Samsung have set 2050 as the year recycled material will replace all plastic in their Galaxy phones, and though that will cost more, they say they will foot the bill without raising device prices.
The largest maker of smartphones are proud their latest Galaxy S series of phones have been made with the highest number of recyclables yet, but they are intent on going even further, without it becoming an issue for customers.
“Samsung Electronics is continuing its effort to minimise negative impacts on the earth and the environment, while maintaining product quality,” says Park Seong-Sun, executive vice president in charge of device development at Samsung’s Mobile Experience.
The new Galaxy S23 Ultra features the highest number of recyclable parts in a Galaxy phone yet, with 12 parts, including, for the first time, exterior components.
The previous Galaxy S22 Ultra had six parts made of recyclable materials, but those were all internal. The latest Galaxy, however, has pushed the environmental envelope by moving beyond just the fishing nets and plastics used in the previous series, into recycled aluminium, glass and water barrels.
The new S23’s S-pen cover, as well as the speaker module in its lower part, take 20 per cent of material from post-consumer recycled plastics sourced form discarded fishing nets. Samsung say they intend to collect and recycle 15 tons of fishing nets to make phone parts this year.
The new S series is also to feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which uses 22 per cent recycled glass.
Further flexing their green muscle, 20 per cent of the upper and bottom speaker modules, along with the side buttons, take 20 per cent of their material from recycled PET bottles, and the exterior front case takes 10 per cent of its material from the same source, as well as 80 per cent for the thin film used inside the rear glass.
Meanwhile, recycled aluminum was used for the SIM card tray and side buttons. Then, every Galaxy S23 comes packaged in a redesigned box made from 100 per cent recycled paper.
The thing that stands out here is the fact that using these recycled materials creates extra production costs, but Samsung have vowed to not raise prices accordingly.
“The recycling and manufacturing processes are very sophisticated and it does cost a lot to convert the materials to what can be used in our gadgets,” Park says. “But we see it as part of our corporate social responsibility, so we will not reflect that cost and raise the price of the products. It is our goal to minimise any price rise and not transfer the cost to the consumers.”
