What happens when a protest campaign decides to build its own smartphone? In this episode of Digitel Talk, Ian Ginn welcomes Monique Lempers, Chief Impact Officer at Fairphone, a social enterprise proving that successful business doesn’t have to exploit the planet.
Monique shares the 15-year journey of Fairphone—from “shouting outside the tent” to becoming an award-winning industry leader. We explore the toughest realities of the electronics supply chain and the “messy bits” of ethical tech, including:
- The DRC Connection: Insights from the leadership team’s recent visit to the mines in Congo.
- The AI Contradiction: Navigating the massive energy consumption of AI-enabled devices and the call for renewable power.
- Total Cost of Ownership: Why repairable, modular phones are actually more cost-effective for both consumers and procurement officers.
- Radical Transparency: Why Fairphone is 100% honest about not being 100% fair… yet.
- The Living Wage: How “carrot and stick” supplier incentives are filling the income gap for the world’s most vulnerable workers.
Links & Resources:
Episode sponsored by IFG Consulting Europe– Supporting telcos with tech strategy, digitisation and growth.
Guest Bio:
Monique is an executive leader in the sustainable business for consumer electronics. Her experience on this topic spans over 25 years, including 10 years at Fairphone, where she built the impact strategy and established the company as the undisputed leader in sustainability in its sector. Before joining Fairphone, Monique built and led several high impact and international industry coalitions in
Electronics, Mining and Apparel at The Sustainable Trade Initiative. In her earlier days she advised a variety of companies and institutions on the topic of Sustainability and Ethical sourcing in her role of sustainability advisor at Pricewaterhousecoopers
Podcast credits:
- Host: Ian Ginn
- Editor: Francis Wright
- Designer: Rebecca Ginn
- Project manager: Ivana Duric
