Green Handsets, Handset Vendors, Global
Handset vendors are also working on a variety of "green" handsets, with features ranging from simple reminders to unplug the phone when it is fully charged to using solar energy for charging. Some new models are made from recycled materials or from biodegradable plastics.
Solar mobile handsets have been launched this year by a range of manufacturers, including LG, Samsung, Sharp and ZTE. The solar panels are located on the back of the handsets and the phone charges simply by pointing the solar panel at natural light. Charging handsets is typically done using electricity from a grid, which in most countries is a cause of GHG emissions. Solar charging not only eliminates these emissions, it also helps customers in emerging countries who are off-grid or where the grid power is only intermittent.
Other handsets, such as SonyEricsson's new GreenHeart portfolio of phones, build on a "green core", which aims to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals. Additional "green" features include an emanual that reduces paper usage by more than 90%, smaller packaging that decreases transport-related CO2e emissions by more than 80%, recycled plastics and a low-power charger. Motorola has launched a "carbon neutral" phone with a housing made of plastics that contain recycled water bottles. The phone's carbon-neutral designation comes from the reductions and offsets acquired through a partnership with Carbonfund.org.
The GSMA and several of its operator members are analysing what steps could be taken collectively at a global level to reduce the volume of excess packaging associated with the more than one billion mobile devices sold worldwide each year. As well as achieving a substantial reduction in GHG emissions, the GSMA believes reducing the packaging and the number of unnecessary components that are shipped with a mobile device would result in major financial savings through lower raw material, manufacturing and distribution costs.
