Page 284 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Carbon footprint of smartphones in healthcare

generated electricity. The problem with emissions is further the total carbon footprint of Apple was 1,272 tonnes of CO₂
intensified by improper device disposal, as electronic waste in 2020, with the production of spare parts and transport
accumulates when only a small percentage of devices enter accounting for 83% of total GHG emissions (Mahat,
the recycling stream. 2021). Although encouraging, these business sustainability
As smartphones are often thrown away while still pledges need constant oversight by regulatory agencies,
functional in favor of newer versions with slightly better government bodies, and other organizations.
capabilities, their short replacement cycle worsens the Despite these efforts, public awareness about the carbon
environmental problem (Cordella et al., 2021). Moreover, emissions from smartphones remains limited. Utilizing
since smartphones have a highly complex construction, they sustainable technology and well-informed consumer
should be treated separately from other types of e-waste, as decision-making are hampered by this information gap.
the quantity of recoverable valuable materials depends on AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.ai, and Meta
the recycling method used (Suckling & Lee, 2015). AI suggest findings about footprint data, but these need
According to the United Nations Trade and to be verified by outside sources. It can be difficult for
Development’s Digital Economy Report (2024), the average customers to make well-informed judgments regarding
carbon emission for a smartphone from production to its the environmental effects of their devices. The necessity
end-of-life is reported to be 58 kg CO . This information for standardized, easily accessible environmental effect
2
offers an indicator of these technologies’ environmental data for consumer technologies is highlighted by the
impact. The carbon-intensive nature of device variation in information quality. The CSR reports are
manufacturing underscores the importance of prolonging probably biased, too, as there is no requirement for a public
device lifespans, which can offset the initial environmental audit of environmental data provided by these device
investment. On average, using a smartphone for 3 years manufacturers.
emits 8 kg of CO . Although this is a relatively small amount With its ability to facilitate communication, diagnosis,
2
per device, it accumulates significantly across billions of telehealth, and medical education, smartphones are
devices worldwide (Lövehagen et al., 2023). With new becoming an increasingly important part of the healthcare
smartphone models being released annually, the production industry. The versatility of these devices accelerates their
of smartphones continues to contribute significantly to spread throughout international healthcare systems.
global carbon emissions. As consumers frequently upgrade Physicians use these devices extensively, often for 1 – 5 h
to newer models, the overall environmental impact of daily, to manage patient care, access vital materials, and
smartphone manufacturing and disposal increases. From consult LLMs (Ventola, 2014). The introduction of
2003 to 2018, the average lifespan of a smartphone has smartphones into clinical practice has profoundly
risen from 15 – 18 months to 24 – 26 months (Martela, influenced the delivery of healthcare, as well as the
2019). Extending smartphone replacement cycles from 2 availability and utilization of medical knowledge.
to 3 years could yield substantial environmental benefits
and reduce carbon footprints by 23 – 30% (Cordella et al., Widespread patient acceptance of chatbots for health
2021). The environmental impact of digital connectivity education has forced physicians to navigate the same
territory. The constant use of Internet tools and emails
is increased by the ongoing cycle of production and waste directed at medical providers by patients is encouraged
brought about by the cultural expectation of annual device by large hospital systems as a form of patient engagement.
updates.
However, both the adoption of LLMs and the use of internet
Leaders in smartphone production, such as Apple and devices contribute to an increased carbon footprint.
Samsung, have responded to these environmental concerns
by implementing sustainable practices. The environmental With an emphasis on flagship models from Apple and
impact of their supply networks and goods is described in Samsung that are frequently utilized in healthcare settings,
this study assesses the carbon footprint of smartphones. In
their reported corporate social responsibility (CSR) and
10-K statements (Apple Inc., 2024; Samsung Electronics, order to evaluate the accuracy of the environmental impact
2024a). Apple plans to achieve carbon neutrality across its information, we will compare manufacturer-reported
supply chain by 2030, emphasizing that recycled materials emissions data with responses produced by the LLMs. This
and reduced packaging are crucial for achieving this evaluation tackles both the broader issue of information
objective (Apple Inc., 2024). By 2050, Samsung aims to quality in LLMs and the specific challenge of assessing
achieve net-zero emissions (Samsung Electronics, 2024b). smartphone carbon footprints.
Samsung has received criticism for its slower adoption of Healthcare professionals and organizations should be
renewable energy compared to industry peers. In addition, well-informed on the ecological costs of smartphones to

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 276 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.8359