Eco Friendly Mobile Phone Features

The green mobile has resolved many environmental issues that have been plaguing the cell phone industry for years.  Many were made of chemical flame retardants (1%), ceramics (16%), metals (25%) and plastics (58%).  What is worse, the standard cell phone averages about four and a half pounds of toxic materials, including:

• copper
• beryllium
• atimony
• arsenic
• zinc
• lithium
• manganese
• mercury
• nickel
• lead
• cadmium
• BFRs (brominated flame-prevention retardants)
• liquid crystals
• and oil by-products.

Worse though, many of the older cell phones are harder to disassemble and were dumped instead of recycled.  Ironically, many of them could have been recycled for profit, to recycle resources and even save on energy.  On average, in the US alone, retired cell phones are dumped into landfills, accounting for over five hundred million of them annually.  Elsewhere and in other locations, cell phones numbering around one hundred and thirty million are just dumped anywhere, accounting for approximately sixty-seven thousand metric tons of toxic waste/year.  Only about 2% are recycled, but of those, the recycling costs (80%) pays for the disassembling.

Greener and going green cell phones are being developed with biodegradable materials and parts.  Each one has different features that are great for combating global warming and climate change, though each manufacturer has their own unique ideas about what they are willing to include.  However, general green features can include:

• LCD screens with solar cells
• Chargers meeting individual country green standards and regulations with green certification
• Carbon neutral bodies (recycled plastic, mercury/cadmium/lead free, corn, etc.)
• Green batteries (carbohydrate powered, biodegradable, sugar water, longer life, etc.)

How this Benefits a Go Green Environment

These mobile phones benefit a green environment by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, using recycled and biodegradable materials and providing power through natural sources.  Most importantly, many of them have a longer life for their green batteries, meaning that less energy is used in recharging them and preventing the release of additional emissions.  In fact, when these sustainable living phones are retired, consumers can return them to their cell phone providers for recycling and refurbishment and get new green cell phones to replace them. Alternatively, consumers can take their used cell phones to an electronic recycling depot where the parts and materials can be reused for other applications and items.

Product details

There are numerous more sustainable cell phones coming on the market each month.  The next time you think about getting Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile new cell phones, think of getting something good for the environment.

However, the top rated of all these green products are:

• Motorola MOTO W233 Renew
• Samsung Blue Earth Solar Touchscreen
• Samsung S7550 Blue Earth
• Samsung E1107 Crest Solar
• Docomo SH-08A Solar Hybrid
• NTT DoCoMo Touch Wood
• Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10
• Sony Ericsson XPERIA X3 Android
• Nokia N97 Eco
• Sony Ericsson T650i
• Nokia's N95
• Sony Ericsson P1i
• LG Electronics KE970
• LG Solar Powered
• Samsung SGH-W510 &
• Samsung SHG-F268
• Sony Ericsson J10
• Samsung S3030

Product description

Varies according to the manufacturer and individual phone

What to look when buying

• Evaluate whether or not having a cell phone is necessary
• Why do you need a cell phone?
• What features do you need?
• What features do you not need?
• What is the manufacturer's service and safety record?
• What recycling and refurbishment programs are available from the manufacturer?
• Is the cell phone certified as green?
• What is the cell phone made of?
• What comes with the cell phone and, are they also green?
• What type of battery and charger are provided and, are they also green?
• Can the cell phone be upgraded for a better and greener model through your provider later for free or a nominal charge?
• How much radiation protection does your phone give you from EMFs?

Product review

An essential product for anyone who uses cell phones and wants to protect the environment by going green.  However, caution should still be given to all cell phones, green or not, regarding EMF (radiation discharge).

References

• “Choose an eco-friendly cell phone”, online article, GreenYour.com, 2008, http://www.greenyour.com/home/electronics/cell-phone/tips/choose-an-eco-friendly-cell-phone
• “Eco Friendly Mobile Phone By Daizi Zheng For Nokia”, online article and product guide, Envirogadget.Com, 2009, http://www.envirogadget.com/alternative-energy/eco-friendly-mobile-phone-by-daizi-zheng-for-nokia/
• “Top 7 Eco-Friendly Mobile Phones”, online guide and article, Infoniac.Com, 2010, http://gadgets.infoniac.com/top-7-eco-friendly-mobile-phones.html

Further Reading

• “Study: Cell Phone Radiation May Vary According to Brand”, online study, GlobalHealingCenter.Com, 2010, http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/cell-phone-radiation/