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The 5 stages of production of a Canon G7X Mark lll

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The 5 stages of production of a Canon G7X Mark lll

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The body of the camera contains raw materials such as aluminium alloy, polycarbonate resin reinforced with glass fiber.

The lens contains rare earth elements, like lanthanum that are often added to improve clarity. Also, the battery contains lithium, cobalt, graphite and other materials.

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To make the Canon G7 X Mark III the raw materials colected in the extraction stage are manufactured into precise parts ( the lens are shaped and polished, the battery is assembled with chemicals inside), and then, all these parts are assembled in a factory to build the full camera. This process causes pollution, especially during mining and factory work, by releasing carbon dioxide, toxic chemicals, and creating waste. Making the camera also uses a lot of energy. If the camera is not recycled properly, it can pollute the environment with harmful substances. The final assembly of the camera happens at Canon's Ōita Factory in Ōita, Japan, but the camera's components are sourced globally. Parts such as sensors, processors, and lenses are manufactured in various countries across Asia and other regions.

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Aluminium Alloy is produced by combining aluminum with other metallic elements to enhance its properties like strength, corrosion resistance, and machinability. The most commonly used elements to make aluminum alloys include: Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Titanium and many others. First, the ore is changed into pure aluminium oxide using something called the Bayer Process. Then, this aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite, which is another aluminium substance, and electricity is used to separate the aluminium. We can't just melt aluminium oxide by itself because it needs too much heat to melt. Major producers include Australia, China, Brazil, and Guinea.

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Lanthanum and other rare earth elements are mined in China, which controls both global production and processing, followed by countries like Australia and Myanmar. Mining is typically done through open-pit methods, where large volumes of earth are removed and chemically processed—often using acids—to extract and separate the elements, which are difficult to isolate due to their similar properties.

Working conditions vary greatly by country: in China and Myanmar, mining has been linked to unsafe labor practices, environmental pollution, and, in Myanmar’s case, even conflict financing and human rights concerns. However, Australia follows stricter labor and environmental regulations, though rare earth extraction everywhere still poses challenges related to chemicals and waste management.

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Most cobalt comes from big copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These mines mainly dig for copper, and cobalt is taken out along with it. But they don’t focus much on cobalt alone.

Another way to get cobalt is called artisanal mining. Here, people dig by hand or use simple tools to find cobalt. This work is very hard and often dangerous.

Artisanal mining can also hurt the environment. It can pollute rivers and soil, and the dust from mining can make people sick. Sometimes, miners work where there are harmful radioactive materials.

Many miners do this work because it pays more than other jobs, even though it is risky and damages nature. Some miners work inside the big mines illegally because companies want cheap workers. People have little choice but to work in these tough conditions. Sometimes, children also work in the mines. Corruption and poverty make it very hard to fix these problems.

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After the camera is assembled—mainly in Japan, Taiwan, or China—it is shipped often by sea or air to Canon’s regional distribution centers located in areas like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. These hubs handle customs, inventory, labeling, and region-specific packaging (such as manuals and chargers). From there, the cameras are distributed to authorized salesman (like Best Buy or local camera shops) and e-commerce platforms (like Canon’s store or Amazon). Once purchased, units are delivered through last-mile logistics partners. If issues arise, the cameras can be returned to Canon service centers for repairs, refurbishment, or replacement, with some units being resold as refurbished models.

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The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is mainly used by photography enthusiasts and vloggers for capturing high-quality photos and videos in a compact format. It’s often paired with smartphones or computers for editing and sharing. The camera runs on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which need regular charging and may be replaced over time. As it ages or newer models emerge, users may upgrade or discard it. Canon promotes recycling and offers programs to reduce e-waste and encourage responsible disposal.

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In this video we can see more about the horrors of cobalt mining in Congo.

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The horror of cobalt mining in DR Congo | The Listening Post

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When the camera reaches the end of its life, proper disposal is important to minimize environmental impact. Canon provide their reverse logistic program and encourages users to recycle through official programs or e-waste collection centers, where materials like metals, plastics, and lithium batteries can be safely processed and reused. Improper disposal, such as throwing the camera in regular trash, can lead to pollution and hazardous waste. Responsible disposal helps recover valuable resources and supports environmental sustainability.

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This massive improper throwaway of trash end up accumulating, like in the Atacama Desert, as we can see in this video.

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Mountains of dumped clothes pile up in Chile's Atacama Desert | DW News

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Perceived obsolescence refers to the feeling that a product is outdated even when it still works properly. In the case of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, this can happen when newer camera models are released with upgraded features like better image quality, 4K video improvements, or enhanced connectivity. As a result, consumers may feel pressured to replace their current camera, not because it's broken, but because it's seen as less advanced. This drives unnecessary consumption and contributes to electronic waste, even though the older model may still meet the user’s needs.

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Planned obsolescence is when a product is designed to have a limited lifespan, encouraging consumers to replace it sooner than necessary. With the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, this could appear through limited software updates, non-replaceable internal parts, or batteries that degrade over time and are difficult to change. While not always obvious, these design choices can lead users to buy a new camera instead of repairing the old one, increasing sales but also contributing to waste and overconsumption.

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Lanthanum, found in camera lenses, should be properly recycled to avoid harming the environment. On its own it’s not super toxic, but if cameras are thrown away carelessly, it can lead to pollution. The best option is to recycle through certified e-waste programs, which safely recover valuable materials like lanthanum and help protect natural resources.

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https://earth.org/cobalt-mining/

https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pen.760250805

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara

https://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/extraction/aluminium.html#:~:text=Instead%2C%20it%20is%20extracted%20by,to%20electrolyse%20on%20its%20own.&text=The%20usual%20aluminium%20ore%20is%2

0bauxite.

https://alfed.org.uk/

https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/services/commercial-recycling/

https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/our-news/recycling/recycling-aluminium/#:~:text=Is%20aluminium%20recyclable?,the%20form%20of%20the%20material.

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How it's produced and how it affects the environment

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How it's produced and how it affects the environment

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Canon uses the decentralization process to make the Canon G7 X Mark III, that means that different parts are made in different countries. For example, metals come from Africa and Australia, electronics are made in Asia, and the final assembly happens in Japan. This system helps products to be produced way quicker than normal, which meets the expectations of consumer society. The problem is that spreading production like this causes a lot of environmental problems. For example:

Mining damages nature and pollutes water.

Shipping parts around the world releases a lot of carbon dioxide.

Factories create waste and use fossil fuels.

Some countries with weak laws suffer more pollution.

In the end, the way we consume products like this camera makes pollution worse and speeds up climate change. If people and companies made and used electronics more responsibly, we could reduce the damage.

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Aluminum alloys are highly recyclable and can be processed over and over again without losing quality. According to the Aluminum Federation, recycling aluminium saves 90% of the energy needed to produce new aluminium from raw materials.

Aluminium can be recycled over and over again without losing its quality, making it a sustainable material. Additionally, recycling aluminium helps to conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. To recycle aluminium, it can be collected through our recycling services or taken to a recycling centre. The aluminium is then sorted, cleaned, melted, and reformed into new products, such as beverage cans, car parts, and construction materials. The recycling process is far less polluting than producing aluminium from raw materials, but it can still have some environmental impacts depending on how the process is managed.

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Cobalt can be reused many times. Most recycled cobalt comes from old batteries (about 65%) because it's valuable. Another big source (24%) is from used metal parts. But some cobalt is still thrown away because there aren’t enough places to collect and recycle it. Companies are working to recycle more so less cobalt ends up in the trash.

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What are rare earth elements and why are they important?

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What are rare earth elements and why are they important?

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What are rare earth elements and why are they important? | REUTERS