The impact of internal GB memory size on the CO2 emissions of iPhones.

Updated at: 3 May 2024
User
In the emissions lineup for smartphone production: this time around, we're digging into how internal memory capacity affects CO2 emissions during the production phase. We're diving deep into the data to see what's what. Come along for the ride!

The increase in CO2 emissions during the production of an iPhone 14 Pro in kg CO2 is significant. The difference seems quite substantial. The CO2 emissions of an iPhone 14 Pro with 1 TB of internal storage capacity are 78% higher than those of a variant with 128 GB.

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The impact of storage size on the CO2 emissions in kg of an average iPhone appears significant. From what it seems, the difference is quite substantial. The CO2 emissions of an average iPhone with 1 TB (1014 GB) of internal memory are 102% higher than those of a variant with 32 GB.

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The increase in CO2 production of an average iPhone in percentage.

GB variants Increase %
32 to 64 GB + 20%
64 to 128 GB + 4%
128 to 256 GB + 16%
256 to 512 GB + 12%
512 to 1 TB + 26%
   
32 GB to 1 TB + 102%



Factors that might have influence

The production of internal memory, whether it's for smartphones like the iPhone or other electronic devices, involves several factors that contribute to CO2 emissions. Here are some reasons why the production of internal memory might result in higher CO2 emissions:

  1. Complex Manufacturing Processes: The production of advanced internal memory components involves complex manufacturing processes. These processes often require high levels of energy consumption, which can come from fossil fuel-based sources such as coal or natural gas. The energy-intensive nature of these processes can significantly contribute to CO2 emissions.

  2. Material Extraction and Processing: The materials used in internal memory, such as silicon, require extraction and processing, which can be energy-intensive and produce emissions. Additionally, the refining of metals and other materials used in memory production can contribute to CO2 emissions.

  3. Chemical Processes: Some manufacturing steps involve chemical processes that emit greenhouse gases. For example, certain solvents and chemicals used in the production of memory components can release CO2 and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

Overall, the combination of energy-intensive manufacturing processes, material extraction and processing, chemical use, transportation, and waste management all contribute to the CO2 emissions associated with the production of internal memory for devices like iPhones. As the storage capacities of devices increase, so does the demand for memory components, which in turn can lead to higher overall CO2 emissions associated with their production.

You might be curious about what's more environmentally friendly: internal memory or external memory cards. However, that's a topic for another study.

* CO₂ vs CO₂e: CO₂e means “carbon dioxide equivalent”. In layman’s terms, CO₂e is a measurement of the total greenhouse gases emitted, expressed in terms of the equivalent measurement of carbon dioxide. On the other hand, CO₂ only measures carbon emissions and does not account for any other greenhouse gases.

Source: Life cycle reports from Samsung and Apple. The CO2 values ​​of all iPhones concern the models with the lowest available internal memory (GB). The internal memory also affects CO2 emissions, but this aspect has been disregarded here.
We've gathered and analyzed all the source info ourselves. Just a heads up, you can't legally claim anything based on this.

Interested in full CO₂ datasheets of all mobile devices of Samsung, Apple and other brands? Please send a mail to info@2service.nl for options and tariffs.
Remco Spreeuwers