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</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="painted">The - not only - environmental costs behind our smartphones</h2>
<p>Although there are already more smartphones than humans on this planet, we keep producing additional 1.5 billion new smartphones every year. About 75% of them are Android phones, most of which are replaced again and again after only short usage times. This, although <strong>the environmental costs involved in the production of a smartphone are exceptionally high in comparison to its usage time.</strong> "Upcyling Android" is an initiative to change our short-term and linear consumption of smartphones and <a href="/activities/upcyclingandroid/upcycling.html">start upcycling our devices</a>. Learn on this page about the problems surrounding software obsolescence and how to overcome them with the use of Free Software:</p>
<p>Smartphones are very valuable devices. Not only for our personal communication and organisation, but also in terms of the natural resources and energy investments necessary to produce them. Rare earths and other limited resources are required to produce many of the technical modules and chips that any smartphone consists of. Even worse: many of such resources are not only extremely rare and their extraction causes great environmental damage through mining, for example. Very often they are also extracted from the ground under inhumane conditions including child labor and different forms of slavery. In so called failed states and in the absence of law and order, a battle for the best mines often leads to local fights and violence.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="#the-not-only-environmental-costs-behind-our-smartphones">The - not only - environmental costs behind our smartphones</a></li>
<li><a href="#problem-short-life-time-through-software-obsolescence">Problem: Short life time through software obsolescence</a></li>
<li><a href="#free-software-as-a-sustainable-solution-out-of-the-dilemma">Free Software as a sustainable solution out of the dilemma</a></li>
<li><a href="#join-the-movement-and-save-our-resources">Join the movement and save our resources</a></li>
</ul>
<p>After extraction, these resources are send to manufacturies in South- and East-Asia where in a very energy-intensive process they are used to produce all the chips and connectors no smartphone can be used without. Assembling these modules often happens under conditions that are in our European understanding inacceptable. The energy invested is for the most part deriving from fossil fuels, disposal of waste produced during the production happens with less attention towards their environmental impact as regulations we know from European policies.</p>
<h2 class="painted" id="the-not-only-environmental-costs-behind-our-smartphones">The - not only - environmental costs behind our smartphones</h2>
<p>After production, these devices are send around the world to end up in stores and inboxes of customers. The global transportation of these products again have a huge environmental impact. Apple for example, <a href="">calculates its carbon footprint for 2018</a> to derive in 74% from the production of and another 5% of global transport of their products. Learn more about <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-sustainability-and-the-use-of-natural-resources">Hardware production and usage times</a> in our article. </p>
<p>Smartphones are very valuable devices, not only for our personal communication and organisation. <strong>Every smartphone is rich in terms of the natural resources and the energy invested to produce them.</strong> Rare earths and other limited resources are required to produce many of the elementary technical components that any smartphone consists of. Many of such resources are not only extremely rare, their extraction also causes additional environmental damage through mining, for example. And worse: depending on their geolocation, mining of rare earths very often happens under inhumane conditions including child labor and other forms of human exploitation. Sometimes armed conflicts surround the most profitable mines and end up in massive social problem and violence, if not even territorial battles. </p>
<p>After their usage lifetime, the disposal of smartphone devices is
equally troubling. In particular the amount of e-waste increases every year. The
<a href="http://ewastemonitor.info/">global e-waste monitor calculates</a> that
in 2019 alone over 50 million tons of electronic waste have
globally been disposed. Since 2014, the amount of annual
electronic waste has increased by more than a fifth. In turn, only
17% of this was recycled. Most of the scrap
- including large parts of the recycling - ends up in the countries
of the global south. Again, global transportation of e-waste comes with additional environmental costs, and once arrived, it is thinned through under inhumane conditions and searched for the last usable raw materials.</p>
<p>After extraction, rare earth resources are send to manufacturies around the globe, mainly to South- and East-Asia, where in an energy-intensive process these resources are used to produce all the chips and connectors no smartphone can be used without. Several reportings from human rights associations let assume that assembling these modules into the phones in many cases again happens under conditions that are inacceptable in our European understanding of labor. Environmental problems arise from the high energy investments that are often product of fossil fuel burning as well as the disposal of waste that often happens with less attention towards their environmental impact as we know it from industries governed under European regulations.</p>
<p>On the FYA pages in the sustainability-section we <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#uninstallability-and-modularity">link to</a> the article on uninstallability of apps.</p>
<p>Once produced, these devices are sent around the world to end up in stores and inboxes of customers and consumers. <strong>The global transportation of necessary goods before and after assembling these phones again have a huge environmental impact.</strong> Finally, after an often short usage lifetime, <strong>the disposal of smartphone devices is equally troubling.</strong> The amount of e-waste in particular increases every year with over 50 million tons of electronic waste globally in 2019. Most of the scrap - including large parts of the recycling - ends up in the countries of the global south. Which introdices yet another global transportation stream and after arrival, the material is thinned through under perilous conditions to be searched for the last usable raw materials.</p>
<p>Changing our linear consumption and extending the short usage times of smartphones are important factors towards a more sustainable digital society. <strong>Every time we keep using our current smartphone instead of buying a new one we help avoiding the production of new phones and disposal of ewaste.</strong> Assuming if only one third of smartphone users would use their devices one year longer as now, this would reduce the production of new smartphones already by hundreds of millions of smartphones yearly and reduce the involved energy consumption significantly. Read more about natural resources, hardware prduction and extending usage lifetime <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#hardware-production-and-usage-times">in our study on the sustainability of Free Software</a>. </p>
<h2 class="painted" id="problem-short-life-time-through-software-obsolescence">Problem: Short life time through software obsolescence</h2>
<p>To keep using our smartphones as long as we want often is not just a question of will or habit. Many manufacturers prefer that we regularly buy new phones instead of keep using our current ones. Non-repairability of devices, missing spare parts and other hardware-related obstacles are used to prevent users from keep using their devices if even just a minor part of the whole device is broken. Software however, plays an equally important part regarding the life-time of smart devices.</p>
<h3>Software obsolescence</h3>
<p>So called <strong>"software obsolescence" occurs when the manufacturer of a software ends the support for a current software so that no further support is provided and the subsequent version at the same time can no longer be executed on the previous hardware.</strong> In this case, the manufacturer runs consumers into the dilemma of either buying new hardware or to live with outdated software and potential security problems.</p>
<p><strong>Software obsolescence is a major concern throughout the Android world:</strong> Google, the company behind Android, develops the operating system Android and provides the software for no cost to hardware manufacturers. Until recently, Google did not produce any phones themselves and focused on the operating system only. This because the business model of Google is to collect as many data as possible from any user for targeting ads and not to produce and sell hardware. Phone manufacturers whose business is to produce and sell hardware in turn profit from a well-known and widely established operating system for no costs and so they ship their product with the Android operating system.</p>
<p>To be able to run Android on their phones, manufacturers have to package the software for their exact hardware specifications and firmware. They do however not further develop Android, nor do they profit from continuous phone usage by collecting individual data and selling it to the ad industry. That is what Google does. Which leads to the dilemma that manufacturers have no incentive in updating their once sold phones because it is not their operating system and all the data goes to Google. Instead, manufacturers only profit once in the sales of their phones. And so their incentive is to get customers to buy their new flagship phone every once in a while and to trash the old ones although they are still pretty good functioning.</p>
<figure>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/d7676d9e5e34f32da47735002fe32ff5.png" />
<figcaption>The graphic shows the a cycle of software support as to be expected: when customers buy a smartphone with Android version x pre-installed, it should be common practice that whenever the next version (x + 1) of said operating system comes out, manufacturers offer an update to the previous version on their phones. This practice helps to keep users safe and to keep using their devices over a long period. </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/11615e46f7f68c976f490e01f1abdd64.png" />
<figcaption>The graphic shows an unfortunately common practice in that the initial manufacturer does not deliver any next version of the operating system as an update on a phone once sold. Instead, the manufacturer often stops further support and users are left with the already mentioned problem of outdated software and potential security problems.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>On a general note, software obsolescence can also occur vice versa: sometimes software manufacturers do not put efforts in backward compatibility of their software and a new version of the operating system is not able to be run on older devices. If this is combined with an enforced version upgrade by the software, that can lead to the devaluation of hardware that is actually still functioning by the new software. Such a practice is more likely to happen when manufacturers offer software and hardware in a bundle and try to enforce new sales among customers by devaluating old hardware. In the Android world this is however uncommon because of the aforementioned division between software and hardware manufacturers.</p>
<h2 class="painted" id="free-software-as-a-sustainable-solution-out-of-the-dilemma">Free Software as a sustainable solution out of the dilemma</h2>
<p>Enforced end of support of a software and corresponding devaluation of hardware can only occur in proprietary business models, where there is just one single entitity able to deliver updates or not. <a href="/freesoftware/freesoftware.html">Free Software</a> in contrast solves the dilemma of software obsolescence through enabling all users and businesses to legally use, study, share and improve the software through its publication under a <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html">Free Software license</a>. Apart from many other benefits, this leads into the situation that <strong>there cannot be a forced end of support or lifetime of any such software that is published under a Free Software license</strong>. This is in fact the most sustainable way of preserving digital resources as <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#examining-the-sustainability-of-free-software">outlined in our study on software sustainability</a>.</p>
<p>That means that any of your device that runs Free Software cannot be devaluated by an enforced upgrade to a non-compatible software nor by an enforced end of support. But although no enforced end of support is possible, it is still possible that the software is no longer continued. Free Software does not necessarily guarantee you any never-ending continuation. As in other areas the development of especially unknown software projects or those who do not receive enough support can be stopped at some point in time simply due to decreased interest. The critical difference however is that this is not something any single entity can decide or even plan for their marketing purposes and to speed up the sale of new hardware. If the development of Free Software is stopped by its initial authors, any other entity can pick up the software code and continue its development. <strong>In practice, Free Software publications usually lead to very vital markets with dozens of alternatives and solutions, offering extended usage lifetimes of hardware in several fields.</strong></p>
<p>Now what about the Android world? How can you get Free Software on your phone? In fact, very large parts of the Android operating system - excluding third party apps, the G-Suite and some core libraries - are already Free Software. That is why there are dozens of alternative Android versions not from Google on the market, so called "Custom ROMs". <strong>If you like to benefit from Free Software sustainability on your Android phone you can replace the operating system with such a Free Software operating system.</strong> Unlike the operating systems offered by the initial manufacturers, these Custom ROMs often offer continued support, version upgrades and backward compatibility towards older devices.</p>
<figure>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/3988c08e462264bc9ffa89f29284acb3.png" />
<figcaption>The graphic shows the dilemma and the solution to software obsolescence in one: sketched on the bottom is the above outlined dilemma of software obsolescence and the need to buy new phones instead or updating them by an enforced end of support from the initial manufacturer. On top we can see how alternative Custom ROMs often are able to offer subsequent versions of Android for a continued support of the same device already in use. </figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 class="painted">Problem: Short life time of devices</h2>
<p><strong>Custom ROMs are modifications and Free Software operating systems of the original Android operating system, which enable users to install "new operating systems" on "old hardware".</strong> This means, that in many cases at least the current operating version can be supplied with security updates, and sometimes porting to higher operating system versions may also be possible. The users are no longer at the mercy of the dilemma of software obsolescence described above and the lifetime of the respective hardware can thus be significantly increased.</p>
<p>We can help the aforementioned problems by reducing the amount of Smarphones being produced. In the last five years there have been sold (thus also produced) <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/755388/global-smartphone-unit-sales-by-region/">more than 1.5 billion smartphones</a> every year. Every time we keep using our current smartphone instead of buying a new one we help avoiding the production of new phones and disposal of ewaste. Assuming if only one third of smartphone users would use their devices one year longer as now, this would reduce the production of new smartphones already by hundreds of millions of smartphones yearly and thus reduce the involved energy consumption significantly.</p>
<p><strong>By extending the usage time of hardware and countering software obsolescence, Free Software can directly help save natural resources and achieve sustainable digitization.</strong> </p>
<p>But keep using our phones in use is sometimes not just a question of will. Often manufacturers prefer if we buy them new phones instead of keep using our current ones. Non-repairability of devices, missing spare parts and other hardware-related obstacles come into mind, that often hinder users from keep using their devices once even only a minor part of the whole device is broken. However, software play an equally important part regarding the life-time of smart devices.</p>
<h2 class="painted" id="join-the-movement-and-save-our-resources">Join the movement and save our resources</h2>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Join our initiative and upcycle your smartphone.</strong> Together we can make a difference and help to reduce our natural resource consumption and CO2 footprint. Installing a Free Software system on your phone helps to keep your hardware up to date and to decide by yourself how long you like to use your device. In addition it comes with a lot of other benefits, it gives you <a href="/activities/android/android.html">full control over your device</a> and software, you can finally de-install apps you could not before and you profit from extended privacy protection - just to mention a few.</p>
<h3>software obsolescence</h3>
<p>Because many manufacturers prefer you buying a new phone instead of keep using your current device under your own control, installing alternative Free Software operating systems on Android phones is not always easy. Although after buying your device it is legally your property, said manufacturers often try to make you a hard time and restrict the access to your own hardware. Technical measures (e.g. blocking the bootloader) and legal measures (e.g. general terms and conditions and EULAs) are used to prevent you from installing alternative operating systems. But <strong>we are here to help you with!</strong></p>
<p>one of the most common cases is the third case from the list above: the end of the provision of software or the end of support for software. As a rule, such a linear business model is the basis of the market logic of proprietary software: the sale of new products should be promoted by devaluing current products11. The software of a certain version (in the above example, the operating system X) is no longer supported, so that customers are forced to buy the next higher version. </p>
<p><strong>We collected the most important information for you to understand <a href="/activities/upcyclingandroid/upcycle.html">how to upcycle your phone</a> with links for further reading and insights. Also we offer <a href="/activities/upcyclingandroid/workshops.html">workshops in several cities</a> in the upcoming months for users to come and find help.</strong></p>
<p>the forced version upgrade can lead to the devaluation of hardware that is actually still functioning. This is the case when the next version can no longer be run on the old hardware. Ultimately, users are faced with a dilemma: Either they continue to use their current and functioning hardware, but have to live with a security risk by continuing to use the old software without any further security updates. Or they are forced to buy new hardware just to use the new software upgrade. This dilemma is known as "software obsolescence" </p>
<p>If you like our campaign, please also help by letting other people know about it. Point them to our <a href="/upcyclingandroid/index.html">the campaign's web page</a> or order some <a href="/contribute/spreadtheword.html">stickers</a>. Don't miss to check out our <a href="/activities/upcyclingandroid/workshops.html">workshops</a> if you like to participate with your phone or as a volunteer to help others and share our video:</p>
<p>copy text from the sustainability article and pictues from the talk in here</p>
<figure class="max-width-70">
<video crossorigin="crossorigin" poster="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/a140bb548f4c4d936c592721cd7250de.png" controls="controls">
<source type="video/mp4; codecs=&quot;avc1.42E01E, mp4a.40.2&quot;" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/matthias_kirschner/matthias_kirschner_en_desktop.mp4" />
<source type="video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;" src="https://download.fsfe.org/videos/20years/matthias_kirschner/matthias_kirschner_en_desktop.webm" />
</video>
</figure>
Most of the smartphones affected by software obsolescence are devices with the Android operating system from Google. In fairness, this is simply due to the fact that an estimated 75% of smartphones worldwide have Android installed. On the other hand, it is also attributed to the fact that the actual hardware is mostly produced by third-party manufacturers and the operating system itself is in turn developed by Google. As a result of the initial sale, however, the hardware manufacturers have no further incentives to ensure that the phone can be used for as long as possible. On the contrary, you can always rely on new Android versions by a third party – Google – to keep producing and marketing new phones - instead of providing support for previous Android versions.
<h3>Further readings</h3>
<p>Free Software solves the dilemma of software obsolescence in that there cannot be a forced end of support. Instead, Free Software can be used by all people for unlimited time and space and no single entity has full control over the software. Read more about <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html">software sustainability</a> in our article. On your Android phone you can replace the operating system with a Free Software operating system. These are called "Custom ROM".</p>
<p>If you are curious now and like to dig deeper into the topic, we recommend you learn about related aspects and <a href="/freesoftware/freesoftware.html">more about free software</a>, about putting Android users in control by <a href="/activities/android/android.html">freeing your android</a>, about the danger of <a href="https://drm.info">digital restrictions management</a> and about <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html">software sustainability</a>.</p>
<h2 class="">Free Software as a sustainable solution out of the dilemma</h2>
<p>On Android phones the aforementioned “custom ROMs” can be installed on the said smartphones. These custom ROMs are modifications and Free Software operating systems of the original Android operating system, which enable users to install "new operating systems" on "old hardware". This means, that in many cases at least the current operating version can be supplied with security updates, and sometimes porting to higher operating system versions may also be possible. The users are thus no longer at the mercy of the dilemma of software obsolescence described above and the lifetime of the respective hardware can thus be significantly increased18.</p>
<p>By extending the usage time of hardware and countering software obsolescence, Free Software can directly help save natural resources and, attain sustainable digitization. </p>
<h2>Join the movement and be part of it</h2>
<p>Join our initiative and upcycle your smartphone. Together we can make a difference and help to reduce our resource consumption. Unfortunately, installing alternative Free Software operating systems on Android phones is not always easy. To help you with it we <a href="">collected the most important information</a> with links for further reading as well as we offer workshops for user where they can find help.</p>
<p>Please also help by letting other people know about this initiative. Point them to our <a href="">home page</a>, order some <a href="">stickers</a> or join our mailing list. Check out our <a href="">workshops</a> if you like to participate with your phone or as a volunteer to helpe others. Share our video etc., also embed this video here. </p>
<h2>This project is financially supported by:</h2>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/e4f61b31daadca46e2942f69fb7da6bf.png" />

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<h1>On the Sustainability of Free Software</h1>
<div id="introduction">
<p>
This article analyses and discusses several aspects regarding the sustainability of Free Software. It is part of a series about the <a href="/freesoftware/">basics of Free Software</a>.
This study analyses and discusses several aspects regarding the sustainability of Free Software. It is part of a series about the <a href="/freesoftware/">basics of Free Software</a>.
</p>
</div>
@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
</ul>
<li><a href="#free-software-sustainability-and-the-use-of-natural-resources">(3) Free software, sustainability and the use of natural resources</a></li>
<ul>
<li><a href="#hardware-production-and-usage-times">(3.1) Hardware production and usage times</a></li>
<li><a href="#hardware-production-and-usage-times">(3.1) Extending usage times</a></li>
<li><a href="#energy-consumption">(3.2) Reducing energy consumption</a></li>
<ul>
<li><a href="#autonomy-of-use">(3.2.1) Autonomy of use</a></li>
@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<figcaption></figcaption>
</figure>
<h3 id="hardware-production-and-usage-times">(3.1) Hardware production and usage times</h3>
<h3 id="hardware-production-and-usage-times">(3.1) Extending usage times</h3>
<p>
A fundamental problem for the sustainable design of digitization is
@ -833,26 +833,26 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<p><strong>The more we research the principles of digital
sustainability, the more it becomes apparent that Free Software is
also sustainable software and vice versa.</strong> Free Software contributes to digital sustainability in several dimensions:</p>
also sustainable software and vice versa.</strong> As shown in this study, Free Software contributes to digital sustainability in several dimensions:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#examining-the-sustainability-of-free-software">Sustainability and availability of software</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-and-it-infrastructures">Independent infrastuctures and sustainable ecosystems</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#examining-the-sustainability-of-free-software">Ensuring sustainability and availability of software</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-and-it-infrastructures">Creating independent infrastuctures and sustainable ecosystems</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-sustainability-and-the-use-of-natural-resources">Saving natural resources by extending the usage time of hardware</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#energy-consumption">Reducing energy consumption through autonomy of use and reusability</a></li>
</ul>
<p>It is therefore
<p><strong>It is therefore
important that politics and society set milestones today into
further promotion of Free Software development and thus into
sustainable software in order to guarantee a liveable future. To
sustainable software</strong> in order to guarantee a liveable future. To
achieve this, the most urgent milestones currently are:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#publication-of-source-code-under-a-free-license-after-the-end-of-support">Publication of source code under a free license after the end of support</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#right-to-use-alternative-operating-systems-and-software">Right to use alternative operating systems and software</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#open-interfaces-drivers-and-standards">Open interfaces, drivers, and standards</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#open-interfaces-drivers-and-standards">Smart devices with open interfaces, drivers, and standards</a></li>
<li><a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#public-money-public-code">Public infrastructure with public code</a></li>
</ul>
@ -861,34 +861,37 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<h3 id="publication-of-source-code-under-a-free-license-after-the-end-of-support">Publication of source code under a free license after the end of support</h3>
<p>
As shown in this study, Free Software is a solution to overcome the problems of <a href="">software obsolescence</a> and to help extending hardware lifetime:
As shown in this study, <strong>Free Software is a solution to overcome <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#software-obsolescence">the problems of software obsolescence</a> and to help extending hardware lifetime</strong>:
<p>From smart cities to smart homes to smart phones but also true for even not(-yet)-connected devices like washing machines, toasters or any other machine: the access to the source code of the software that is running the machine is critical for any sort of maintenance operation, reuse or upcycling process of that hardware. Without public access to the source code only the initial manufacturer and contracted service operators can offer any sort of service. Apart from economic problems of creating monopolies, ecological problems worsen latest with the end of support of any such a device by the initial manufacturer. The end of support usually means the end of the lifetime of the device. Although the hardware is still functioning, software obsolescence occures.</p>
<p>From smart cities to smart homes to smart phones but also true for even not(-yet)-connected devices like washing machines, toasters or any other machine: the access to the source code of the software that is running the machine is critical for any sort of maintenance operation including its repairability as well as any potential reuse or upcycling process of that hardware. Without public access to the source code only the initial manufacturer and its contracted service operators can offer any kind of service. Apart from economical problems by creating monopolies, ecological problems worsen latest with the end of support of any such a device by the initial manufacturer. Because within such dependencies, the end of support usually means the end of the lifetime of the device. Even if the hardware is still functioning, software obsolescence occurs and makes the hardware unusable.</p>
<p>To address this dilemma on a political level, <strong>the FSFE demands the publication of a device's
underlying source code under a free license after the end of support (we call the <em>"upcycling of
software"</em>) for any software necessary to run or modify the device. </strong>The availability of the source code would enable third parties the
continuation of the software and thus achieve a milestone against
<p>To solve this dilemma, <strong>the FSFE demands the publication of a device's
underlying source code under a free license at the end of support (we call this the <em>"upcycling of
software"</em>) for any software necessary to run or modify the initial funcioning of the device. </strong>This because the availability of the source code would enable any third party the
maintenance, extended support or further development of the software and its device. Instead of wasting valuable hardware and resource, the publcation of source code will extend usage lifetime and reusability, being a milestone against
software obsolescence.
</p>
<!--
<p>
For an added sustainable use of our hardware, the publication of source code shall be combined with the owner’s
right to repair on their machines and the possibility for third
party service providers to get access to that machine.
</p>
</p
-->
<h3 id="right-to-use-alternative-operating-systems-and-software">Right to use alternative operating systems and software</h3>
<p>
Today's manufacturers of linear products mostly try to prevent the
installation of Free Software and alternative operating systems,
although - or precisely because - this can <a hre="">clearly extend the
usage lifetime of hardware</a>, thus guarantee a more sustainable
use of our resources. In terms of digital sustainability, it is a political necessity to prevent such linear business models and enable free reuse of devices. Both,
technical measures (e.g. blocking the bootloader) and legal
although - or precisely because - this can <a hre="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#hardware-production-and-usage-times">clearly extend the
usage lifetime of hardware</a> and help with a more sustainable
use of our resources.</p>
<p> To achieve digital sustainability, it is a political necessity to prevent such linear business models and to enable free reuse of devices. Both,
technical measures (e.g. locking the bootloader) and legal
measures (e.g. general terms and conditions and EULAs), that aim
to prevent the installation of alternative operating systems must
not be permitted. <strong>Users must be given the right to install the
@ -910,23 +913,23 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
control over general purpose computing machines<a class="fn"
href="#fn26">26</a>, but given the vast amount of powerful general
purpose computing machines - called “Smartphones” for example - produced and
trashed every year<a class="fn" href="#fn2">27</a>, it is of
trashed every year<a class="fn" href="#fn2">27</a>, it is also <strong>of
inevitable importance for a more sustainable use of our resources
to give third-parties and users full access to these computers and
let us use these machines for continued upcycling processes<a
to give third-parties and users full access to these computers</strong> and
let us use our devices for continued upcycling processes<a
class="fn" href="#fn28">28</a>. “Outdated” smartphones for example can
be used for other kinds of automated processes at home, at work or
in other surroundings. With the growing Internet of Things and
ever more connected devices we must act now to establish a more sustainable use of our resources and
devices.
ever more connected devices we must act now to ensure a more sustainable use of our resources and
devices in future.
</p>
<h3 id="open-interfaces-drivers-and-standards">Open interfaces, drivers, and standards</h3>
<p>
Manufacturers often try to support the marketing of their own
product family and prevent users from moving away from their
products by creating an artificial incompatibility of their
Although manufacturers use general purpose computers for their devices, they often try to support the marketing of their own
product family and prevent users from combining products with those from competitors. This
by creating an artificial incompatibility of their
products with the products of other manufacturers. At the hardware
level, for example, many people know this from the incompatibility
of different charging cables - which politicians at the European
@ -937,12 +940,12 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<p>
Similar dilemmas of incompatibility are also played out on the
software level, usually with using proprietary formats such as
the Microsoft Word Bnary File Format <em>.doc</em> for example. Proprietary formats
prevent other software applications from accessing the saved data.
the Microsoft Word Bnary File Format <em>.doc</em> for example. <strong>Proprietary formats
are introduced to prevent other software applications from accessing saved data in a general and publicly available data formats called "Open Standards".</strong>
Apart from hindering competition and innovation, such
proprietary formats <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#designing-a-resource-free-licenses-and-copyleft">let run short possible software solutions</a> within IT
environments. From a shortage of software solutions follows a
shortage of possible hardware solutions.
proprietary formats are used to artificially <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#designing-a-resource-free-licenses-and-copyleft">let run short possible software solutions</a> within IT
environments. And from a shortage of software solutions follows a
shortage of possible hardware solutions. In particular, any data incompatibility prevents users from using the most efficient toolchain within their IT environments and possibilities of reducing energy consumption are limited.
</p>
<p>
@ -958,12 +961,12 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
</p>
<p>
The possibilities for assembling different hardware products and
The possibilities of assembling different hardware products and
families with each other in support of a more sustainable use of
hardware will become of ever more importance with the growth of the
hardware will become of ever more importance with further growth of the
Internet of Things. With an open access to interfaces and drivers,
also third-party providers would be enabled to offer services such
as repairs for existing hardware and thus further the sustainable
any third-party providers would be enabled to offer services such
as the repair of hardware, supporting a more sustainable
use and longer usage lifetime of hardware. That is why these
demands are also part of the demands for a universal <a
href="#repair">“right to repair”</a>.
@ -972,11 +975,11 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<h3 id="public-money-public-code">Public infrastructure with public code!</h3>
<p>
As examined above, <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-and-it-infrastructures">Free Software serves the sustainability of IT
infrastructures</a>. Both in the possibility of conserving resources
As examined in this study, <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-and-it-infrastructures">Free Software serves the sustainability of IT
infrastructures</a>. Both, in the possibility of saving resources
through the <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#uninstallability-and-modularity">use of modular systems and the deinstallation of
modules</a> that are not required. As well as controlling the software
in use and building architectures without software obsolescence.
modules</a> that are not required, as well as through controlling the software
in use and allow building architectures without software obsolescence.
</p>
<p>
@ -985,21 +988,20 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
administrations to local public transport. <strong>To
benefit from sustainable eco-systems surrounding Free Software concepts, a crucial
requirement is that software code that runs our everyday's and critical infrastructure is software
published under a Free Software license.</strong> Free Sofware is the solution to guarantee that critical infrastructures are not property and bound to the
design- and control-decisions of proprietary software developers
published under a Free Software license.</strong> Free Sofware is the solution to guarantee that critical infrastructures are not in control of proprietary software developers
and their company’s market strategy<a class="fn" href="#fn25">25</a>.
Similar thoughts are often addressed as <em>"digital sovereignty"</em></p>
Similar thoughts are often addressed under the term of <em>"digital sovereignty"</em>.</p>
<p>Much of our public digital infrastructure is paid with public funds.
<p>Most of our public digital infrastructure is paid with public funds.
The Free Software Foundation Europe launched the <a
href="https://publiccode.eu/">“Public Money? Public Code! ”</a>
campaign in 2017 that has since enjoyed great popularity around the world. The central message of the campaign is to create a legal basis that requires
that software developed with public funds for public
that <strong>software developed with public funds for public
administrations is published under a Free Software and open source
license.</p>
license.</strong></p>
<p>Our administrations and societies would benefit from sustainable infrastructures and software solutions. Software once developed could be used, customized and shared by other administrations. <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-enables-sustainable-ecosystems">Sustainable ecosystems around software solutions</a> could be established. </p> <strong>If it's public
<p>Once established, our administrations and societies would greatly benefit from sustainable infrastructures and sustainable software solutions. Software once developed could be used, customized and shared by other administrations. <a href="/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.html#free-software-enables-sustainable-ecosystems">Sustainable ecosystems around software solutions</a> could be established. </p> <strong>If it's public
money, the code should be public too!</strong>
</p>
@ -1025,7 +1027,7 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<h3 id="initiatives-around-the-sustainability-of-free-software">(5) Initiatives around the sustainability of Free Software</h3>
<p>Meanwhile there are many initiatives around the sustainability of Free Software. Below a list of those that have been mentioned within this article:</p>
<p>Meanwhile there are many initiatives around the sustainability of Free Software. Below a list of those that have been mentioned within this study:</p>
<div class="icon-grid">
@ -1041,7 +1043,7 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
</li>
<li>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/thumb/66b6108a007443b9b7992615b7c0d7ac.jpeg" alt="" />
<div>The <a href="https://digitalprinciples.org/">Principles of Digital Cooperation</a> are an agreement developed by the United Nations Foundation and meanwhie signed by numerous initiatives in the international cooperation sector. One of the nine central principles in it calls for <a href="https://digitalprinciples.org/principle/use-open-standards-open-data-open-source- and-open-innovation /">the use of open standards, open data, free software and open innovation</a>. Other principles also align very well with several aspects of Free Software and software sustainability as outlined in this article. The FSFE website provides a detailed analysis of the <a href="/freesoftware/developmentcooperation/developmentcooperation.html">potential of using Free Software for sustainable international development cooperation</a> based on these principles and the UN sustainable development goals.</div>
<div>The <a href="https://digitalprinciples.org/">Principles of Digital Cooperation</a> are an agreement developed by the United Nations Foundation and meanwhie signed by numerous initiatives in the international cooperation sector. One of the nine central principles in it calls for <a href="https://digitalprinciples.org/principle/use-open-standards-open-data-open-source- and-open-innovation /">the use of open standards, open data, free software and open innovation</a>. Other principles also align very well with several aspects of Free Software and software sustainability as outlined in this study. The FSFE website provides a detailed analysis of the <a href="/freesoftware/developmentcooperation/developmentcooperation.html">potential of using Free Software for sustainable international development cooperation</a> based on these principles and the UN sustainable development goals.</div>
</li>
<li>
<img id="sustainoss" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/thumb/0f0b0f35833691b12e87a575ce013bf5.jpeg" alt="" />
@ -1049,7 +1051,7 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
</li>
<li>
<img id="repair" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/thumb/67cee6dadc6926fe4db4a43d54ceb532.jpeg" alt="" />
<div>In addition to the use of Free Software, a general <a href="https://repair.eu">“right to repair”</a> is one of the basic requirements for more sustainable digitization, in particular for the longevity of our hardware. Since software and hardware cannot be separated from each other, the debates about a complete right to repair usually also include most of the sustainability aspects outlined in this article like using of Free Software for the possibility of <a href="right-to-use-alternative-operating-systems-and-software">installing alternative operating systems</a>, the <a href="open-interfaces-drivers-and-standards">provision of interfaces and drivers</a>, and the <a href="publication-of-source-code-under-a-free-license-after-the-end-of-support">publication of the source code after the manufacturer's end of support</a> and much more.</div>
<div>In addition to the use of Free Software, a general <a href="https://repair.eu">“right to repair”</a> is one of the basic requirements for more sustainable digitization, in particular for the longevity of our hardware. Since software and hardware cannot be separated from each other, the debates about a complete right to repair usually also include most of the sustainability aspects outlined in this study like using of Free Software for the possibility of <a href="right-to-use-alternative-operating-systems-and-software">installing alternative operating systems</a>, the <a href="open-interfaces-drivers-and-standards">provision of interfaces and drivers</a>, and the <a href="publication-of-source-code-under-a-free-license-after-the-end-of-support">publication of the source code after the manufacturer's end of support</a> and much more.</div>
</li>
<li>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/thumb/a50306d527c295631c97399347f3c9b0.jpeg" alt="" />
@ -1057,11 +1059,13 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
</li>
<li>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/thumb/ad1a7cf659813fb35bbe0122d4b6cf81.jpeg" alt="Logo of Bits &amp; Bauml;ume" />
<div><a href="https://bits-und-baeume.org/en">Bits &amp; Bäume</a> has been a conference on the topic of sustainable digitization and in its aftermath has become a well-known source of information material, including the recordings of the sessions as well material that has been produced in follow-up. Inside Germany there is also a community growing with local chapters that align with the demands by the conference’s organisers. Your author of this article also gave an introductory talk at said conference about <a href="https://media.ccc.de/v/bub2018-138-digitale_rohstoffe_erhalten_sich_anders">the sustainability of digital resources (DE)</a>.</div>
<div><a href="https://bits-und-baeume.org/en">Bits &amp; Bäume</a> has been a conference on the topic of sustainable digitization and in its aftermath has become a well-known source of information material, including the recordings of the sessions as well material that has been produced in follow-up. Inside Germany there is also a community growing with local chapters that align with the demands by the conference’s organisers. Your author of this study also gave an introductory talk at said conference about <a href="https://media.ccc.de/v/bub2018-138-digitale_rohstoffe_erhalten_sich_anders">the sustainability of digital resources (DE)</a>.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Author: <a href="/about/albers/albers.html">Erik Albers</a></strong></p>
<h2 id="fn">Footnotes</h2>
<ol>
@ -1070,7 +1074,7 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<li id="fn3">It is also known as the Brundlandt Report, published by the “United Nations' World Commission on Environment and Development” in 1987 - and named after the chairman of the commission. The original copy is <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Brundtland_Report">available on Wikisource</a>.</li>
<li id="fn4">More about this logic and further thoughts on the preservation of digital raw materials, see also the recording of the Bits &amp; Trees lecture by your author Erik Albers: <a href="https://media.ccc.de/v/bub2018-138-digitale_rohstoffe_erhalten_sich_anders">Digitale Rohstoffe erhalten sich anders</a> (German)</li>
<li id="fn5">For an introduction to the topic and the problem of digital restrictions management see <a href="https://drm.info/">https://drm.info/</a> </li>
<li id="fn6">The FSFE understands the term "intellectual property" to be <a href="/news/2020/news-20200820-01.html">ideologically charged and dangerously oblivious</a> (to the significant differences that exist between the many areas of law that it tries to subsume. That is why the author of this article speaks in turn about “Intellectual limitation rights”.</li>
<li id="fn6">The FSFE understands the term "intellectual property" to be <a href="/news/2020/news-20200820-01.html">ideologically charged and dangerously oblivious</a> (to the significant differences that exist between the many areas of law that it tries to subsume. That is why the author of this study speaks in turn about “Intellectual limitation rights”.</li>
<li id="fn7">Because of the dangerous aspects of intellectual limitation rights for the sharing of software and knowledge, the FSFE did and does run multiple campaigns in order to convince decision-takers to avoid the dangerous limitation of knowledge. You find <a href="/activities/policy.html">many of them on the FSFE’s Policy Activities Page</a>.</li>
<li id="fn8">See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergenerational_equity">Intergenerational equity on Wikipedia</a> for further information</li>
<li id="fn9">For more detailed information on Free Software and its licenses, see <a href="/freesoftware/legal/faq.html">Frequently Asked Questions on Free Software Licensing</a></li>
@ -1096,6 +1100,8 @@ Software enables sustainable ecosystems</h3>
<li id="fn29">See e.g. <a href="https://netzpolitik.org/2021/interne-dokumente-eu-plant-einheitliches-ladekabel-fuer-alle-handys-tablets-und-laptops/">https://netzpolitik.org/2021/interne-dokumente-eu-plant-einheitliches-ladekabel-fuer-alle-handys-tablets-und-laptops/</a></li>
</ol>
<p>This project is financially supported by:</p>
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/e4f61b31daadca46e2942f69fb7da6bf.png" />
<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/7970e2f7c9c69d4e21f00ca242a657ca.jpg" />