Dutch social enterprise Fairphone has released a new version of its "ethical" smartphone that is designed to be easily taken apart for repairs.
The Fairphone 3 eschews glue in favour of screws and a unibody handset in favour of a modular design, in a bid to cut down on e-waste and improve the life cycle of electronics.
It sets itself apart from Apple's iPhone and other leading smartphones on the market, which have been criticised for the increasing impenetrability that makes them difficult to recycle.

This is the third iteration of the Fairphone, and the company promises a refined design that is more reliable and durable as well as slimmer than previous models.
Its goal is that customers should keep the phone for five years or more, removing any faulty module for replacement or repair. By encouraging customers to keep their devices for longer, the company reduces the carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing and shipping.

Fairphone thinks in terms of social as well as environmental sustainability. The company operates several initiatives it dubs "fair specs", which aim to make its supply chain fairer.
To improve the conditions of workers, it has collaborated with manufacturer Arima, in whose factory the products are assembled, to increase pay, representation, health and safety.

When it comes to materials, Fairphone uses responsibly sourced and conflict-free tin and tungsten, recycled copper and plastics, and Fairtrade gold.
The company is also explo...