If you want to take part in digital life in 2025, you pretty much need a laptop or desktop computer. However, while new technology has become increasingly cheaper in recent years, CO2 emissions from production, resource consumption and electronic waste are an ever greater problem.
Some manufacturers are taking the first steps towards sustainability. Companies such as Dell, Lenovo, HP and Apple state that they use recycled materials for some of their products. There are also attempts to reduce packaging sizes and minimise the use of plastic in boxes. However, if we take a closer look at these measures, manufacturers seem to avoid the real problem.
Why ‘sustainable’ computers are often not all that sustainable
With the release of the Mac Mini in 2024, for example, Apple claims to have launched its first CO2-neutral desktop computer. According to its sustainability report, the mini computer produces as little carbon dioxide as possible during both production and shipping. Apple offsets the CO2 it does produce and has been praised by the public for its sustainable initiative.
What is striking, however, is how Apple designs its Mac computers and notebooks. Since the company switched to its own chip architecture in 2020, customers have been able to replace fewer and fewer components. In the supposedly CO2-neutral Mac Mini, the SoC—a unit consisting of computing cores, graphics cores and neural cores for AI applications—is permanently soldered to the mainboard. The same applies to the unified memory, which is somewhat comparable to the RAM of conventional computers. And even the SSD used for mass storage must be soldered with an adapter before it can be connected to the mainboard. Alternatively, you can buy more expensive spare parts from Apple or third-party suppliers.
After purchasing a new Mac Mini, customers face the following situation: neither the chipset nor the RAM or mass storage can be replaced without technical expertise and special tools. If the performance is no longer sufficient after prolonged use or if requirements change, it’s not possible to upgrade the hardware at a later date. And in the event of defects, the new Mac Mini will more likely become e-waste than be repaired.
The Mac Mini is, therefore, anything but a sustainable computer in its design. This follows a general trend in the world of technology. Philippe Arradon from Commown explained to RESET why the trend in consumer technology products has shifted away from recycling.
Commown: Rent technology instead of buying
Commown is a cooperative for sustainable electronics from France. Instead of buying smartphones, notebooks or PCs, customers can rent the technology they need from Commown. The focus is on modular and sustainable technology such as the Fairphone, the Shiftphone or the Framework notebooks.
Commown was founded as a cooperative in 2018 and opened its first branch in Berlin in June 2021.
We explain in more detail why it is generally more sustainable to rent technology instead of buying it here!
The technology market has been saturated for several years
“For me, sustainability is incompatible with Apple’s business model,” says Philippe. “[The manufacturer] is doing small things to make devices a bit more durable. But Apple will never change completely to make devices exceptionally durable.” This development is less due to malicious intent than to the fact that the technology market has been saturated for several years. Most customers already have the devices they need—so why should they buy new ones?
Samsung’s Galaxy mobile phones are a good example of this. They are regarded as technology leaders in the world of smartphones. While the independent repair portal iFixit rated the repairability of the Galaxy S4 from 2013 with 8 out of 10 points, the repair score fell to 3 out of 10 for the Galaxy S7 in just three years. The reason: according to analyses, smartphone sales stagnated after the first smartphone boom. Due to the lower durability of the newer models, sales figures increase again after 2015.
Once the majority of the population had bought a smartphone, there was no longer any incentive for them to buy a new product straight away. Earlier models were still repairable and therefore more durable. And so, according to Philippe Arradon, manufacturers introduced three types of obsolescence.
Three types of product obsolescence
For many years now, manufacturers no longer develop devices to be as durable as possible. If devices break due to this limited durability, manufacturers also restrict the availability of spare parts. Or they keep the documentation on how to repair them under lock and key.
Apple did introduce a repair programme for customers a few years ago, allowing them to obtain spare parts and the necessary tools from the manufacturer. For Philippe Arradon, however, such programmes make no sense if they involve high risks for customers. “In one case I know of, a customer wanted to repair his iPhone with the Apple programme. He had to rent a whole box of tools from Apple to do this. The rent was 40 US dollars—but the deposit was 3,000 US dollars. That’s crazy but it was the only way he could repair his iPhone himself.”
As the Berlin-based association Topio shows, customers can extend the life of their devices using Google-free operating systems. Even here, however, we are seeing a trend towards manufacturers locking their devices for third-party operating systems.
Topio operates a market stall in Berlin, which we visited recently. More information here!
In addition to limited repairability, Philippe Arradon explains software obsolescence. Devices sometimes no longer receive updates a few years after their release. In the case of the iPhone, the update period is five to six years. For some Chinese manufacturers, however, it is only two or three years.
According to Philippe Arradon, the operating systems themselves are also becoming increasingly sophisticated. Exactly 30 years ago, an installation of Windows 95 was 500 megabytes in size. Windows 11, on the other hand, is more than 40 times larger at just under 20 gigabytes. However, the capabilities and functional scope of operating systems are by no means 40 times larger than they were 30 years ago. So instead of developing software so it’s compatible with as many devices as possible, manufacturers develop unnecessarily complex software. As a result, older models of devices can’t use this software.
Sustainable software: How free licences help to preserve our resources
Software has become a systemically relevant resource in our society. Free licences guarantee its long-term availability. In addition, the use of free software can also directly and indirectly conserve natural resources.
Find out more here.
Philippe Arradon describes the third form of obsolescence as ageing via marketing mechanisms. Advertising points out functions everywhere. Trends ensure that current devices look old. With the iPhone 13, for example, Apple changed the arrangement of the cameras. They arranged the two lenses horizontally instead of vertically, as in the previous model. Apple justified this decision with the increased space requirements of the better cameras. For many users, however, the new arrangement also meant that their older device was now directly recognisable as such. This created an incentive to buy a new model. Apple repeated this approach in 2024—the horizontal cameras are once again arranged vertically on the latest model.
Do sustainable computers have disadvantages?
Computers, mobile phones and tablets have also become more powerful in recent years. We asked Philippe Arradon whether there are any disadvantages to buying a computer that is as sustainable as possible.
Philippe cites the Framework notebooks from the Commown online shop as a positive example. The manufacturer specialises in sustainable notebooks. It uses the same basic framework across generations. This allows customers to upgrade older models with new components instead of buying a new model.
Philippe sees no real disadvantage in their design. The models are no thicker than normal notebooks. To make technology repairable and modular, they screw the devices together instead of using glue. And that doesn’t necessarily create a bulkier device.
The notebooks from Framework have a modular design. This makes it easy to replace components. Business laptops show that manufacturers do have the capability to orientate their offerings towards customer requirements. Laptops for business customers are generally more repairable than consumer models. Business models from HP are “quite repairable”, apart from a glued keyboard. Philippe Arradon assumes that companies are less likely to buy laptops that cannot be repaired. Companies also employ trained IT staff or are more likely to utilise leasing offers for IT supplies.
Commown also focuses on rental agreements instead of a conventional sales strategy. Customers receive discounts if they use devices for as long as possible. After several years of use, they receive a discount of up to 60 per cent.
According to Philippe Arradon, this business model is the key to the online shop’s sustainable focus. This is because Commown has an economic interest in ensuring that consumers use devices for a long time. Sustainability thus becomes a corporate goal, as it becomes less economical to sell new devices.
Refurbished technology is an alternative option
Another good way to buy technology that is as sustainable as possible is to buy refurbished used equipment. Business devices in particular, which are generally more repairable and robust, are available as used products in refurbished shops. Before reselling, employees check the technology to ensure it is intact. Retailers also offer an extended warranty, which means that customers take fewer risks when they make a purchase.
Keeping older products alive and continuing to use them is always more sustainable than producing new ones. Even if manufacturers use some recycled materials in new products. As in almost all sectors, a consistent circular economy would be the ideal solution. It is therefore a positive sign that major manufacturers such as Samsung, Apple and Dell are offering used devices in their online shops.
Manufacturers could face more pressure in the future from supply chain laws and eco-design guidelines. From June 2025, for example, there will be an EU energy label for the first time, which will inform customers about the repairability of products before they buy them. Manufacturers of smartphones and tablets will then have to indicate how easily repairable their devices are on a scale of A-E. The state of Berlin, as well as Thuringia and Saxony, also want to encourage customers to continue using their devices by offering a repair bonus.
