Smartphones offer a wide spectrum of features and functions, are subject to fast technological progress, and have short production and replacement cycles. Prolonging their use-times through modular design can have a significant effect on their environmental impact. This cannot be achieved solely by producing robust and durable devices, because smartphone use-times are closely linked to their functional performance and symbolic meaning. Modularity strategies change the technological principles of existing devices, but also the human-object relationship between users and their smartphones. 

The article was published in The Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 223, Pages 57-66. Parts of it can be accessed here .