Vodafone and Fairphone announce strategic partnership to bring ethical Fairphone 3 smartphone to Vodafone customers

Vodafone and Fairphone today announced a strategic partnership to offer the Fairphone 3 to Vodafone customers in five European markets including the UK, by the end of 2019.

Vodafone and Fairphone will also collaborate on best practice and share knowledge on key industry sustainability issues, including the circular economy, electronic waste and responsible sourcing.

The new Fairphone 3 builds on the company’s ambitions for fairer, more sustainable electronics with the insights it gained from creating its two previous devices.

Fairphone 3 is a durable Android smartphone based on a modular design that allows for different elements such as the battery and camera to be replaced easily. This extends the life of the device and minimises its environmental footprint as a result.

Fairphone actively encourages the re-use and repair of their handsets, offering recycling options that reduce electronic waste worldwide. As an industry leader in responsible sourcing, Fairphone traces materials used in Fairphone 3 to their source and incorporates fairer, recycled and responsibly mined materials, such as Fairtrade gold. The company also works with suppliers to establish better working conditions and better worker representation for people employed in the manufacturing industry.

Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO said: “Vodafone has committed to halving our UK carbon footprint and purchasing all our electricity from renewable sources by 2025. We have also committed to reuse, resell or recycle 100% of our network waste and help our customers extend the lives of the devices they already own.

“Fairphone has made bold strides in creating a sustainable, long-lasting smartphone, designed from the outset for people who care about how their products are made, with materials that are better for the planet.  We are delighted to bring the Fairphone 3 to customers in the UK by the end of 2019.

Fairphone CEO, Eva Gouwens said: “Fairphone is showing that there is a market for more ethical products to inspire the rest of the industry to produce more ethically.  This is one of the strongest signals we can send to the rest of the industry, and working with a large, mission-aligned operator such as Vodafone helps to bring sustainable electronics to the mainstream market.”

Vodafone will offer Fairphone 3 to retail customers in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland by the end of 2019.

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About Fairphone

Fairphone is a social enterprise that is building a movement for fairer electronics. By making a phone, we’re opening up the supply chain and creating new relationships between people and their products. We’re making a positive impact across the value chain in mining, design, manufacturing and life cycle, while expanding the market for products that put ethical values first. Together with our community, we’re changing the way products are made.