On fairness & sustainability: Motivating change in the networked society

Abstract

Abstract-Caught between the infinite promise unleashed by technology proliferation and the unprecedented scale of resource depletion, waste and inequity, we inhabit a space where critical alternatives are sought more than ever. As a reflection of the above, we find in HCI, a slant towards technological quick-fixes to existing sustainability problems, as opposed to a more holistic approach that includes behavioural and societal change. It is within this context that this paper is situated, where we propose a socioecological approach and argue our case for a life-cycle lens towards building systems that are in line with our current understanding of the earth's finite resources. We do so by presenting an illustrative case study of what such critical alternatives might look like, by examining the Fairphone movement. We contribute to a deeper understanding of how social value laden enterprises along with open technological design can shape sustainable relationships between our environment and us.

Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chains: A Case Study of Paradoxes and Their Management

“…By doing so, Fairphone not only communicates achievements but also openly discusses challenges and problems throughout the SC with its community [53]. Due to the willingness and openness of Fairphone to continuously discuss problems in their SC and the acknowledgment that "phones hold a complex story of the hundreds of people who helped make it" [15], Fairphone seems to embrace tensions, rather than avoiding or resisting them.…”

“…The vision of the social enterprise is to design and produce a truly 'fair' phone with the help of its community. "To create positive social and environmental impact from the beginning to the end of a phone's life cycle" [15], Fairphone focuses on four main areas: long-lasting design, fair materials, good working conditions as well as reuse and recycling [15,53]. The Fairphone 2, an updated version, has been available since December 2015.…”

Shifting the maturity needle of ICT for Sustainability

“…But there are papers that take a different path. At a meta level, Easterbrook's argument that we need a rethink from computational thinking to systems thinking [39], while Joshi grounds a discussion using the Fariphone as a motivating example [40].…”

“…A second direction is to get busy and get computing's own house in order -preferably in ways that align with other elements in the Transformation Mindset ( [55], [40]). Educating all computing practitioners to think and act sustainably is an important step (e.g.…”

“…Combined with the basis of computing as a development science -focused on innovation and newness -a sustainable value set for computing might be an impossible dream. Fortunately, many of the papers described earlier, successfully dream this dream: Ferrario's community work ( [5]), Gui [34], Joshi [40], Walker [32]. Even if this is a dream too far for some ICT4S researchers, it would be beneficial to at least be aware of the risks and limits of behaviour change ( [62], [63], [64]).…”