The Samsung Electronics MX (Mobile eXperience) Business has continued its progress towards previously announced 2025 sustainability goals. Key current initiatives include the development and incorporation of recycled materials into products, eco-conscious packaging, and giving new life to older Samsung Galaxy devices to reduce e-waste.

Since announcing the 2025 vision for Galaxy for the Planet at Unpacked in August 2021, Samsung has worked diligently to create new ways to recycle and repurpose resources that would otherwise become harmful waste. The objective is to minimize its environmental footprint and inspire innovation that helps preserve the planet.

“Samsung is taking consistent and impactful actions that help protect people and the planet. We marry sustainability and innovation in everything we do,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “I am proud of our progress to date. At the same time, it’s been a humbling experience that enables us to continue our journey towards achieving our sustainability vision with even more conviction and rigor than before.”

Expanding the Use of Recycled Materials to the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4

Developing new, recycled materials is a key focus area for Galaxy for the Planet. The more Samsung recycles, the more resources it preserves. While repurposing materials into Galaxy devices presents many challenges, the benefits for the planet make it well worth the effort.

Samsung designed the new Galaxy Z series and Galaxy Buds2 Pro with repurposed fishing nets, or ghost nets, that would otherwise end up in the ocean.

First integrated into the Galaxy S22 series in February 2022, today there are eleven Galaxy devices that use repurposed fishing nets including Galaxy Book2 Pro series and Galaxy Tab S8 series. By repurposing abandoned fishing nets into a high-performance material for Galaxy technology, Samsung helps to minimize the effects of plastic pollution — 640,000 tons of fishing nets are abandoned and pollute the world’s oceans every year^[1].

Repurposing discarded fishing nets is only one example of Samsung’s advancements in increasing its use and incorporation of recycled materials in Samsung products.

Samsung has incorporated eco-conscious materials including repurposed fishing nets, post-consumer materials (PCM) or bio-based resin into 90% of Galaxy devices launched globally in the past year^[2]. For the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, more than 90% of the plastic components are made with partly recycled materials^[3].

This process requires complex engineering and technical skills to ensure the overall quality, safety, and reliability of all new materials for Samsung’s innovative technologies. Samsung plans to make further investments in research and development to source and integrate other new materials into Galaxy products and to increase the presence of recycled materials in each device.

Changing the Way Galaxy Products Are Packaged

Samsung set a goal to eliminate all single-use plastics in mobile product packaging by 2025, and the company has already reduced a sizeable number of single-use plastics in its current packaging for Galaxy smartphones including the new Galaxy foldables. Samsung will explore more ways to eliminate single-use plastics in packaging by assessing every aspect of its packaging design, down to the smallest of details.

Starting with the launch of the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung now uses 100% recycled paper for flagship product packaging. By doing so, Samsung will be able to save the equivalent of nearly 51,000 trees^[4] globally with the Galaxy S22 Series and the new Galaxy Z Series this year.

By reducing each device package’s volume, Samsung ultimately reduces its environmental footprint in transporting these units using trucks, planes and ships. In addition, to continually evolve its packaging for flagship smartphones, Samsung will expand eco-conscious packaging to other product categories.

The Path Forward

Samsung has set clear sustainability goals by scaling solutions across its business. Whether it is repurposing discarded fishing nets for Galaxy devices, striving to achieve plastic-free packaging, or moving us forward to achieve zero waste to landfill and zero standby power of smartphone chargers, Samsung is realizing its Galaxy for the Planet vision one step at a time.

There will be more challenges along the way, but Samsung will continue to hold itself accountable and report progress on its mission to effect positive change in an effort to inspire others to protect the planet for generations to come.

 *The content has been revised as of January 22, 2023 to provide more accurate information.

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^[1] More information can be found at the link here: FAO and UNEP. Ocean-bound plastic is abandoned plastic waste of all sizes (micro-plastics, mezzo-plastics and macro-plastics) that are located within 50km of shores in communities or areas where waste management is inexistent or very inefficient. Discarded fishing nets are purchased through Samsung’s partner that works with local fishermen who collect them from the Indian Ocean and neighboring coastal areas. Samsung does not directly recover fishing nets from the ocean.

^[2] By number of models. This includes Galaxy smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables Samsung launched globally from September 2021 to August 2022. There are 37 models launched globally during this period and 34 models include at least one component that is made of recycled materials or bio-based resin.

^[3] More than 90% of all the plastic components of Galaxy Buds2 Pro are made of partly recycled materials. 29 grams of plastics are used in the Galaxy Buds2 Pro in total, and components weighing more than 27 grams are made with partly recycled materials. Each of these components contains at least 20% of either discarded fishing nets (ocean-bound plastic) or post-consumer materials. Recycled fishing nets are used in three internal components of the cradle case in its bracket deco front, bracket battery holder and bracket-PCB. Post-consumer recycled materials are used in eight exterior components. Four components in both Ear Buds in its case front left/right, case rear left/right. And four components in the cradle case in its deco front, case-upper, case-upper inner, and case-lower.

^[4] A 30-year-old pine tree can produce 59 kg of paper.

Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its 2021 TV product portfolio at a virtual First Look event and detailed long-term sustainability programs, which include solar cell-powered remote controls and the reduction of product carbon footprints with recycled materials.

Here are three key ways that Samsung is making a difference with its TV innovations.

1. Sustainable Packaging Design

Samsung is expanding its award-winning “eco-packaging” design to all 2021 Lifestyle TVs and most of the 2021 Neo QLED line. By minimizing text and graphic imagery on the eco-packaging, the traditional oil-based ink from colour printing is eliminated, further reducing waste. The special cardboard boxes are designed to allow consumers to upcycle the packaging their televisions come in into small, versatile pieces of furniture. The thick, corrugated cardboard that the packaging is comprised of can be used to construct small tables and shelves, and building instructions can be accessed by scanning QR codes on the outsides of the boxes.

2. Solar Cell-Powered Remote Control

Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLEDs will come with a new solar cell-powered remote control that can be recharged through indoor and outdoor lighting in addition to a regular USB accessory. The remote makes it easy to control all your external devices and lets you show your support for the environment at the same time. In addition, the remote is partially made from recycled materials and is powered by solar cell technology so it can also be charged by your indoor lights.

3. Reduction of Carbon Footprints

Samsung is making efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to its TV products with the use of recycled plastics. Samsung has long used recycled materials in the rear covers of monitors and signage and now plans to expand their usage to even more components across the company’s product portfolio.

Watch the video below to learn more about Samsung’s commitment to a sustainable future through its eco-friendly visual display products and processes.