Category ceiling
6.4 HIP
This is what the HIP methodology rewards when a product in this category fully evidences material provenance,
supply-chain integrity, repairability, and end-of-life pathways.
It is the benchmark for verified assessment — not a product currently on sale.
HIP Score
6.4/10
Standard
At category baseline (6.4)
Category ceiling: 6.4 HIP
Regenerative Index
-2.0
Extractive
At category average (-2.0)
Category ceiling RI: -2.0
HIP Mark Standard
This verified product achieved a HIP Score of 6.4, qualifying for the HIP Mark Standard tier.
Score Breakdown
Material Scarcity Index
20% weight
4.5
The product contains functional EU Critical Raw Materials including lithium (3%), cobalt (2%), and rare earth elements (2%), which disqualifies it from the low scarcity bands. While supply diversity is improved through certified sourcing from Australia, DRC, and Rwanda, the presence of these materials at non-trace functional weights limits the score to the 'Scarce' range.
Supply Chain Risk
18% weight
6.0
The smartphone supply chain sources critical minerals like cobalt from the DRC and tantalum from Rwanda, which are high-risk jurisdictions, but the presence of alternative suppliers and a formal OECD due-diligence framework mitigates the risk to a moderate level. While the sourcing is geographically diversified across six countries including the EU and Australia, the reliance on conflict-affected areas prevents a higher score without third-party audit verification.
Recyclability & Circularity
18% weight
7.5
The smartphone features screw-based disassembly and a verified take-back scheme, enabling 70% of materials to enter practical recycling streams. While the product meets the criteria for 'Well-Designed for Recovery' with compliant labelling and manufacturer recovery programs, the 70% recovery rate falls just short of the 80% threshold required for the highest 'Circular' tier.
Repairability
13% weight
10.0
The product achieves a perfect score due to its fully screw-fastened design, a 10-year spare parts commitment, and a public service manual. The iFixit score of 10 confirms exemplary repairability, and the smartphone category meets EU Ecodesign requirements, exceeding all minimum benchmarks.
Social & Environmental Impact
8% weight
7.0
The manufacturer demonstrates verified good practice through a completed RBA audit and ISO 14001:2015 certification, alongside ASI certification for aluminium sourcing. While the manufacturing location (Taiwan) is a moderate-risk jurisdiction, the combination of third-party labour audits and environmental management systems elevates the score above baseline compliance.
Product Longevity
8% weight
8.0
The smartphone achieves an Above Average Lifespan score due to a 5-year warranty and an 8-year stated design life, which exceeds the typical 3-5 year market norm. The IP55 rating provides meaningful dust and splash resistance, and the modular design supports component-level repairability. Additionally, the 8-year software support commitment significantly extends the functional lifespan beyond the hardware warranty.
Regenerative Index
15% weight · scale −10 to +10
-2.0
The product scores in the Extractive band (-5 to -1) due to 55% recycled content combined with a verified take-back scheme, which prevents it from falling into the Depleting floor. While the closed-loop programme and certified smelter recovery are positive factors, the absence of Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) materials or third-party verified ecosystem restoration evidence precludes a Restorative or Regenerative score.
MSI 20% · SCR 18% · RC 18% · R 13% · SEI 8% · PL 8% · RI 15% = 100%
About the HIP Methodology ▸
Generic ratings are intentionally conservative. They represent only what the HIP methodology can confirm from
publicly available specification data, before any manufacturer-supplied evidence is reviewed. Most categories sit
in the 2–4 range at the pre-verification baseline. This is the methodology working as designed: it makes the gap
between current market practice and demonstrable resilience legible to consumers, manufacturers, and procurement
buyers. Verified assessment is the path across that gap, and the HIP Mark is the proof of crossing it.
Read the full methodology →
Consumer Summary
This smartphone has an overall HIP Score of 6.4 out of 10, indicating a moderate level of sustainability performance. Its Regenerative Index is -2.0, which suggests the product is currently in an extractive phase where it uses more new materials than it recovers, though it includes a verified take-back scheme to help improve this over time.
What This Means For You
When buying a smartphone, look for models that are designed to be easily repaired with standard screws and come with long-term warranties for spare parts. Avoid devices that are glued shut or lack a clear plan for recycling old units, as choosing products with take-back programs helps shift the industry away from constant extraction.
Material Watch Points
- Lithium — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Cobalt — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Rare earth elements — EU Critical Raw Materials list
- Cobalt sourced from DRC (OECD Category 6)
- Tantalum sourced from Rwanda (OECD Category 4)
- Due diligence claimed but not third-party audited
Improvement Opportunities
| Dimension |
Current Score |
Potential |
Action |
| (To be completed after human review) |
— |
— |
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About This Rating
Produced under Resourcehip Methodology v1.3 (CC BY-NC 4.0). Assessed: 2026-04-20. Next scheduled review: 2027-04-20.
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Data Sources
This rating draws on the following public sources:
USGS Mineral Resources Program (public domain) · EU Critical Raw Materials List 2023 (CC BY 4.0) · World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
All sources are public domain or published under open data licences.
Full source list →
About this rating:
HIP scores are based on publicly available data and manufacturer-submitted information at the assessment date.
They are estimates of material resilience — not guarantees of product performance, safety, or future supply conditions.
Resourcehip accepts no liability for decisions made in reliance on these ratings.
Scope:
This is a verified product rating for Category Ceiling, assessed using manufacturer-submitted data and public category data.
Produced under Resourcehip Scoring Methodology 1.3.
AI disclosure:
This rating was produced using an AI scoring pipeline (local, no cloud — no data shared externally) and reviewed and approved by a human assessor before publication.
Scoring model: qwen3.5:35b.
The model's training data influences the findings — see the methodology for caveats.
AI transparency notice →
Not financial or investment advice.
Ratings are for consumer information only.
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Assessed: 2026-04-20 · Next review: 2027-04-20 · Methodology 1.3
