Driven by a desire to keep our planet clean for generations to come, Samsung Electronics regularly engages in eco-conscious efforts that are helping to establish a circular economy. The company is constantly exploring ways to reduce its products’ impact on the environment, including increasing products’ lifespans and spearheading efforts to recycle their resources.

In celebration of Earth Day 2021 (April 22), this special series will shine a light on Samsung initiatives that are paving the way for a circular economy. Let’s kick things off by taking a closer look at how the company’s recycling campaigns are giving old phones new life.

¹ According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020 by Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), the amount of electronic waste in 2019 was 53.6 million metric tons (Mt).

The latest line of cases developed in collaboration with Kvadrat for the Galaxy S21+ is no exception; not only has the exterior of this special line been produced with upcycled materials and sustainable production methods, but so, too, has the case’s interior and its accessory hook. With these versatile hooks, you can level up your style by attaching your favorite trinkets or accessories to your phone case’s strap. In addition, the new cases come in packaging made entirely from paper, unlike conventional case packaging that often contains plastic products.

Despite the challenges encountered when working with recycled resin due to the material’s tendency to become thick and hard to shape, relentless hard work eventually paid off, resulting in a case frame that includes a minimum 20 percent post-consumer recycled content.¹

Take a look at the infographic below to learn more about Samsung’s latest refined, eco-conscious phone cases, available in two Samsung-exclusive shades: Violet and Mint Gray.

¹ Interior parts of Galaxy S21+ Kvadrat cover contain plastic with a minimum of 20% post-consumer recycled material from Lotte Chemical Corporation, which has been validated by UL.

Thanks to a partnership with premium Danish textile brand Kvadrat, the latest Samsung accessories for the Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Watch Active2 are no exception.

Accessories for Good

When developing accessories for the Galaxy S20 series and other of the company’s latest products, Samsung made the decision to partner with Kvadrat, a company rooted in Scandinavian design tradition that has acquired the European Union’s Ecolabel certification – a certification known for its strict judgment criteria.

Following the sustainable practice of upcycling, the special Galaxy S20+ phone case is made up of re-purposed 500ml plastic bottles that are melted and reformulated into textile yarns. Upcycling, also known as ‘creative reuse’, is the process of transforming end-of-life products into new materials that not only are of better quality than the original, but also benefit the environment. In the case of Kvadrat’s yarn-making process, one plastic bottle can be repurposed to produce 2 Galaxy S20+ phone cases.

These recycled yarns help to reduce the number of plastic bottles found in landfills and are produced in a way that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during manufacturing as compared with traditional material processes. The plastic bottle-sourced yarn is formed in an eco-friendly process that preserves non-renewable energy resources. Samsung is the first company among major brands in the mobile industry to have produced a phone case for its flagship device using recycled materials.

The Galaxy S20+ phone case made with textiles by Kvadrat follows the sustainable practice of upcycling by transforming end-of-life plastic bottles into recycled polyester yarns, from which cases can then be fashioned.

These recycled yarns are eco-friendly because they reduce the amount of PET bottles in landfills; in the U.S. alone, it is estimated that over 60 million of these bottles end up in landfills every single day. Each recycled 500ml plastic bottle can create 2 phone cases, allowing users the peace of mind that with the purchase of this special phone case, they are actively contributing to the reduction of plastic pollution.

The recycled yarns are also manufactured in a way that reduces carbon dioxide emissions as compared to traditional processes. Compared to conventional polyester production methods, Kvadrat’s recycled yarns are formed in a process that consumes less energy and preserves precious oil resources.

Galaxy S20+ case made with Kvadrat textiles product images

Last year, Samsung announced a partnership with the UN Development Programme to support the Sustainable Development Goals (also known as the Global Goals) which address some of the biggest challenges faced around the world, including the fight for climate action. In line with this, a portion of revenue from sales of the Samsung Global Goals edition of the Galaxy S20+ case made with Kvadrat textiles will be donated to UNDP in support of the 17 Global Goals¹.

Samsung Global Goals edition Galaxy S20+ case made with Kvadrat textiles product images

As well as purchasing the Samsung Global Goals edition case, Galaxy users can also download the Samsung Global Goals app in order to discover more ways to get involved with the Samsung Global Goals initiative. With the app, users can learn more about each of the Global Goals and the issues they seek to tackle with detailed information, facts and figures on each Goal available. The app also helps raise money for the Global Goals, firstly by allowing users to donate directly to the Global Goals on the UNDP website and secondly by collecting ad revenue for the UNDP whenever users interact with ads on the app.

Galaxy Watch Active2 strap made with Kvadrat textiles product images