Galaxy S8 and S8+ Receive EPEAT Gold Rating

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received a Gold rating from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), the definitive rating system for evaluating electronic devices’ eco-friendliness. The devices are the first smartphones to earn the certification, which assesses, among other criteria, material selection, product longevity, the manufacturer’s social contributions, and energy conservation during production and use.

The certification is a joint initiative of the non-profit Green Electronics Council and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety science organization. The rating was earned in recognition of Samsung’s efforts to produce the devices in a sustainable way, which included increasing the efficiency of their chargers, using recycled plastics in accessories, and other eco-friendly measures.

This distinction is the second that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received from UL. This past June, the organization’s UL Environment division awarded both devices ECOLOGO Gold Certification to the ANSI/UL 110 Standard for Sustainability for Mobile Phones.

In addition to receiving a top EPEAT rating, both the Galaxy S8 and S8+ have also been given a “Carbon Footprint Label” from the Carbon Trust, a leading authority on carbon-reduction programs and certifications, as well as a “Vitality Leaf” eco-label from the Russian Ecological Union.