Last week, HMD Global participated in the Australian Repair Summit in Canberra, with country manager, Brenden Folitarik discussing the company’s commitment to sustainability and repairability, while also sharing the company’s vision for the future.
Now in its third year, the Australian Repair Summit has brought together a wide range of stakeholders, from industry experts and policy makers to environmental and sustainability advocates to discuss key issues surrounding the right to repair movement and move towards a circular economy.
The Summit is in the spotlight as some of Australia’s leading research and environment organisations, including Griffith University, Ewaste Watch Institute, Clean Up Australia and the Australian Repair Network have called for major reform to incentivise and support the repair of products, machines and equipment.
It is also the first major stakeholder event in Australia since the European Parliament’s June vote in favour of a new legislation that would overhaul the entire battery life cycle, from design to end-of-life. Among the changes, the new rules would require batteries in consumer devices like smartphones to be easily removable and replaceable.
“Our vision is to connect the world without costing the earth, and with that comes a commitment to, and passion for, repairability and sustainability. These are far more than simply buzzwords for us,” Folitarik said.
“Our recently launched self-repairable mobile phones, the Nokia G22 and the newly released Nokia G42 5G is part of our determination to lead the right to repair movement within the smartphone industry. Our commitment to reducing e-waste is evident through utilising recycled materials and our Circular program in the UK and Germany, which encourages longer device usage and recycling, and with a plan to expand into other markets.
“This is a long-term commitment that requires resourcing in manufacturing, R&D and all aspects of the business to ensure we can still deliver highly competitive and highly affordable products that will deliver the consumer experience we all expect.
“We share this commitment publicly in the genuine hope that other manufacturers will follow our lead. Our commitment here is steadfast, with the ultimate goal being to create a circular economy where users are encouraged to repair and extend the life of their devices.
“We have now proven that beautifully designed and highly featured smartphones can be delivered affordably, balancing repairability and the user experience, all while extending device lifecycles. Consumers around the world are showing their support by adopting repairable devices, which will pave the way for a true circular economy.”
The remarks from Folitarik come as HMD Global launches the Nokia G42 5G, the second smartphone in its Australian line-up with self-repairability at its core, enabling consumers to perform self-repairs, like replacing screens, charging ports and batteries using affordable parts.
As the industry’s first sub-$450 smartphone with 5G connectivity to feature QuickFix repairability, cracked screens, bent charging ports and batteries can easily be replaced through HMD Global’s collaboration with iFixit.
Priced at $449, the Nokia G42 5G incorporates a 50MP camera, three-day battery life and Android13. Launched in a So Purple colour inspired by the 2023 Colour of the Year – Digital Lavender – the Nokia G42 5G is made with a 65% recycled back cover and boxed in FSC-certified mixed packaging. It also comes with a three-year warranty, three years of monthly security updates and two years of OS upgrades.
To coincide with the launch, HMD Global has unveiled its ‘Recycle To Win Competition’, in partnership with Clean Up Australia, Freely, Mobile Muster and Wander to reward Australian consumers who recycle their old mobile device through Mobile Muster.
By recycling their phone, users go into the draw to a four-day holiday in Kangaroo Island (SA) or Scenic Rim (QLD). The competition runs until October 18, 2023 and more information can be found here.
The Nokia G42 5G in So Purple is available in 6/128GB storage and memory configurations from RRP $449 via JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, Big W (online), Nokia.com, Amazon, Catch, Kogan and TVSN.
At-home Fit Kits and replacement parts for Nokia G42 5G are available from iFixit.com, including a display for $89.99, battery for $49.99, and charging port for $42.99.