoke industry-wide change, and we as consumers will need to continue to shed light on the problem through various outlets. “Junked by Design” is one of these outlets, providing a series of blog posts aiming to put these issues into perspective. Consumers have long known that their electronic products were not meant to last, be it computers, smartphones, or appliances, but we seem to just take it in stride. Education will be critical moving forward, and these types of resources will help do just that.
Here at Teracube, we’re dedicated to creating and providing products with the customer and environment in mind. Our smartphones are engineered with eco-friendly materials and are built to withstand the test of time - offering a lifespan of at least 4 years, backed by our manufacturer warranty. Our modular design allows for easy repair and parts replacement. To top it all off, we pledge to plant a tree for every device sold, helping offset our company’s carbon footprint - as small as it may be.
Every awesome product starts with a great idea, and Teracube is no different. But even before the great idea, Sharad Mittal and Anthony Tsim were forward-thinking entrepreneurs with the drive to impact the electronics market in a fresh, new way.
Mittal founded Kinivo and Bluerigger in 2009, ultimately selling more than 10 million electronic products. And, before Teracube, Tsim was an executive with several successful startups such as Exsilio Solutions, which delivered IT solutions to clients such as Microsoft and Amazon.
When the two teamed up, their combined vision led to Teracube, an innovative, new smartphone that hit the market in 2019.
How Teracube Came to Life
“I became a hardcore environmentalist five years ago. One evening, my wife and I went to see Noah, starring Russell Crowe, and the perspective I gained from it changed my life. I started on a new journey toward learning about what's going on behind the walls of our shopping malls and how marketing and our buying habits play a significant role in environmental destruction.”
- Sharad Mittal- Founder of Teracube
Last year, Mittal began to question how his passion for the environment and the electronics business could fit together, and he began to realize that some of the steps he was taking in the business world were only adding to the problem. That’s when he set out to merge both of his passions by creating a sustainable, top-tier smartphone.
The idea for Teracube’s warranty was born last year as well, as Mittal was questioning his own personal mission and the mission of one of his startups, Kinivo. He had always repaired his own laptops and smartphones when needed. He wondered, “Why not extend this service to the world?”
He immediately set out to find a reliable partner, Anthony Tsim. The two then created a business model for a repair plan that would be convenient and all-encompassing-- one that would provide support far longer than customers are used to.
Since then, Mittal and Tsim have experienced countless challenges, including two rejections from top smartphone manufacturers. But this wasn’t enough to deter the two from pursuing this vision. After visiting Shenzhen, finding partners who believed in the idea, revising their business model, talking with the Google Android team, and testing numerous samples and prototypes, the team was finally ready to bring Teracube to life.
“We figured out a way to bring a smartphone with a sleek, current design to the world. We insisted that it be easy to manufacture with future-proof specs, and then we simply built a solid and dependable repair model around it. The result was Teracube, a sustainable smartphone that’s better for your pocket, and better for the planet.”
- Sharad Mittal
Friends and Business Partners
Mittal, Tsim, and their team have grown through the many challenges and victories since Teracube’s inception. While Tsim leans on Mittals’ e-commerce expertise, Mittal values the leadership experience that Tsim brings from his many years of spearheading successful startups.
When Mittal was asked what drew him to team up with Tsim, he replied that he “brings a ton of energy and enthusiasm to our team. He is a go-getter, a never-say-no kind of person. His leadership experience from other businesses is invaluable.” When asked the same question, Tsim commented on Mittals’ solid business ethics and strong passion for the environment, noting that “there is a lot that I can learn from him.”
This partnership has solidified the mission of Teracube: to create sustainable, high-quality products that customers can enjoy for years to come. They plan to keep pushing the envelope in this direction by building more products with modular designs, eco-friendly components, and fair-trade practices.
More About Teracube From the Makers Themselves
Teracube is one of the fastest mid-range smartphones available in the US. With its 4-year, hassle-free warranty, it’s better for the customer’s pocket and better for the sustainability of our environment. Its durable construction includes a metal alloy body and Gorilla Glass, and it offers all of the features smartphone users have come to expect and more, all with a lower cost.
Teracube’s 4-year warranty includes free battery changes and express phone replacement. If our customers have issues with the Teracube, we won’t outsource the problem to another company. Instead, we promise to replace their device with a like-new phone with free two-way shipping. We will then refurbish the returned unit and add it to the like-new pool. No wastage!
Want to learn more? Click here to check out all that Teracube has to offer.
One of our priorities at Teracube is to give our customers what many other companies haven’t: a smartphone with a no-hassle, four-year warranty. And this warranty is what makes us unique. From the beginning, it’s been our goal to provide a top-tier smartphone, with all the bells and whistles, that doesn’t send people in a tailspin when they drop it, break it, or even when the battery goes dead.
What Makes Our Warranty Unique?
We can all relate to the dread we feel when it comes to the cost of replacing our smartphones every two years. But unlike the typical smartphone that lasts about that long, Teracube is engineered to last much longer and, to prove it, is backed by the industry's first four-year warranty. But a four-year warranty doesn’t help if it’s just going to cause a lot of hassle. Indeed, time doesn’t really mean a thing if we spend those four years waiting on hold. That’s why we wanted to make sure our warranty was a common-sense solution to the frustrations that we ourselves have faced with our own phones.
A Common Sense Warranty for the Long Haul
Everybody has a smartphone these days, so it’s not a stretch to say that virtually everyone has experienced mishaps, battery issues, and general warranty frustrations. When we started the prototype for Teracube, we brainstormed ways to fix the everyday frustration that our future customers would face after they purchase our smartphone.
We wanted to give our customers the kind of warranty that makes them say, “Whew. I’m SO glad I’ve got this coverage.” That’s why we decided that our warranty needed a few necessary traits:
We know how tempting it is to go with the less expensive phone with the mediocre warranty, but we urge our customers to take advantage of the warranty that comes with every Teracube at no extra charge.
Better for Your Pocket. Better for the Planet.
Aside from our customer-satisfaction goals, Teracube’s four-year warranty also benefits the planet. The longer the Teracube stays in the hand of the consumer, the fewer the phones that need to be made, thereby lowering how many end up in a landfill. This means less consumption, less waste, and less impact on the environment.
Given that 1.5 billion smartphones are sold worldwide each year, even a slight improvement in how long our phones last will have a large impact on our planet. Sustainability is our responsibility, and by keeping our promises over the next four years and beyond, we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves… and so are our customers.