When New Scientist tried to find out whether an ethically produced cellphone exists, the answer was a resounding ”no”. The cellphone industry is beset by allegations of factory-worker abuse, of raw materials being sourced from conflict zones, and of generating of electronic waste.


Reardon, S. (2012). Will we ever be able to buy a fair-trade smartphone? New Scientist 2860, 18.


Bleischwitz, R., Dittrich, M., and Pierdicca, C. (2012). Coltan from Central Africa, International Trade and Implications for Any Certification. College of Europe: Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings n° 23. Available http://www.coleurop.be/template.asp?pagename=BEEP