Fairphone

Fairphone B.V.
Privately held company
Industry Telecommunications equipment
Founded January 2013 (2013-01)
Founder Bas Van Abel
Headquarters Amsterdam, Netherlands
Products Smartphones
Website www.fairphone.com

Fairphone is a social enterprise company which aims to develop smartphones that are designed and produced with minimal environmental impact. The company is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands and was supported in its startup phase by the Waag Society, a foundation which aims to foster experimentation with new technologies, art and culture.

Fairphone was founded to develop a mobile device that does not contain conflict minerals (which in smartphones are typically gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten), has fair labour conditions for the workforce along the supply chain producing it and help people to use their phone longer.

The second version of the company's device is one of the first modular smartphones available for purchase – designed to be easily repaired and upgraded.

History and mission

A Fairphone employee meeting tungsten miners at the New Bugurama Mining Company in Rwanda.

Fairphone was founded by Bas van Abel as a social enterprise company in January 2013, having existed as a campaign for two and a half years. The company's website states that its mission is to "bring a fair smartphone to the market – one designed and produced with minimal harm to people and planet".[1] Fairphone, however, acknowledges that it will not be possible to produce a 100% fair phone yet, but with this aim, it seeks to raise awareness among consumers and in the mobile industry.

Products

The back side of a Fairphone 2 with a transparent cover, showing its modular design
The supply chain for conflict-free tungsten in the Fairphone 2.

Awards and certifications

Fairphone won the award for fastest-growing European tech startup at The Next Web conference in April 2015.[2]

The Fairphone 2 was the first[3] smartphone to be awarded with a 10/10 score at iFixit for repairability.[4][5]

Fairphone's founder and CEO Bas van Abel was one of the three winners of the German Environmental Award in 2016.[6]

Fairphone is a certified Benefit corporation.

The Fairphone 2 was the first mobile phone to receive Blue Angel certification.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Company profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Van Wijhe, Jelle. "Tech5: Fairphone named Europe's fastest-growing startup of 2015". The Next Web. The Next Web. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Modulares Smartphone: iFixit gibt Fairphone 2 die volle Punktzahl". heise online. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Fairphone 2 Teardown (Technical report). iFixit. 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "iFixit gives modular Fairphone 2 a rare 10 out of 10 for repairability [Updated]". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  6. ↑ Lomas, Charlotta. "Fairphone creator: Success is a signal to industry". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Environmentally Friendly Mobile Phones". The Blue Angel. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
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