The mobile phones you can take apart and repair yourself

His expertise is in political science, but he also has a more hands-on interest.

He gives up his time every four weeks to help people fix their phones in his hometown of Aachen.

He can only help you with one brand of phone.

Mr Lesse has been a member of the Fairphone skills-sharing network for the past eight years. He helps with repairs.

I don't repair phones if I don't have to, but I have always been motivated to encourage people to fix their own Fairphones by themselves.

He explains that it has always been a matter of passing on information and taking the inhibition away from the people to open their phones.

Fairphone devices have a modular design that allows components such as the display screen, battery, and cameras to be exchanged and repaired by their owners.

Mr Lesse says that the Fairphone 2 could be disassembled in less than two minutes.

Fairphone customers range from programmers who have been drawn to the software possibilities of the phones, to consumers in search of a more sustainable product.

The firm started in 2013 and follows four principles: source raw materials from non-conflict mining areas, make products that are long- lasting and repairable, and recycle.

According to the United Nations figures, a record 53.6m tonnes of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21% in just five year, with mobile phones making up a significant part of this. Only 17% of electronic waste was recycled.

Fairphone believes that by making phones easy to fix, they can have a longer working life, generate less waste and have a positive impact on the environment.

Fairphone co-founder Miquel Ballester says that by increasing the lifespan of a phone by at least two years, you get a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions.

The Dutch firm has sold 400,000 devices so far and is a small player in the market.

Mr Lesse says that the community network is important because of the niche product of Fairphone.

Fairphone has created waves within the industry, particularly in Germany, where it has earned a lot of support.

The German Environmental Award, the most lucrative environmental prize in Europe, was presented to Fairphone.

Mr Ballester believes that the government's reputation is one of the reasons that Fairphone has gained such a large following in Germany.

Germans tend to be less attached to the status of big brands and are more experimental with trying smaller European ones, according to the company.

Ingo Strauch, who also volunteers to help fellow users, says that many people mention data privacy and the easy use of the phone over its environmental benefits.

Germany is a wealthy country. Mr Lesse says that the willingness to reach deeper into your pocket for a seemingly fair product is also higher.

Fairphone wants to change the way the industry works, but it doesn't want to be the biggest of the industry.

Prof Sigrid Kannengiesser is a professor of media practices and sustainable living at the university.

She points to the rise of repair cafés in western Europe and North America, as well as the recent announcement by the European Commission establishing a right to repair.

Prof Kannengiesser says that consumers, politicians and some actors in the economy understand that our societies and the way of living of many people must become more sustainable.

The big players in the industry are paying attention. Last year Apple launched its self service repair initiative, giving customers access to Apple parts and tools.

Self Service Repair is for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices.

How does the Fairphone 4 compare to other mobiles?

Chris Hall, of gadgets website Pocket-lint.com, is generally positive about the Fairphone 4, but it has a unique selling point.

It is impressive that it offers some water resistance, but not as much as a flagship phone. This is a mid-range device, so that is a minor downside.

While it offers reasonable performance, it is never going to be a power house and when it comes to sheer performance.

There are other phone manufacturers that focus on sustainable practices. Shiftphones is a family-owned and German-based company.

In the past six years, sales have doubled every year, but they are still a small player.

Shiftphones founder and chief executive Samuel Waldeck believes that collaboration would improve the two firms ability to influence their bigger competitors.

He says it would be important for the rest of the market to work together.

If you join forces, you would have more units alone, which would change a lot.