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.

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.

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. 

Yi Jun is a member of Generation17, a partnership between Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), empowering young people around the world who are contributing to the Global Goals.

Like most kids, Mock Yi Jun dreamed of what he would be when he grew up.

Once he was old enough, he did internships and attended various career events. It was an “eye opening experience,” he recalls. He learned the value of real-world exposure to a variety of professions.

Most young people, Yi Jun realized, didn’t have opportunities to connect with the professionals they aspired to be. Career preparedness needed to improve dramatically, and it needed to be more accessible.

Yi Jun hosts an Advisory Singapore panel discussion connecting young people with digital leaders.

Real-Life Insight Into Career Paths

Yi Jun meets with his Advisory Singapore team.

 

Connecting People Through Tech

 

Technology was instrumental to the group’s founding. “Our partnership was powered by video calls and virtual communication, as we were all in different continents when we started,” Yi Jun recalls.

 

And technology has been pivotal to Advisory Singapore’s impressive growth – as an online platform, there are no bounds to its reach. This unfettered accessibility has enabled the organization to connect with over 500,000 young people and support over 3,000 mentees through one-to-one mentorship.

 

“These digital mediums allow us to reach students where they are, no matter which school they come from, no matter where they live,” Yi Jun says.

 

He and his co-founders want to continue expanding Advisory Singapore’s footprint to support the United Nations Global Goals, advancing quality education (Goal 4), ensuring full and productive employment (Goal 8), and reducing inequalities (Goal 10) on a worldwide scale.

“We believe that everyone deserves to find meaningful work regardless of their socio-economic status, family background, or education,” Yi Jun says.

 

Jamie Lim, an Advisory Singapore team member and past mentee program participant, meets with her mentor, Marcus Loh.

 

The Mentorship Difference

 

Advisory Singapore’s mentorship program includes partnerships with over 30 of the world’s largest companies.

 

Jamie Lim, a fourth-year student at Singapore Management University, says it opened doors for her and connected her with “a mentor for life.”

 

The impact of these connections can be profound and far-reaching.

“It’s a way to build a culture of giving back,” Yi Jun says of Advisory Singapore. “A culture of young people who are moving from school into the workforce, who know how beneficial it is to have someone on the journey with them. That guidance helps them to reach their full potential and inspires them to pay it forward.”

 

A Wider Variety of Recycled Materials in More Components

Earlier this year, Samsung expanded its innovative use of recycled materials in product design with the Galaxy S23 series, introducing new materials to more components. The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 advance these efforts, featuring a wider variety of recycled materials^[1] in more internal and external components than previous Galaxy Z series smartphones. The newest foldable smartphones incorporate pre-consumer recycled aluminum and post-consumer recycled plastic sourced from discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles. They also scale the use of Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass Victus^® 2, which contains an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled glass content.

Not only did Samsung add more types of recycled materials used in each device, but the company also more than doubled the amount of device components that use a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled plastic or pre-consumer recycled glass, or an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled glass. Both the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5^[2] use recycled materials in 15 device components, an increase from six internal components in the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4.

When it comes to packaging, Samsung continue to advance its efforts to reduce the presence of single-use plastic. That’s why the paper for the packaging box^[3] is made using 100% recycled material.^[4] The company also switched to recycled paper material for the front and back cover protector.

A Device Lifecycle That Lasts Longer

The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 continue Samsung’s work to optimize the longevity and improve the upgradability of its smartphones. Each device comes with five years of security updates and four generations of OS upgrades, helping to extend the product lifecycle.

As a result, the Galaxy community can reliably enjoy their devices for a longer period of time, enabling them to make eco-conscious choices in their daily lives.

Check out the infographic below to see how small actions can add up to a big, positive impact on the planet through the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5.

^[1] Types of recycled materials include post-consumer recycled PA sourced from discarded fishing nets, post-consumer recycled PBT sourced from discarded PET bottles, post-consumer recycled PC sourced from water barrels and pre-consumer recycled aluminum sourced from discarded scrap material generated as a by-product during manufacturing. The scrap metal is re-melted, filtered for impurities and then recycled to make parts within Samsung’s manufacturing process. There is also pre-consumer recycled glass sourced from discarded glass waste generated as a byproduct of glass manufacturing. This glass waste is crushed into cullet and then used as a component in the Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass Victus^® 2 manufacturing process.

^[2] Galaxy Z Flip5: 15 device components that feature a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled material plastic or pre-consumer recycled aluminum, or an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled glass. These components include Volume Key Bracket, Speaker Module (Upper & Lower), Rear Top, Display Connector Cap, FPCB RF Cable Bracket, Rear Mid, Case Front (Main), Case Front (Sub), Volume Key, Finger Key Bracket, Receiver Deco, Connector to Connector Holder, SIM Tray, Sub Window and Back Glass. (Galaxy Z Flip4: six device components). The above measurements are based on weight.
Galaxy Z Fold5: 15 device components that feature a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled material plastic or pre-consumer recycled aluminum, or an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled glass. These components include Volume Key FPCB Bracket, Top Speaker Module (Upper & Lower), Bottom Speaker Module (Upper & Lower), Cover Display Connector, Case Front (Main), Case Front (Sub), Antenna (Sub), Antenna (Main), Volume Key, Finger Key Bracket, SIM Tray, Connector to Connector Holder, Camera Deco (Top & Bottom), Sub Window and Back Glass. (Galaxy Z Fold4: six device components). The above measurements are based on weight.

^[3] 100% recycled paper is used in the following packaging components: the Product Packaging Unit Box, Cover Protector, Manual Box, Manual Pad and DLC Band.

^[4] The 100% recycled paper material has received Environmental Claim Validation (ECV).

Challenging Innovators To Ideate for a Better Future

Following the announcement of its New Environmental Strategy in September 2022, Samsung has been working closely with startups to invest in and develop innovative technologies capable of helping the planet.

To further these efforts, Samsung and XTC have announced the Samsung Climate & Circularity Tech Challenge. This competition, focused on circular economy and climate change, seeks to identify new leading solutions that are in line with the values of Samsung’s New Environmental Strategy.

Participants are encouraged to submit ideas that address resource circularity as related to not only the processing, sorting and extraction phases but also climate change innovation as related to carbon emission measurement and management and carbon emission reduction and offsetting. Selected entries may be considered for implementation into Samsung’s wide range of products and associated manufacturing processes.

The Samsung Climate & Circularity Tech Challenge is open to tech-for-good founders and innovators. Besides having the opportunity to see their ideas form the next generation of home electronics, successful participants will receive exposure on the global stage as well as the potential for investment and corporate strategic partnerships. Winning entries will also be allocated a presence within Samsung’s exhibition at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, U.S.

Those interested in the challenge are able to apply before applications close on August 6 2023 at 11:59 PM PDT (2:59 PM SGT)^[1]. Finalists will be announced on August 28, ahead of a live final event on September 18.

For more information on the challenge, please visit the official website.

^{[1]  The content has been revised as of July 31, 2023 to provide more accurate information.} 

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.}

▲ CEO and Head of DX(Device eXperience), Samsung Electronics

Just like how we are always on the move, the lifestyles and the values of consumers are also constantly changing.

With growing demand for smart homes and a sustainable future, consumers have shown that they no longer see functionality alone as the main priority when considering their appliance needs. Now, how an appliance makes life more sustainable, connected and stylish is just as important.

Across the electronics industry, companies are exploring more fulfilling customer experiences on these terms. Among them, Samsung is uniquely positioned to provide it. Thanks to our wide array of products from smartphones and TVs to household appliances brought together under our exclusive SmartThings connectivity platform, Samsung can provide an experience of the home that is not just innovative but also truly holistic.

This year, through Sustainable, Connected and Stylish Life, we are taking the foundation of Bespoke in the home and elevating it further, making eco-consciousness more intrinsic, harmonizing our diverse services and offering greater freedom in visual expression than ever.

Now, living a Bespoke Life allows you to create a home that not only caters to your unique needs but your values as well, empowering you to enjoy a more sustainable, connected and stylish life. This is the vision of Bespoke that I am excited to share with you today.

Sustainable Life – Make Sustainable Life Easy

How we live involves how we affect our environment. As more people pursue greener lifestyles and values and the importance of energy saving increases, there is a growing interest in how to realize sustainability in our daily lives. To make this possible, sustainability is more central to Bespoke than ever in 2023 with the vision to provide the most energy efficient products and solutions.

The technologies we are showcasing at Bespoke Life 2023 are built on the idea that the simplest but most important step is making a change to how things work in everyday life. As well as reducing carbon emissions across the entire lifecycle of our products, SmartThings’ AI Energy Mode, can save energy up to 70% in various product categories, soon to be available in 65 countries this year. To help reduce microplastics – which have become a major contributor to marine pollution – we built upon our “Easy for Everyone” concept to develop the Less Microfiber Cycle and Less Microfiber Filter in collaboration with Patagonia.

Connected Life – Simplify Connected Life

With social distancing coming to an end, we are all getting back to normal life. Three years of restrictions, however, have reminded us all of the value of connection. In our fast-changing world, the era of hyper-connectivity has truly arrived.

With nearly 270 million people around the world using SmartThings to make household life easier and simpler, hyper-connectivity is made possible by appliances that work together to provide a unified customer experience in the home. Last year, we launched SmartThings Home with six services, and this year we announced a whole new world of connectivity under the theme of “Bringing Calm to Our Connected World.”

100% of our new Bespoke products support wi-fi connectivity. With these appliances that automatically adjust to more than twenty pre-set actions based on users’ daily routines, as well as enhanced security, we want to ensure that the Bespoke experience is seamless and adaptable to changes in users’ lives.

Stylish Life – Create Stylish Life

A more expressive, customizable home and a focus on choice has always been core to Bespoke, creating a stylish life by allowing individuals to customize their surroundings and belongings to reflect their unique tastes and preferences. Since its launch, over 3 million Bespoke refrigerators have been sold worldwide, which really shows how much people have been waiting for appliance to change.

To make our Bespoke products more personal, adaptable and long-lasting, Bespoke Life features easily changeable panel colors and textures for appliances, to keep pace with customers’ changing lifestyles and tastes without the need for full replacement.

Also, we are always pursuing collaborations that show just how creative and stylish interior design can be. Our new, limited-edition Bespoke refrigerator panels, designed in partnership with Italian creative studio TOILETPAPER, are an excellent example of the breadth of Bespoke style, finding new, unexpected ways to make daily life vibrant and engaging.

With demand for deeper personalization growing all the time, we want to empower individuals to personalize their homes through appliances that harmonize with everything else in the living space, and we will continue to launch collaborations with new artists.

On June 7 at Bespoke Life 2023, we’ll announce more details about our expanding vision. Through Sustainable, Connected and Stylish Life, Bespoke Life is adding more convenience and value to every task and routine. We can’t wait to show you how Bespoke weaves these values into the things you do every day.

The Galaxy S23 series is UL ECOLOGO® certified for reduced environmental impact^[1] while still bringing the best of Samsung Galaxy innovation. Find out how the Galaxy S23 series uses recycled materials in more device components than any other Samsung Galaxy smartphone to raise the bar for all, providing quality and aesthetics with less environmental impact.

^{[1] UL ECOLOGO® Certified products and services are verified for reduced environmental impact based on environmental performance criteria throughout its life cycle, including energy reduction, materials, health, environment, manufacturing and operations. Galaxy S23 series met the UL 110.}

Every year, mobile technology increasingly becomes the very core of our daily lives and the epicenter of innovation.

With these essential devices, we create and consume content that connects, inspires and entertains us. We stay immersed in the world of an epic game, even on the go. We keep up with colleagues and deadlines when we’re away from our desks. And we manage every part of our lives in one convenient place — from health and wellness habits to appointments, purchases, travel and more.

Our days revolve around these experiences, so people want devices they can depend on from brands they can trust. At the same time, global challenges like the climate crisis are making us rethink how we live. We have a responsibility to help create a better world now while working toward a more equitable and sustainable future. We believe mobile technology can be the catalyst to enrich people’s lives and help create that future we envision. And this is the reason why we do what we do in Samsung Electronics.

Setting New Performance Standards

There’s no better example of Samsung delivering on this vision than the Galaxy S series. This year, Galaxy S series has extended our innovation heritage by doubling down on our fundamentals.

That’s why our pro-grade camera system is getting smarter, offering the best photos and videos in any light among our Galaxy smartphones. Along with the hardware and software optimization, our newest chipset, born out of Samsung’s open partnership philosophy, enables the fastest and most powerful Galaxy performance. Our ecosystem connectivity is also getting easier and more seamless than ever.

At the top of the Galaxy S series is our Galaxy S Ultra. It’s the product you can trust to give you the best of the best with redefined performance and quality.

We fully merged the most beloved Galaxy Note experiences into Ultra, pioneering a smartphone with the power, performance and creative capabilities of two leading Galaxy innovations in one.

The Galaxy S Ultra has truly become the pinnacle of Samsung Mobile’s innovation, a marque that stands out against everything else, and soon we’ll show you what Ultra can do in even more device categories.

Innovation That Lasts

Performance is not just about more power. It’s also about innovation that lasts with less environmental impact.

We are committed to combatting climate change, and we are guided by our new environmental strategy that strives to make the technology we depend on more sustainable. That’s why we consider every phase of the product lifecycle with sustainability top of mind.

This means building devices that last longer with enhanced durability and reliability. This means incorporating more recycled materials into more components. This means collaborating with like-minded partners to bring people closer together and deliver positive change for people and the planet while setting new benchmarks for our industry.

Premium Experience Without Compromise

On February 1 at Unpacked, we’ll show how innovation and sustainability working together bring the ultimate premium experience.

At a time when the stakes are higher than ever, we’ve raised the bar by pushing boundaries for the mobile experience — delivering our most powerful mobile experiences you’ll continue to love for years to come.

I can’t wait to share what’s next with you.