Supporting Marine Ecosystems Through Global Collaboration

Introduced at Galaxy Unpacked in January 2025, Coral in Focus is an initiative launched last year that supports local communities, including communities in Fiji, Indonesia and the United States, to restore coastal ecosystems.

Samsung has partnered with Seatrees, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to restoring marine ecosystems, to explore new, innovative solutions for coral reef restoration. The company has introduced Ocean Mode^[1] on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, an exclusive camera feature that enables vivid image capture underwater. These images provide accurate visual data for marine researchers who create 3D photogrammetry models to continuously monitor and analyse coral reefs. Local partner organisations then use these findings to guide their on-site coral restoration efforts.

Ocean Mode: How Galaxy Camera Innovation Is Helping Restore Coral Reefs

Partners and local field teams use Ocean Mode to reduce the excessive blue tones common in underwater photography, allowing for a more accurate representation of coral colours. The feature also helps minimise motion blur through optimised shutter speed and multi-frame image processing. Additionally, the interval shooting function enables thousands of high-resolution coral images to be captured in a single session — improving both efficiency and image clarity.

With these coral restoration initiatives, photos taken with Ocean Mode have been used to produce 17 3D models of coral reefs to analyse the health and growth of reefs. In total, 11,046 coral fragments were planted to restore 10,705 square metres of coral reef habitat — roughly the size of 25 basketball courts.

Since unveiling its “Galaxy for the Planet” environmental vision in 2021, Samsung has continued its efforts toward a more sustainable future — not only by incorporating ocean-bound plastics from discarded fishing nets into its products but also by expanding into marine ecosystem restoration. These actions reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing its environmental impact across the entire product life cycle and beyond.

^[1] Ocean Mode was exclusively developed for this project and is only available to participating partners.

Galaxy Accessories Designed With the Planet in Mind

At Samsung, we are harnessing the power of technology to enable people to make small, everyday changes that can add up to meaningful, positive impact for the planet under our corporate sustainability vision, Everyday Sustainability. With each product we create, we are in the business of trying to make the technology that many of us enjoy do more with less of an impact on the environment.

As part of our commitment, the Samsung Mobile eXperience (MX) Business is working to incorporate recycled materials in all mobile products by 2025. We have made significant strides in our journey to achieve this goal with the Galaxy S23 series, which features a wider variety of recycled materials than any other Galaxy smartphone, including pre-consumer recycled glass and aluminum and post-consumer recycled plastics, which are sourced from discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles. Compared to its previous generation, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has also doubled the number of components made with recycled materials and expanded their presence to external components, not just internal components.

Now, we are taking another step forward in our journey by applying eco-conscious materials to all eight styles of smartphone cases for the Galaxy S23 series^[1], in addition to the Screen Protector^[2] that provides added protection to the smartphone’s screen.

Check out three smartphone cases for the Galaxy S23 series, designed with style and the planet in mind.

  * All cases sold separately.

Silicone Grip Case

The Silicone Grip Case for the Galaxy S23 series integrates a range of post-consumer recycled plastics, promoting improved resource circularity in Samsung’s design and production processes.

The inner frame is made with a material consisting of a minimum of 20% post-consumer recycled plastic^[3] sourced from discarded water barrels, and the interior of the case has recycled microfiber, which is made with a minimum of 29% recycled PET plastics^[4].

Each Silicone Grip Case comes with a strap that uses fabric consisting of 86% recycled PET plastics. To create the strap material, PET bottles are melted down and repurposed to form a flexible and durable yarn.

Smart View Wallet Case

Known for its convenience, the Smart View Wallet Case for the Galaxy S23 series allows users to easily access their device’s interactive display without opening the cover. With a simple tap to the display window, Galaxy users can answer a call or play music.

But the Smart View Wallet Case is more than convenient, it is designed with eco-conscious materials. The outer cover is constructed with a material that has a minimum of 21% bio-based content^[5]. The inner frame, similarly, uses a material with a minimum of 20% post-consumer recycled plastics, while the interior of the case is made with recycled microfibers containing a minimum of 29% recycled PET plastics.

Rugged Gadget Case

The Rugged Gadget Case for the Galaxy S23 series is built to last, with a sturdy design and comfortable grip. It protects the device against bumps, drops and scratches. This heavy-duty case has been drop-tested to meet military-grade standards^[6].

The case’s enhanced protection is supported by recycled materials, demonstrating that improved durability should not come at a cost to eco-conscious material innovation. The outer frame incorporates a material containing a minimum of 37% bio-based content.

* Each case contains eco-conscious materials such as recycled plastics or bio-based contents, which have been validated by UL.

A Continued Commitment to Sustainability

Galaxy technology and its accessories have always been created to bring convenience, joy and style. Over the last decade, Samsung has strived to make sustainability an essential part of that equation.

These smartphone cases are only one small step in our sustainability journey. Our journey is ongoing and always evolving. Samsung will continue to scale our efforts and join forces with like-minded partners to enable every Galaxy user to embed sustainability into their daily lives.

To learn more about Samsung’s sustainability efforts, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/

^{[1] Galaxy S23 series cases includes Clear Case, Silicone Case, Leather Case, Smart View Wallet Case, Silicone Grip Case, Frame Case, Clear Gadget Case and Rugged Gadget Case. Availability may vary by region.}

^{[2] Screen protective film contains recycled PET.}

^{[3] Recycled PC (Polycarbonate).}

^{[4] Recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) sourced from discarded PET bottles.}

^{[5] Bio PU (Polyurethane).}

^{[6] Tested to MIL-STD-810H Transit Drop standards, for drops from a height of 1.5 meters to a steel surface, in temperatures between 15°C to 35°C with 0–80% relative humidity. Standard is according to accredited test results; performance may vary depending on actual usage conditions and other factors.}

“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 on 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 could 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 as well. 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 of recycled materials in its 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 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 transform other, new materials for use n 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 amount 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 designs, 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] with the Galaxy S22 series and the new Galaxy Z series this year.

Samsung has also reduced the volume of packaging for Galaxy Z Flip4 by 52.8% and for Galaxy Z Fold4 by 58.2% respectively compared to the first-generation Galaxy foldables. By reducing each device package’s volume, Samsung ultimately reduces its environmental footprint in transporting these units using trucks, planes and ships. The company estimates that this reduction in packaging volume equates to a reduction in carbon emissions from transportation of approximately 10,000 tons by the end of 2022.[5] In addition to continually evolving packaging for flagship smartphones, Samsung will expand eco-conscious packaging to other product categories.

Scaling Solutions that Reduce E-waste

More than ever, reducing e-waste is crucial to advancing a circular economy that preserves and repurposes the planet’s finite resources. According to the World Economic Forum, 57 million tons of ewaste was generated in 2021 and it is expected to grow by 2 million tons per year.[6]

To address this, Samsung has been expanding the Galaxy Upcycling program, which gives new life to older Galaxy smartphones. Through Galaxy Upcycling at Home[7] , Samsung repurposes smartphones with a simple software update that turns them into smart home devices that support everyday needs, such as childcare and pet care.

An important part of Galaxy Upcycling is ensuring that these sustainable practices not only support the environment but also improve people’s lives. The company also upcycles secondhand Galaxy devices intomedical diagnosis equipment called EYELIKE fundus cameras that provide necessary eye care services in underserved communities. This program has already upcycled hundreds of Galaxy devices and provided basic eye care for over 13,000 patients in Vietnam, Morocco, India and Papua New Guinea.

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 hold itself accountable and continue to report progress on its mission to effect positive change and inspire others to protect the planet for generations to come.

^{1 FAO and UNEP}

^{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.}

^{5 This is calculated based on ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006 standard, using Ecoinvent 3.8 database for transportation of SMF700F,
SM-F721B, SM-F900F and SM-F936B models from Korea to Europe.}

^{6 World Economic Forum, “This year’s e-waste to outweigh Great Wall of China,” October 18, 2021.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/2021-years-e-waste-outweigh-great-wall-of-china/}

^{7 Galaxy Upcycling at Home is available in the US, the UK and Korea currently and availability may vary by carrier. This feature is available on all Galaxy S, Note, and Z series released}

* The content has been revised as of January 26, 2024, to provide more accurate information

Now and into the future, Samsung will incorporate repurposed ocean-bound plastics throughout our entire product lineup, starting with our new Galaxy devices that will be revealed on February 9th at Unpacked. These devices will reflect our ongoing effort to eliminate single-use plastics and expand the use of other eco-conscious materials, such as recycled post-consumer material (PCM) and recycled paper. With this transformation, the future of Galaxy technology will bring leading product design and deliver better environmental impact.

The Hidden Threat of Discarded Fishing Nets

When you think of ‘ocean-bound plastic’¹, you likely envision a water bottle or a grocery bag drifting on the ocean surface. What may not come to mind is a more hidden threat – the 640,000 tons of fishing nets that are abandoned and discarded every year.

Lingering in our oceans for centuries, these ‘ghost nets’ are responsible for trapping and entangling marine life, damaging coral reefs and natural habitats and even ending up in our food and water sources. These discarded fishing nets are disrupting the delicate balance of our environment at an alarming rate. Collecting and repurposing these nets are vital first steps in keeping our oceans clean as well as preserving the planet and our collective future.

Designing More Sustainable Products

Samsung has always pushed the boundaries of mobile technology, and the company is now looking to do the same with its sustainability practices. By giving new life to discarded fishing nets that would otherwise become dangerous waste, Samsung – through its creative solution – exemplifies how we can all do more with less to conserve our planet’s resources.

Samsung is committed to addressing ocean plastic pollution in a way that will positively impact not only the environment but also the lives of all Galaxy users. This new technological advancement marks a notable achievement in the company’s journey to deliver tangible environmental actions and protect the planet for generations to come.

Repurposing ocean-bound plastics is just the first step in our collective mission to address the climate crisis, and Samsung looks forward to using our scale, innovation and open collaboration to uncover additional solutions. Learn more about our vision for a sustainable future at Unpacked (February 9th at 10 a.m. EST).

1 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.