In recognition of World Health Day, Samsung Newsroom is looking back at the first year of the program’s implementation, which has upcycled hundreds of secondhand Galaxy devices and provided basic eye care for over 3,000 patients in Morocco, India and Papua New Guinea.

Upcycling Galaxy Technology Into Diagnosis Cameras

Globally, 1.1 billion people suffer from vision loss — 90% of which live in low- and middle-income countries and lack access to affordable and quality eye health care. To address this, Samsung has partnered with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) to transform old and unused Galaxy technology into medical diagnosis cameras called EYELIKE fundus cameras, which allow both medical and non-medical professionals to screen patients for conditions that may lead to blindness.

“We are proud of our team at Samsung who helped infuse upcycled technology to diagnose visual impairment in patients through the EYELIKE platform,” said Dr. Aloknath De, Executive Consulting Director, Open Innovation of Samsung R&D Institute in Bangalore.

Establishing Accessible Eye Care Services in Morocco

Since the introduction of EYELIKE in Morocco, Samsung has partnered with Global Care and 21 other organizations — including public health centers and private clinics — to repurpose 60 units of older smartphones into the EYELIKE Fundus Camera.

“In Morocco, we lack medical personnel and ophthalmic medical equipment, so I’m optimistic EYELIKE will bring huge benefits — especially to patients who live in remote regions,” said optician Mohcine Ait Hida.

Local optometrists have been using the camera to screen over 2,028 patients and provide post-diagnosis care, including prescribing glasses for 128 people, scheduling follow-up appointments with 205 people and connecting 50 people to eye hospitals for additional medical treatment.

Conducting Patient Outreach Programs in India

Recognizing that blindness is a prevailing problem in India, Samsung has upcycled nearly 200 units of secondhand smartphones and provided them to local hospitals. This innovative approach has proved to be a breakthrough for patients like Jamuna Prasad who has been repeatedly prescribed glasses for his declining eyesight for over a year. After his eyes were checked with the EYELIKE Fundus Camera at the Primary Eye Care Center at Sitapur Eye Hospital, he finally received a correct diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. According to his optometrists, Jamuna’s eyesight has been improving ever since.

At the same time, many patients living in remote communities don’t always have the same access that Jamuna Prasad had to a vision center. Thanks to the portable nature of the cameras, optometrists can travel to remote villages through outreach programs and screen people for potential eye diseases. As a result of the EYELIKE Fundus Camera, over 1,000 patients in India have received screenings through both local medical institutions and outreach programs.

Training Medical Staff in Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, health care facilities often struggle to find trained eye doctors and vital equipment necessary for treating retinal diseases. This situation is only being exacerbated by the prevalence of blindness across the country. For a population of over 9 million, there are only 14 trained ophthalmologists and three fundus cameras nationwide.

“Thanks to the partnership program and the EYELIKE fundus cameras, we now have enough cameras to expand care and screening services on a national scale,” said Dr. Jambi Garap, President of the National Prevention of Blindness Committee and the Lecturer in Ophthalmology at University of Papua New Guinea. “We’re currently training doctors in hopes that they can help diagnose patients nationally and improve people’s understanding of the illnesses they have.”

The EYELIKE program is helping to fill the health equity gap by training doctors and other clinic staff, even in rural communities, to screen patients using the device. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions causing a delay in patient screenings, Dr. Garap looks forward to resuming these screenings this year. She hopes to dispatch additional trainers to rural communities to provide staff with further training, in addition to conducting research on rare eye disorders such as Eales disease with the EYELIKE devices.

Advancing Samsung’s Sustainability Vision

As part of its mission to harness technology for good by positively impacting both people and the planet, Samsung plans to elevate this partnership through continuous technical support and open collaboration to allow for the continued nationwide training and screening of patients.

Samsung is dedicated to delivering innovative technologies that help build a better future and empower users to adopt more sustainable practices. This also includes taking tangible actions to reduce our environmental impact and reshape consumer experiences through our sustainability platform, Galaxy for the Planet. EYELIKE specifically helps Samsung minimize its environmental impact by supporting its goal to achieve zero waste to landfills and reduce e-waste by 2025.

About International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness

International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is the overarching alliance for the global eye health sector, with more than 150 organizations in over 100 countries working together for a world where everyone has universal access to eye care. IAPB focuses on advocacy efforts to unite the sector behind the recommendations of the World Report on Vision and the Sustainable Development Goals.

About Yonsei University Health System

Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) is the first modern medical institution in South Korea, and it has been a leading medical institution in the country for more than 130 years. Severance Hospital and Yonsei University College of Medicine are part of the Yonsei University Health System.

Ask yourself: what happens to your old smartphone? Maybe you throw it in a drawer or maybe you toss it in the trash to eventually end up in a landfill. Without properly disposing of our old devices, we all contribute to the rapidly growing global problem of electronic waste – or ‘e-waste’.

Each year, the world produces more than fifty million tons¹ of waste from electronics alone, and less than 20% is formally recycled. Our world’s resources are finite, and we need to find a better, more sustainable way to use technology – one that transforms our system into a circular economy that continuously reuses and recycles our materials in an infinite loop.

We believe e-waste is a problem that we can tackle together. Seemingly simple actions can have a large ripple effect.

For example, did you know that extending the lifespan of all smartphones and other electronic devices by just one year can save as much carbon emissions as taking two million cars off the road² each year?

We know that no one can solve this e-waste problem on their own. At Samsung, we have the responsibility and the opportunity to offer the infrastructure and the inspiration to our Galaxy users, so we can make progress together. Through our new sustainability platform, Galaxy for the Planet, we are committed to protecting the planet in everything we do from diverting all waste from landfills by 2025 to combatting global e-waste.

Across the product lifecycle, we’re enabling the entire Galaxy ecosystem to take simple, individual actions – billions of actions around the world – that, when amplified on a global scale, have the power to create positive change. Samsung offers several programs focused on promoting more eco-conscious habits in our daily lives that help Galaxy users to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste generated from old electronic devices.

Optimizing Product Life With Android OS Upgrades

We help users maximize the life of their current device by supporting three generations of Android operating system (OS) upgrades and firmware security updates for a minimum of four years on millions of Galaxy devices.³ With this offering, we are extending the lifecycle of our Galaxy products and making a promise that we will provide a simple and secure mobile experience that takes advantage of the latest innovations for good.

REUSE

Creating New Possibilities With Galaxy Upcycling

Our Galaxy Upcycling initiative enables consumers to repurpose Galaxy smartphones – giving them new life and opening new possibilities and extended value. Whether we’re providing innovative technologies to bring greater access to ophthalmic health care for underserved populations or converting smartphones into Internet of Things (IoT) devices like a baby or pet monitor, these simple changes not only help meet our personalized lifestyle needs but also foster a more circular economy.

Extending the Life of Our Devices Through Trade-In and Certified Re-Newed

Through our Trade-In and Certified Re-Newed (CRN) programs, we collect old and unused smartphones and prepare them to be reused for new uses and users. For example, users can donate their old smartphones for an instant credit toward a new one with our Trade-In program. Through Certified Re-Newed, old devices are evaluated, updated and repaired and receive the Certified Re-Newed stamp of approval, allowing us to offer like-new, powerful Galaxy technology to consumers while putting less strain on the planet.

RECYCLE

Transforming Waste With Take-Back

Our Take-Back program⁴ encourages users to donate old or unused smartphones, tablets and PCs to be recycled properly and safely. Rather than generating additional e-waste, Samsung will collect your unwanted electronics and repurpose them in new ways and ensure the materials in your devices don’t end up in a landfill.

When you participate in just one of these programs, you’re contributing to the sustainability efforts of Galaxy users across the globe who are joining together to combat this environmental issue. Together, we’re promoting a more circular economy and protecting our planet’s natural resources for generations to come. Consider participating in our programs today!

Samsung is dedicated to delivering innovative technologies that help build a better future and empower users to adopt more sustainable practices. This also includes taking tangible action to reduce our environmental impact and reshape consumer experiences through our sustainability platform, Galaxy for the Planet.

To view Samsung’s sustainability progress, check out the 2021 Sustainability Report.

¹ World Economic Forum, New Circular Vision for Electronics, 2019

² World Economic Forum, How to Save the Planet, One Mobile Device at a Time, 2020

³ Availability of Android OS upgrades and security updates may vary by device and market. Upgrade schedule will depend on factors including but not limited to complexity of the update, model, as well as market penetration and more.

⁴ To learn more, please visit Samsung Customer Service Center in your region.

What is Upcycling?

Upcycling is the process of finding new and useful applications for old items or devices.

Why is it Important?

According to the 2017 Global E-waste Monitor, nearly 45 million metric tons of e-waste is discarded annually. Finding innovative ways to repurpose older devices will save more tech from ending up in landfills, conserve considerable amounts of resources, and ultimately create a more sustainable future.

What Does Samsung’s Program Do?

Headquartered in Seoul, the Galaxy Upcycling team explores simple, ‘do-it-yourself’ ways for people to repurpose older Galaxy devices. Over the past year, the team has taken the show on the road, helping others learn how to conveniently connect their old devices to everyday household objects via the Internet of Things (IoT).

What are Some of Their Solutions?

One fun example of the team’s solutions is their Smart Fish Tank Monitor, which enables you to instantly feed your fish and turn on the aquarium light via text message. Another, the Smart Pet Bowl, helps on-the-go pet owners feed their furry little friend, and even snaps a photo of the pet eating that owners can view on their phone.

Additional Images:

The award is presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protect the environment through energy efficiency, including designing and manufacturing high-efficiency products. In 2017, Samsung had over 800 ENERGY STAR certified products on the market, a nearly 20% increase in Samsung ENERGY STAR products versus 2016, in our efforts to continue helping consumers save on energy costs while protecting the environment.

“As our commitment to innovation advances, so does our commitment to sustainability,” said Michael Lawder, Senior Vice President of Customer Care at Samsung Electronics America. “We’re honored to receive this recognition for our efforts and look forward to continuing to ensure our products push the boundaries of technology today, with sustainability in mind.”

Earlier this year, the EPA also awarded Samsung with the 2017 Cutting Edge Champion Award for its innovative Galaxy Upcycling program, and honored the company’s U.S. e-waste collection efforts with the Gold Tier Award for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, Samsung now ranks at No. 9 on the EPA’s Green Power Partnership Top 30 Tech & Telecom list and No. 57 on the National Top 100 List.

More information about Samsung’s sustainability initiatives can be found at news.samsung.com/us/tag/sustainability/.

With approximately 50 million tons of electronics discarded worldwide in the last year alone, innovations that improve sustainability and prolong the lifespan of devices are welcome. ‘Galaxy Upcycling’, a project team of C-Lab, Samsung Electronics’ in-house incubator, gave new life to old smartphones and won an award along the way.

Passionate about the environment, the 11-man ‘Galaxy Upcycling’ team repurposes older models of Galaxy smartphones and finds ingenious ways to link them to everyday objects and connect them to the Internet of Things (IoT). Upcycling preserves many of an original product’s materials, reworking or reconstructing them to give the product a new function.

How Galaxy Phones are Have Been Repurposed

Bonding over their nostalgia for old electronics, the ‘Galaxy Upcycling’ team saw great potential in previous models of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy devices. Only a few years old, the phones were still too smart to be gathering dust in drawers at home.

The devices are equipped with built-in cameras and network modules, meaning they could still take pictures and connect to the internet. With these functions, the team quickly realized that the Galaxy phones could be attached to everyday items, transforming them from unconnected objects into a whole range of IoT devices.

Team members looked all around them for objects to connect. The Smart Fish Tank and Smart Pet Bowl, for example were inspired by family pets. Thanks to its upgrade, Smart Fish Tank can now feed the fish whenever the owner sends a text message, and the Smart Fish Bowl sends a photograph whenever a pet cat eats from the bowl.

Building an IoT Community

By upcycling in this way, the possibilities for connected devices seem endless. The team hope to speed up the process of connecting everyday objects in our lives to the Internet of Things.

The project operates on an open-platform principle, encouraging people outside the team to create their own IoT devices using old Galaxy smartphones. Galaxy Upcycling will share its progress, as well as guidelines for the software and hardware they have developed.

What started as a team of 11, has become a whole community of upcycling enthusiasts. More than 6,000 people have signed up for notifications on the official Galaxy Upcycling website. the C-Lab project is now finished (completed), the teammates have moved back to their jobs in the Mobile Communications Business.

The team was recognized for their commitment to sustainability by the American Environmental Protection Agency and presented with the Cutting Edge Champion Award at the Sustainable Materials Management Awards 2017 in November of last year.

Check out the video to find out more about Galaxy Upcycling.

The Galaxy Upcycling program allows Galaxy phone owners to retrofit the hardware and software of antiquated, used Galaxy phones into new technology products such as closed circuit TVs, gaming consoles, and IoT devices. The program puts the tools for transforming devices into new technology in consumers’ hands by providing them with necessary software changes and suggested hardware changes that enable new functionality. The program was created from the company’s innovation hub, C-Lab; and will launch in 2018. The Cutting Edge Champion Award was presented to Samsung for the Galaxy Upcycling program’s innovative and environmentally responsible ways to use a product’s materials throughout its entire life cycle. Samsung has been the exclusive honoree of the Cutting Edge Champion Award since the award’s inception in 2017.

“In an effort to curb e-waste and extend the lifecycle of our existing technology, we introduced the Galaxy Upcycling program which repurposes technology resources into new devices,” said Michael Lawder, Senior Vice President of Customer Care at Samsung Electronics America. “We’re honored to receive the Cutting Edge Champion Award for this program and our efforts to extend a products’ life-cycle by repurposing its functionality.”

The second distinction was given to Samsung for the company’s long-term commitment to the proper recycling of e-waste in the U.S. In 2016, the company’s electronics recycling program collected and responsibly recycled over 118 million pounds of e-waste in the U.S., which made it one of the world’s biggest collectors of e-waste. Samsung is being recognized in this category for the fourth year in a row.

“Samsung’s creative reinvention of old electronics through their unique upcycling program is environmental ingenuity at its finest,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “I commend Samsung for their innovative efforts to turn old smartphones into new technology products, and I encourage others to follow their lead.”

The awards were presented today in Las Vegas at a ceremony during CES 2018.