Samsung recently announced its sustainability policy, under which it plans to minimize the use of plastic in its products. The company said it'll start by replacing plastic packaging for its mobile products with paper and other environmentally sustainable elements. The company has been introducing environmentally friendly packaging to its notebook computer line since last year itself.
Going forward, Samsung plans to expand this initiative into its wider product line and has detailed the mid-term implementation plans in an infographic.
Samsung's new product packaging policy
Starting this year, Samsung will replace the plastic holder trays in smartphones, wearables and tablets packaging by molded pulp. The bags wrapping accessories such as chargers and earphones will be made of recycled plastic and bio-based, fossil fuel-free materials. Samsung vows to only use certified paper materials in its packaging and manuals by 2020.
Samsung also plans to ditch plastic from its TVs and other home appliances packaging. The product-protecting plastic bags will be replaced by eco-friendly materials by the end of this year, at least in the Korean market. The company will expand this sustainability drive globally next year.
According to the United Nations, a staggering 8 million tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every year. Samsung's sustainability policy will see the company using about 1,541 tons less plastic in its mobile product packaging yearly. The company estimates to collect 7,500,000 tons of wastes by 2030, and is aiming to use 500,000 tons of recycled plastics.
