Cell phone technology continues to advance considerably, integrating inventive ways to make a greener product. At the recent World IT Show in Seoul, Samsung electronics announced the roll-out of two eco-friendly phones, the W510 and the F268. W510 is the company’s first mobile phone made with bio-plastic, a natural material extracted from corn. In addition, it uses a water-soluble coating on the top and contains no lead, mercury or cadmium, making it safe for prolonged use. The F268 has all of these features, with the added benefit of being made without the use of BFRs (Brominated Flame Retardant) or PVC. It is an Energy Star device with an integrated alarm that buzzes when the battery is fully charged. While the W510 was slated to ship in Korea and the F268 in China this past June, it is not yet known whether the cell phones will be sold in the U.S.
Nokia does have a product that is sold in the U.S.; its 3110 Evolve, which was introduced to the market in December, 2007. The phone has bio-covers made from more than 50% renewable material. The device is presented in a small package made of 60 percent recycled content and it comes with a charger that uses 94 percent less energy than the Energy Star requirements. The company is planning to launch around 40 new phones made of biodegradable components that can be easily recycled.
A green mobile feature in our future is a cell phone with a solar panel battery charger. Last year, Motorola received a patent to launch a model with a screen that recharges when exposed to direct sunlight. While it is not yet on the market, we can likely expect to see this new trend of electricity-free phones hit the stores in less than a year’s time.
With the world’s ongoing environmental issues and all the talk about the threat of cell phone radiation, the mobile race to go-green has come at just the right time.
Source: BecauseAction.com
