“Mini USB fans: The heat solution hides a disturbing carbon footprint

With temperatures exceeding 40 ° locally, difficult to keep your head cool in recent days in France. Fortunately, many brands have started to sell mini rechargeable fans by USB who make journeys by metro, wait at the glacier or outdoor outings more bearable.

However, As noted by the British NGO Material Focusthese inexpensive and inexpensive objects also have a significant carbon footprint given their lifespan. Before rushing on these small accessories, it is therefore good to keep some details in heads.

Where does the carbon footprint of mini-ventilators come from?

Like most electronic devices, and especially those equipped with lithium battery, the bulk of the carbon footprint of mini fans is generated during their manufacturing. From the extraction of rare earth to the transformation of the latter into printed circuits ready to refresh you, the construction of these devices is not negligible in terms of rejection of CO2. Especially for those screens.

As Franceinfo Notethe bulk of these devices is built in China, where electricity is not very decarbonized. They are then sent by plane or boat in our regions before landing on the displays of our stores. Before even getting out of their box, these accessories are dragging a significant CO2 debt. Exactly like our smartphones.

But, unlike the latter, the pocket fans rarely last several years due to their low -end material and the total absence of after -sales service for products sold barely a handful of euros. According to Material Focus, 4.8 million of these gadgets are found in landfills each year.

If it is difficult to advise against the purchase of such devices in view of the temperatures that are difficult to experience for those who do not have the chance to spend air -conditioned houses at air -conditioned offices, it is good to keep some head reflexes before rushing on these kinds of devices.

If your means allow it, avoid buying first price products. Prefer them more expensive, but often more durable models. You can also try to turn to the second hand and the opportunity to make a few euros and a few pounds of CO2 economics.

If your gadget is already broken when you bought it last summer, why not try to repair it? If he risks going in the trash anyway, open it and try to hack. You don’t risk much (as long as you do not attack the battery), could learn a little more about electronic repair and you may avoid putting € 10 in a new model.

And finally, if there is nothing more to save, do not throw the aircraft in the trash. Like any electronic gadget, mini fans must be sorted properly in order to be recycled. Otherwise, they may pollute the soils and the ambient air during their probable incineration. To find a recycling terminal next to you, Visit the Ecosystem website or in your closest large area.