Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced that Galaxy S25 has been honored with the 2025 Design for Recycling® Award, the highest recognition for leadership in sustainable product design presented by the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), a leading industry organisation dedicated to promoting recycling and circular innovation.

This award recognises Samsung’s innovative efforts to scale its use of recycled materials and do more with less of the planet’s natural resources. Galaxy S25 is the first Galaxy device to incorporate recycled cobalt —a critical material used in batteries—sourced through Samsung’s new Circular Battery Supply Chain^[1]. This system recovers cobalt from previously used Galaxy devices and batteries discarded during the manufacturing process^[2], helping to reuse valuable materials and reduce the need for newly-mined cobalt.

“Samsung is committed to embedding sustainability throughout our products’ life cycles from design, to usage and disposal,” said Daniel Araujo, Vice President and Head of the Sustainability Management Office, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy S25 represents an important milestone in our journey to enhance circularity in our products and operations, combining cutting-edge innovation with responsibility for the planet. We will continue expanding our efforts to create a more sustainable future for future generations.”

“Samsung has demonstrated true leadership by incorporating design for recycling principles into every phase of Galaxy S25,” said Robin Wiener, President of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA). “Their use of various recycled materials shows a clear commitment to designing the products we rely on every day with innovation and environmental responsibility.”

Building on its progress in battery recycling, the Galaxy S25 features eight different recycled materials^[3] across its components, including aluminum, and rare earth elements like neodymium and steel. For the first time, recycled material has been integrated into the armour aluminum frame^[4], ensuring that every external component of Galaxy S25 contains at least one recycled material. The Galaxy S25 Series packaging box is also made with 100% recycled paper, eliminating single-use plastics.

Samsung also supports consumer repairability with its Self-Repair programme^[5], empowering users to extend product life and reduce e-waste.

These initiatives support Samsung’s broader environmental goals, including transitioning to 100% renewable energy across global Device eXperience (DX) operations by 2027 and incorporating at least one recycled material in every module of every mobile product^[6] by 2030, and investing in innovative eco-conscious materials without compromising strength, aesthetics or durability.

The award ceremony was held on 14 May 2025 at the ReMA Convention in San Diego, California.

^[1] Uses a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt for batteries – a minimum of 25% of the Galaxy S25 battery is cobalt by weight, 50% of which is recycled cobalt.

^[2] Inclusion may differ by markets.

^[3] The percentage of each recycled material differs per component. Please visit Samsung Sustainability Website for more information.

^[4] The Metal Frame (Case Front) of the Galaxy S25 contains a minimum of 20% recycled aluminum by weight.

^[5] Samsung’s Self-Repair programme is available in select markets. Self-Repair programme details including model availability, components, and kit cost may differ by region. For more details, please visit Samsung.com Self-Repair website.

^[6] Based on our announcement during Samsung Galaxy Unpacked January 2024. Samsung defines a module of a smartphone as the Antenna, Battery, Camera, Display, Mechanical Components, Motor, PBA/FPCB, Speaker, Wireless Charger Module and Packaging.

The process starts by collecting previously used Galaxy smartphones, such as those from trade-in programmes. The batteries are carefully dismantled, discharged and shredded to safely recover cobalt. Then, the shredded fragments are processed into “black mass”, a powder mixtureå containing cobalt and other metals. The black mass undergoes further processing to extract cobalt, which is then used to produce cathode material—an essential component of smartphone batteries. The remaining cobalt goes through the final stage of the battery manufacturing process, becoming an integral part of the new Galaxy S25 batteries, with each Galaxy S25 battery featuring 50% recycled cobalt^[2].

Samsung will continue to expand the use of its new recycled cobalt batteries into its ecosystem to accelerate circularity and sustainability.

Check out the video below to learn more about how Samsung’s innovative Circular Battery Supply Chain is paving the way for a more sustainable future.

^[1] Inclusion may differ by markets.

^[2] A minimum of 25% of the Galaxy S25 battery is cobalt by weight, 50% of which is recycled cobalt.