Gothenburg Hunts for Sweden's Oldest Working Mobile

Do you use an old mobile phone? Gothenburg city officials want to hear from you. They launched a campaign this autumn to crown Gothenburg's oldest functioning mobile phone. The city aims to change consumer habits in a country where millions of new phones are sold annually. Gothenburg's Water and Environmental Department seeks the oldest actively used device to highlight electronic waste's environmental impact. Electronic waste has the highest climate impact per kilogram of any trash category. Officials want people to repair and maintain existing electronics rather than buying new items. The most sustainable phone is the one you already own, said Elina Järkil, process manager at the department. A 2023 survey of 1,000 Swedes revealed every second person replaces their phone within three years. This consumption pattern contradicts Sweden's environmental goals despite its green reputation. The campaign exposes the tension between Sweden's tech-savvy culture and its sustainability ambitions.