Smartphones: Which advanced technologies are being adopted for a zero-emissions economy

New technologies are now being used in the smartphone industry to reduce its carbon footprint and other pollutants, with the aim of promoting ‘green’ growth.

Advanced technologies that reduce smartphone energy consumption by up to 70%, faster charging, environmentally friendly packaging, and the refurbishment and reuse of mobile phones, televisions and other products are just some of the measures Xiaomi is implementing as part of its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 98% by 2040.

According to the company's announcement, this plan is called the ‘Zero-Carbon Philosophy’ and will be achieved by lowering carbon emissions through clean technology research and development, expanding electronic waste (e-waste) management systems, and implementing ‘green’ operations and logistics.

Reducing the environmental footprint

In 2022, Xiaomi invested more than 50% of its total R&D expenditure in clean technology Research & Development. That same year, the use of clean technology patents and products generated 59,7% of its revenue. The company made significant progress in this area.

Here are some examples:

5G & Energy-Saving Signal Transmission Technology: Through 5G energy-saving technologies, Xiaomi increased the energy savings of its smartphones. Advanced WLAN chips, combined with power monitoring and dynamic WLAN transmission technology, reduced the energy consumption of the company's smartphones by approximately 30% compared with the previous generation.

Energy-Efficient Display Technology: Enabling Dark Mode, which turns the smartphone screen background black, can reduce energy consumption by up to 70% when using certain apps.

Charging Technology: In 2022, more than 100 million smart devices used Xiaomi's fast-charging technologies, saving nearly 57 million kWh of energy and 24.852 tonnes of CO2e emissions compared with conventional fast-charging technology.

Eco-Friendly Packaging: Xiaomi changed its product packaging from ‘buckling’ boxes to flattened cardboard boxes, while also removing the plastic handles. Thanks to this update, the company reduced its use of paper packaging by an average of 0,3m² and removed approximately 80g of plastic per product.
Circular economy and electronic waste management

Recycling and Disposal: In 2022, Xiaomi recycled approximately 4.500 tonnes of electronic waste, including smartphones. From 2022 to 2026, the company has committed to recycling 38.000 tonnes of electronic waste and using 5.000 tonnes of recycled materials in its products. Xiaomi continues to expand its ‘Trade-In’ programme, increasing the range of products eligible for recycling and the coverage of its recycling services.

Refurbishment and Reuse: Xiaomi is committed to promoting the development of a circular economy by refurbishing its used products. In 2022, its factory refurbished approximately 94.000 smartphones, 5.600 electric scooters and 6.200 smart televisions. All were sold as certified refurbished products.

Improving Durability: The company considers the durability of the materials it selects for its products. It has developed wear-resistant ceramic materials and silicone synthetic leather materials, which are used in many of its smartphones. It has established testing standards for dust protection, waterproofing and drop resistance for its devices that exceed international standards. In 2022, Xiaomi launched a long-lasting battery capable of full charge and discharge cycles, with a lifespan 25% longer than previous versions.