Monday, August 18, 2008

Samsung E200 Eco Green phone


Samsung unveiled a “green” cell phone on Thursday at its OR@S Olympic Rendezvous event in Beijing, China in conjunction with the 2008 Summer Olympics. The new phone is the Samsung E200 Eco (right), which is made of bioplastics from plant-based materials rather than traditional petroleum-based polycarbonate plastics.

A 9.9mm slim bar E200 is re-launched with a new name, 'Samsung E200 Eco.' The phone is made with more substantial materials for the environment. Its whole external case is made from 'bio-plastic,' which contains natural plant-based materials extracted from plant such as corn.

Samsung will extend application of bio-plastic to endeavor in reduction of fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. 1-ton of bio-plastic used in E200 Eco is able to reduce 2.16-ton of CO2 compared with Polycarbonate produced from petroleum. Samsung has been making an effort to develop more renewable and eco-friendly materials in collaboration with Cheil Industries.

Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecommunication Business, said, “We are committed to being an environmentally and socially responsible corporate citizen. We strive to make more products as green as possible and to proactively set up and expand a phone recycling system.”

This mobile phone will be available on the European market from early September.

The significance of using bioplastics — which are made of corn and other organic materials — is two-fold:
  • It reduces the production of non-renewable plastics
  • Samsung claims that the manufacturing process for bioplastics reduces fuel consumption and produces 35% fewer CO2 emissions

Samsung has only used bioplastics in phones and not any of its other plastic-based products such as televisions. The company says it is testing the use of bioplastics in other devices but does not currently have plans to introduce bioplastics in any of those product lines.

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