Mobile phones network giant Vodafone Group plc (LON:VOD) is to offer the Fairphone 3 smartphone to its European customers later this year.
Vodafone and Fairphone, a self-styled ethical smartphone company, will also collaborate on best practice and share knowledge on key industry sustainability issues including the circular economy, electronic waste and responsible sourcing.
"At Vodafone, we're working hard to build a digital future that works for everyone and this strategic partnership between Vodafone and Fairphone brings together our expertise as Europe's leading and largest converged technology communications company with the recognised expert in sustainable smartphones," said Ahmed Essam, the chief commercial operations and strategy officer at Vodafone.
Eva Gouwens, the chief executive officer of Fairphone, said: “Working with a large operator such as Vodafone helps to bring sustainable electronics to the mainstream market and therefore this is one of the strongest signals we can send to the rest of the industry."
Shares in Vodafone were little changed on the announcement.