undefined | Better HN

0 pointsdmje5y ago0 comments

Reading this on a Fairphone. It's worth trying for something better, dude, even if you aren't ever likely to get to perfection.

0 comments

2 comments · 1 top-level

microtherion5y ago· 1 in thread

So I've been looking through their supplier list:

https://www.fairphone.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FP3_Lis...

In what way would you consider this superior to Apple's corresponding record?

https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2...

To my eyes, Apple actually has (or at least claims to have) better auditing of their supply chain. In particular, for Cobalt, one particularly concerning conflict mineral, Apple has over the last couple of years established complete auditing, while Fairphone is not even reporting numbers for that mineral yet.

To be sure, they did not do that out of the kindness of their hearts (particularly not in the Steve Jobs era). Pressure from NGOs and maybe also competitors like Fairphone helped.

[Disclaimer: I work for Apple, but don't speak for them, nor do I have firsthand knowledge of their supply chain]

dmjeOP5y ago

Sure, and interestingly you've made my point in one way as I was arguing it elsewhere in this thread, namely that more expensive products from companies like Apple are likely to come under more scrutiny from an ethical POV.

I do highly rate Apple for what they are doing - albeit under pressure from others. I chose FF more specifically because of the part maintainability / ability to replace as well as what seemed to me an ethical approach.

Back to the main point though: surely companies producing goods this cheap are going to de facto be cutting corners all the way up the chain, including ethical ones

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse