When you have a scalable idea that might save the planet and make you money, you are talking about building a social business. But like any business you will need money to grow and scale. Saving the planet or a group of people from social catastrophe might be your mission but investors also want to make sure they make good on their investment. Typically startups in the social scene have a few options. I will share with you what I have learned while starting a social business.

Beyond Green Prophet I am building a company that listens to Mother Earth to automate food production, fish farming and a whole pile of other processes. It’s called flux.

1. Self financing. Start by finding a team that has some financial security or is willing to take risks. Either you start your company when you are at an age when you don’t care if you live in your friend’s basement, or you start it when you know you can pay the mortgage and buy diapers. It’s harder in the in-between stage and may create too much tension between you and your family and loved ones. Determine how many months/years you can work without a salary, and how much you can contribute from your savings. It’s easy to spend other people’s money. Harder to spend your own. A lesson in frugality.

2. Friends, Family, Fools. Called the FFFs – see who in your close network might be able to contribute some cash for good financial return. Meaning if they invest early, they get a good and healthy return on their money when your business takes off.

3. Expand a bit into the world of angels. These are private people who can use private money to invest in your company. They may be experienced in your field, or happy to share saving the world inside your adventure.

4. Grants. Social impact companies may be eligible for grants. See what’s in your country and field. The forms can be a hassle, but so can not having any money to grow.

5.  Eligible bank loans: depending on your business plan and model, you may be eligible for bank loans and financing through traditional means. Book a meeting with your local business bank to see.

5. Venture Capital funding. This is often a last option and Venture Capitalists often offer really poor terms on what they invest and what they control. It’s usually better for Series A and when you are in a serious growth stage so that you can dictate in your terms how the investment should look like.

6. ICO – startups have started launching their own currencies to fund their own growth. An interesting way to invest in social in the future.

Smartphones are ubiquitous. Although several years ago you could expect longevity from your handheld device lasting upwards of 4.5 years, nowadays the yearly rush for new models and upgrades has considerably lessened their lifespan. After all, most phones are not replaced because of technological faults or failures; they are replaced because they are out of fashion. This is a sobering thought indeed. Where technological advancements in battery life and alternative rare material sources are undoubtedly a step forward on the road to a sustainable phone, these new devices still contribute to what is known as e-waste – the toxic legacy of wasting products as a result of new trends, batteries, materials and tastes, as defined by the United Nations. Here we ask how ecologically smart your smartphone is, how the iPhone compares and some of the more sustainable devices on the market.

Is the iPhone Green?

First things first, the tech giant Apple. Apple have committed to ecological energy supplies. They aim for their data hubs and factories to be run on renewable energy like solar. They have also committed to using 100% recycled materials for their packaging. But just how green is Apple really?

The iPhone is constructed out of a range of rare metals and plastics which, aside from being sourced from unsafe or hazardous working environments, are also derived through earth-damaging materials and processes. Although the data on such sources is scant, Greenpeace found a range of dangerous metals which have caused damage to ecosystems. The new iPhone X, a model which ditches the metal body of the iPhone 6 in favour of glass, is predicted to further cause more ecological damage. Not only have Apple replaced and wasted an entire category of plugged-in headphones in favour of wireless, the shell of the phone is more vulnerable to damage, drawing on yet more natural resources when repaired. With this in mind, what can we do?

Battery Life and Using Energy

Looking for phones with a longer battery life and charging your phone more wisely will use less energy. In this regard, the new iPhones are consistently improving and using up less energy in the home. But with changing technologies, particularly smarter technologies, comes more stress on the environmental sources of such materials. Cobalt, the source for rechargeable lithium ion batteries, is a profoundly wasteful and polluting industry. With labour indiscretions — from child workers to lax labour laws — in source nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is little alternative out there for this material. Furthermore, the manufacturing of phones causes the most carbon emissions. Although we’ve seen Apple take steps to reduce its footprint, more needs to be done to combat the cycle of upgrading, replacing and wasting our devices.

Environmental Devices

Although it may be smart in the short term to buy these clever new upgrades and existing models, there are a host of greener phones being manufactured with independent energy technologies and sources of production. Among the most unique models are the Fairphone and Neda’s Delta. Fairphone is produced from recycled materials in strict low-carbon manufacturing facilities and with repairs done by the user themselves. Similarly, the Delta is a self-energising device which charges internally, by itself. With no energy requirements, it is a greener device that could be even greener with stricter manufacturing controls.

The Easy Solution: Recycle, Refurbish, Reuse

Although you could opt for an environmentally friendly Fairphone or an ingenious low-energy Delta, the most sustainable solution for your smartphone is the simplest one yet: recycle. By repurposing your smartphone after you are done, you avoid contributing to the most unsustainable aspect of smartphones today: e-waste. Websites like sellmymobile.com allow you to find a market for your used device, and manufacturers — including Apple — have schemes for you to trade and upgrade, where the original phone will be recycled and repurposed by the company. Alternatively, batteries can be replaced. If it dies, you can take your phone to a specialist without wasting the entire device.

One thing is certainly true going forward. Although smartphones have become wasteful consumer objects, they are likely to become more wasteful as they become ever more integral to our everyday lives. However, all is not lost. Apple, LG and Samsung have, among others, made steps to integrate sustainable methods into their production lines, and companies like Fairphone are revolutionising the future of phone sustainability. In the meantime, remember that you can make steps to lessen your ecological footprint simply by recycling your iPhone 6 or purchasing a refurbished one.