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MobileMuster goes carbon neutral

The mobile telecommunications industry’s product stewardship program, MobileMuster, is excited to announce that the organisation is carbon neutral. When Australians recycle with MobileMuster it will now be 100% carbon neutral.

Head of MobileMuster, Spyro Kalos, welcomed the announcement and said “MobileMuster is committed to reducing our carbon emissions and where necessary offsetting all the emissions associated with the product stewardship program. It means that all our operations will have net zero carbon impact.”

“It’s great to be recognised as a leader in our industry and be the first product stewardship program in Australia to achieve certification under Climate Active.” MobileMuster wants to support Australians in making sustainable choices and reducing their carbon footprint. As part of our carbon neutral certification MobileMuster is investing in conservation projects in Australia and around the world.

Why did we choose to go carbon neutral?        

Going carbon neutral is just one of the steps we are taking to reduce our environmental footprint. The mobile telecommunications industry is committed to building a sustainable, low-carbon future and takes responsibility for reducing carbon emissions and the impact of their products throughout the life cycle.

The way we use and dispose of our mobile phones contributes to their environmental footprint and the emissions associated with making products. In our efforts to combat climate change MobileMuster recognises that we need to look at a circular economy approach to reduce our carbon emissions. A circular economy is built around three principles including the designing out of waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use and regenerating natural systems.

The industry works through the accredited MobileMuster program to raise awareness about reuse and provide the infrastructure to facilitate recycling. The program aims to eliminate mobile phone waste, increase reuse and recycling and ensure the recovery of valuable materials to the highest environmental standard. Educating and encouraging more Australians on how to responsibly reuse and recycle their mobile phone will promote increased participation and result in greater environmental benefits and positive climate change impacts.

Who are we supporting?

MobileMuster has purchased carbon offsets to take responsibility for the unavoidable emissions we produce. We partnered with leading project developer and global climate action expert South Pole to offset our impact by supporting a wind power project in Taiwan. We are also supporting a conservation project in South Australia to protect native biodiversity.

The wind power project generates renewable energy, through the Changbin and Taichung wind farms, to power Taiwanese homes, while helping to expand Taiwan’s sustainable energy industry. As well as contributing to emission reductions, the project delivers additional economic, social and environmental outcomes which help to preserve the local ecosystem and encourage biodiversity.

The Mount Sandy Conservation Australia project protects one of the last pockets of bush and wetlands in the region. It is located between Coorong National Park and Lake Albert in South Australia. The project brings together non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians by promoting land conservation using methods that have been employed by Traditional Custodians, the Ngarrindjeri people. The project will deliver revegetation of the area to support local birds, animals and plants to flourish.

About MobileMuster

MobileMuster is the product stewardship program of the mobile phone industry and is accredited by the federal government. It is voluntarily funded by all major handset manufacturers and network carriers to provide a free mobile phone recycling program in Australia to the highest environmental standard. The program is committed to raising awareness and educating the community on why it is important to reduce our impact and responsibly reuse and recycle.

Read our latest research report which examines the environmental and climate change impacts of our mobile phone use, reuse and recycling Insights into mobile phone use, reuse and recycling (2020)