Press release

New poll shows 20 million Britons dreaming of a gadget for Christmas

20 December 2012

More than 20 million Britons (43%) are dreaming of unwrapping electronic gadgets like iPads, Kindles and smartphones this Christmas. The new YouGov poll for Friends of the Earth also reveals that more than 13 million adults (28%) have bought or plan to buy a gadget as a festive gift for someone else.

The survey also shows that millions of gadget-loving Britons think manufacturers should ensure people and the environment aren't harmed to make their products, and follows the environment charity's investigation into the devastation caused by mining for tin - an essential component in all electronic items.

Friends of the Earth's Senior Campaigner Paul Steedman said: 

"Millions of us are getting excited about new iPads and smartphones for Christmas - but many would be shocked to learn that mining tin that may end up in these items is killing coral and precious forests and wrecking the lives of communities in Indonesia."

The survey found that more than half (55%) of people believe manufacturers have the biggest responsibility for making sure people and the environment are protected in the making of their products, by ensuring their processes are safe and sustainable. And a further quarter (24%) said that governments, through laws and regulations they pass, should be most responsible for ensuring this happens.

It comes as retailers brand 2012 a 'tablet Christmas', reporting one tablet sold every second.

Paul Steedman continued:  

"As tablets fly off the shelves this Christmas, the majority of people say that manufacturers and governments - not shoppers - should be responsible for ensuring they're made without harming people or the environment.

"That's why we're asking tablet makers to back new rules for companies to come clean about their supply chains - so we can love our favourite products, and love the way they're made."

Nearly a third of the world's tin is from Indonesia's Bangka islands. Friends of the Earth's research shows that it's almost certain some this tin ends up in Apple and Samsung products, although the companies may not have known this or about the devastating effect of mining on the island.

Despite over 10,000 emails from customers and members of the public asking them to come clean about the tin in their gadgets, Samsung and Apple have so far refused to say a word. www.foe.co.uk/makeitbetter

Key tin in gadgets statistics:

• Average tablet/Apple iPad weighs 650g and contains 1.3g of tin-rich solder
• Average laptop weighs 2.7-3.2kg and contains 2.4-3.4g of tin-rich solder
• All electronic gadgets contain tin-rich solder, an alloy of at least 95% tin with a little silver and copper, to hold together resistors, transistors and circuit boards.
• Almost half of all mined tin is turned into solder for the electronics industry and around a third of the world's tin is from Bangka and neighbouring island Belitung.

Devastation on Bangka island, Indonesia:

• Dangerous and unregulated tin mining on Bangka island killed and injuring miners - police figures show that in 2011 an average of one miner a week died in an accident.
• Silt from tin mining dredgers and boats is clouding the formerly clear sea around Bangka, killing the seagrass eaten by turtles and 60-70% of the island's coral reefs, driving away fish and ruining fishermen's livelihoods.
• Farmers struggle to grow crops in soil turned acidic by the destruction of forests for tin mining, while abandoned craters scar large parts of Bangka island.
• Doctors suspect a possible link between Bangka's high number of malaria cases and the hundreds of abandoned tin mine craters filled with stagnant water that are a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitos.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.         All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2776 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7 to 10 December 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). Available here.

2.        Figures calculated by Friends of the Earth based on ONS 2010 data estimating the GB adult population at 47,754,569. 43.45% of this figure is 20,701,606 (1d.p.). 27.77% of this is 13,261,443.

3.        Staggering demand for tablets reported by retailers in run-up to Christmas.

4.        Tin weight information based on ITRI, Henkel, FCC and Apple data quoted in Bloomberg Business Week.

5.         High-res professional photos of the devastation caused by tin mining on Bangka island can be downloaded for free editorial use here.

6.         Case studies of people affected by mining in Bangka and the full investigation into Samsung and Apple's supply chains are available in Friends of the Earth's new report 'Mining for Smartphones: the True Cost of Tin'.

7.          Friends of the Earth's new Make It Better campaign is asking leading smartphone makers to say whether their phones contain tin linked to the destruction of coral reefs and forests in Indonesia's Bangka islands - and to back new rules for all companies to come clean about their supply chains at www.foe.co.uk/makeitbetter. When asked by Friends of the Earth whether they used tin from Bangka, companies including Samsung and Apple neither confirmed nor denied this.

To help end problems in the supply chain, we're calling for legislation requiring large companies operating in Europe to report on their full human and environmental impacts - including indirect impacts through suppliers - such as accidents, pollution incidents, greenhouse gas emissions and how much of the world's water, land and raw materials they use. The Make It Better campaign will also celebrate positive steps companies are taking towards more planet-friendly production and how innovative design can reduce the environmental impact of our favourite items.

To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust