Fairphone B.V.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:9,564 tCO2e (Scope 3)
Scope 1 Emissions:0
Scope 2 Emissions:-14.33 tCO2e (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:9,564 tCO2e
Renewable Energy Share:100% renewable electricity in office
Waste Generated:9.6 tons of e-waste collected
ESG Focus Areas
- Ethical Electronics
- Circular Economy
- Decent Work
- Climate Change
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved e-waste neutrality for Fairphone 4 and modules.
- Avoided 15 tons of e-waste.
- Avoided 999 tons of CO2e.
Social Achievements
- Paid living wage bonuses to 1,926 factory workers totaling US$305,000.
- Improved working conditions at five strategic Fairphone 4 suppliers.
- Benefited over 83,000 people cumulatively since 2017 through various programs.
Governance Achievements
- Increased revenue by 62% compared to 2021.
- Achieved a net positive financial result for the third consecutive year.
- Conducted a thorough investigation and addressed an internal misconduct case.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Reach net-zero emissions by 2045.
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce 46% of scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from a 2019 base year by 2030.
- 60% intensity reduction of business operations & downstream activities by 2030.
- 30% of tier 2 suppliers have set emissions reduction targets by 2030.
Short-term Goals:
- Increase sales to 235,000 units by 2023.
- Maintain Longevity Score at 4.5 years in 2023.
- Increase Fair Materials to 70% by 2023.
Environmental Challenges
- Falling short of ambitious sales growth goals (115,681 units sold vs. 168,000 target).
- Supply chain disruptions due to the economic slump and COVID-19.
- Limited industry response to calls for living wages and fair materials.
- Complexity and opacity of the ASM cobalt supply chain.
- Internal misconduct case.
Mitigation Strategies
- Improved website accessibility and speed, launched split payment solution, piloted incentives for sustainable options, expanded indirect sales channels.
- Developed deeper trust and engaged more frequently with suppliers.
- Integrated more recycled materials, took steps in enabling fairer supply of cobalt and gold.
- Launched Fairphone Easy (smartphone subscription service).
- Conducted thorough investigation, stopped working with the supplier in question, and addressed employee misconduct.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 8 strategic suppliers audited
Responsible Procurement
- Fair Sourcing Principles
- Fair Materials Roadmap
- Living wage payments
- Supplier engagement programs
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
Certifications: SA8000 (final assembly factory), ISO 14001 (final assembly factory), Android Enterprise Recommended Certification
Third-party Assurance: ERM CVS
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Fairphone 4
- True Wireless Stereo Earbuds
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:11,135 tCO2e (Scope 3)
Scope 1 Emissions:0 tCO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:36.8 tCO2e (location-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:11,135 tCO2e
Renewable Energy Share:100% (Fairphone 5 final assembly)
Total Energy Consumption:112 MWh
Water Consumption:218 m3
Waste Generated:5.2 tons
ESG Focus Areas
- Fair Labor Practices
- Environmental Sustainability
- Circular Economy
- Climate Change
- Responsible Sourcing
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved 100% e-waste neutrality for Fairphone 4 and 5.
- Avoided 944 tons of CO2e emissions.
- Fairphone 5 contains 36% recycled materials by weight.
- 100% renewable electricity used in Fairphone 5 final assembly.
Social Achievements
- Paid a living wage bonus to 1700 workers at four supplier factories.
- Improved worker representation at two suppliers.
- Benefited 105,877 people through various interventions and programs.
Governance Achievements
- Established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.
- Reduced unadjusted gender pay gap to 5.7%.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- 90% absolute reduction in Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2045 (Net Zero).
Medium-term Goals:
- 30% absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030.
- 70% fairer strategic suppliers for all Fairphone products by 2026.
Short-term Goals:
- 42% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
- 15% absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2026.
Environmental Challenges
- Lower than target smartphone sales due to cost-of-living crisis and market shrinkage.
- Complexity of changing material composition of mass-produced components.
- Psychological barrier towards renting a phone.
- Increased Scope 3 emissions due to operational activities.
Mitigation Strategies
- Increased marketing investments.
- Launched Fairphone 5 and Fairbuds XL.
- Offered refurbished Fairphone 4s.
- Developed a new fair lithium supply chain.
- Implemented initiatives to reduce GHG emissions in the supply chain.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of tier 1 suppliers for star products
Responsible Procurement
- Ways of Working Together document (Code of Conduct)
- Environmental, labor, and human rights requirements in contracts.
- CSR assessments.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, GHG Protocol, SBTi
Certifications: B Corp, SA8000, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001
Third-party Assurance: ERM Certification and Verification Services Limited
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
- Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
- Goal 13 (Climate Action)
Fairphone's initiatives contribute to these goals through responsible sourcing, fair labor practices, sustainable product design, and climate action.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Fairphone 5
- Fairbuds XL
- Fairbuds
Awards & Recognition
- iF Design Award (Fairbuds XL)