Minimising Screen Time Makes you more Eco-Friendly: A Guide for Teachers

As educators, we have a responsibility to teach young people many different things that will help them succeed in life. Sustainability is a hot topic worldwide, and while general public awareness of this important issue is rising, there’s no harm in using your influence to sow some seeds of eco-friendly wisdom into your pupils’ minds.

Multiple reports have found that kids aged 5-14 spend anywhere from 6-9 hours every day on a screen, and by age 11, 91% of UK children have their own smartphone. Clearly, screen time is a growing concern for parents and educators alike; but it isn’t just health, attention span, and social skills that are suffering from this technological advance.

Smartphones are also notably detrimental to our environment, using as much as 80% of the elements in the periodic table to produce, and a single smartphone can produce as much as 90kg of carbon emissions in a single year.

To help you explain to your students how cutting back on their screen time can make them more eco-friendly, here are some top tips and talking points.

How digital data and smart devices create CO2 emissions

It can be easy to assume that our online and digital activity doesn’t have a ‘real’ impact on the physical environment, but evidence shows that isn’t the case. Using social media, browsing the internet, storing data on cloud services, and streaming videos online all require data transmission – which uses electricity.

Massive data centres are required to keep all of these services connected and online, which need to run 24/7, 365 days a year. The environmental cost of this is huge – with global CO2 emissions from data centres alone estimated to reach 2.5 billion metric tons by 2030.

Recycling tech responsibly

There’s also the physical aspect of our devices to consider, as smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and computers all need to be manufactured. They work with the help of precious metals, many of which are mined from the earth using unsustainable methods, and also require masses of water to extract. The environmental damage and destruction caused by the production of smart devices is a compelling reason to recycle them efficiently and use them for as long as possible.

How many of your students (and colleagues) have unused, old smartphones stuffed in a drawer somewhere at home? By recycling just one million phones, we could recover up to 772lbs (350.17kg) of silver and 75lbs (34kg) of gold. This would also prevent hazardous materials from leaking out of them into landfill sites and harming ecosystems.

Reducing your impact

Though using the internet or smart devices is unavoidable these days, there are plenty of ways you can encourage young people to use and rely on them less. Here are some good examples to share:

• Using WiFi rather than a mobile network significantly produces less CO2, as does using a smaller screen.

• Decluttering inboxes by deleting old, irrelevant, or spam emails can reduce your overall carbon footprint.

• Avoiding doomscrolling and actively trying to reduce screen time will result in fewer carbon emissions.

• Track your screen time and set reminders to prompt you to take a break.

• Schedule activities that don’t require a screen – meet people in person, enjoy a walk, or write or draw something on recycled paper rather than on your phone.

• Recycle tech responsibly, and try not to get sucked into the trend of needing to upgrade it just because there’s a new model available.

• Buy used phones and tablets rather than new ones.

Lead by example

By explaining the importance of being conscious of our environmental impact when using screens, you can help to spark a more eco-friendly mindset amongst your students and make them think twice before using their devices. It’s important to lead by example, so you should also avoid scrolling your phone aimlessly during your breaks.

The author

Harriet Young

Harriet enjoys going on hikes and connecting with nature with her two Labradors. Though she enjoys being vegan, she is adventurous and enjoys trying out new food. Skilled in PR, creative media, and content strategies to assist brands and companies in developing and enhancing their online presence. Primary competency: - Market and audience insight - Campaign planning and strategy - Digital initiatives that result in 'earned' media attention that is organic. https://www.thesixthdegree.media

https://www.thesixthdegree.media