Back Market Urges 10-Year Device Standard to Cut Extraction

Back Market launched a new platform in Paris and New York on September 23, 2026. The tool aims to expose the hidden environmental costs of manufacturing smartphones. The company is using this data to push for stricter global regulations.

The initiative argues that extending the life of devices can drastically lower resource consumption. It highlights the disconnect between what consumers know and the reality of supply chains. This effort seeks to change buying habits through transparent information.

Hidden material costs of phones

A typical 200-gram smartphone requires over 266 kilograms of raw materials. Globally, over 319 million tons of materials are extracted annually for phones. This equals more than 900 Empire State Buildings worth of material each year.

Most of this impact happens before the phone is even turned on. Up to 80% of a device's carbon footprint occurs during production. The current two-to-two-and-a-half-year upgrade cycle drives this high demand for resources.

Consumer research reveals knowledge gap

A survey of 6,000 consumers across six countries found significant ignorance. More than half cannot name a single raw material inside their phones. Only one in four feels confident about knowing what is in their device.

Seven in ten respondents have never investigated where their materials come from. Many were shocked to learn that over 200 suppliers are involved. This lack of awareness persists despite the high environmental stakes.

Call for ten-year standard

Back Market is calling for a legally mandated ten-year device standard. This would cover durability, repairability, and long-term software support. Keeping a phone for ten years instead of 2.5 avoids about 757 kilograms of extraction.

Sixty-six percent of surveyed consumers support such legislation. The platform, called Mine My Phone, aims to build public support for this rule. It presents data on environmental, human, and geopolitical costs to inform policy decisions.