Environmental and energy leaders are constantly looking for ways to improve their workplace’s ESG metrics. One often-overlooked method is using phones designed with sustainability in mind. Organizations often upgrade phones whenever they need new ones, when they begin to malfunction, or when they are no longer supported. However, these scenarios represent increases in a company’s environmental impact.
This impact contributes to Scope 3 emissions due to the efforts involved in distributing new phones, which require extracting materials to create the devices and processing and manufacturing them. By focusing on device longevity and prioritizing circularity and modularity to extend lifespan, environmental leaders can lower their Scope 3 emissions impact through the sustainable use of mobile devices.
“Impact per Year of Use” is a metric that indicates a product’s total lifespan and whether it can outweigh the environmental costs of its production and distribution. This ESG metric aims to promote product longevity and circularity.
Understanding these points can help environmental and energy teams assess the annual impact of emissions, which means a clearer picture of how durability, repairability, and extended device life can strengthen corporate ESG performance.
In recent years, more and more corporations are relying on employees' use of mobile devices. According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, 66.4% of Canadian enterprises reported that at least one employee used a personally owned device, such as a smartphone, to conduct business-related activities, up from 62.9% in 2019.
These rising numbers may prompt environmental groups to find ways to extend the lifespan of these devices. Faster replacement cycles could increase the ecological footprint that electronic manufacturers may cause.
Organizations should shift their focus from “How many devices are deployed?” to “How long can each device last and perform well?”
With rising pressure from investors and regulators, recognizing device turnover as a key emissions factor can help environmental teams reduce the impact per year of use.
Looking at the impact per year of use gives organizations a clearer picture of their carbon footprint. It can also create a path to longer-lasting and more cost-stable device programs.
Environmental and energy leaders could implement the following strategies to begin mitigating their year of use impact:
Newer flagship devices show how better materials for efficiency, circularity, and extended software support can help organizations get more productive years out of each phone. Key advantages of next-generation devices include:
As organizations rethink how they measure the environmental footprint of their technology, “impact per year of use” offers a more practical way forward. By embracing longevity, circularity, and responsible lifecycle management, environmental and energy leaders can reduce waste and strengthen ESG outcomes. In a world where nearly every workflow touches a mobile device, extending its life is a meaningful way to drive impact where it matters most.
Adam Bloom is the Head of Customer Excellence for Mobile Klinik and TELUS Retail. A dedicated advocate for "shop local, support Canadian," Adam focuses on elevating the device ownership experience through transparency, certified technical expertise, and lifetime parts guarantees. By integrating Mobile Klinik’s specialized repair solutions with TELUS’s world-class connectivity, he champions a seamless standard of excellence that builds community trust, drives long-term loyalty, and positions Mobile Klinik & TELUS as Canada’s premier destination for trusted device care.
