Green is in, and there’s no shortage of mobile companies coming out with phones to cash in on the trend. Eco-activists and marketers hope that saving the earth will be more than just a fad. They’re betting on it with these top five eco-friendly phones.
1. Samsung’s “Blue Earth”
Announced yesterday at MWC Barcelona, this solar-powered cell phone is ready to take the world by storm – er – sun. Not only is this phone eco-friendly, it’s also rather helpful for those of us tired of running out of battery for our mobile phones when we’re no where near a charger. Designed to symbolize a flat and well rounded shiny pebble, Blue Earth is the first solar powered full-touch screen phone. Blue Earth is made from recycled plastic called PCM, which is extracted from water bottles, helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The device, including charger, is free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate. By charging with the solar panel located on the back of the phone, users can generate enough electronic power to call anytime anywhere.
2. LG’s Solar Phone
We don’t know the name of this phone yet, or the precise specs, but rumor has it that Samsung isn’t alone in rolling out a solar-powered phone at MWC Barcelona. LG’s solar power handset is said to be not as eco-friendly as Samsung’s Blue Earth – it sounds like the phone won’t be made of 100% recyclable materials. Still, LG promises green packaging for the handset.
3. T-Mobile’s Motorola W233 Renew
Recycled water bottles – phone home. The MOTOW233 is the first mobile phone housing made from plastics that contain recycled water bottles on the device is also the first certified Carbonfree cell phone on the market, according to the company. Also, Motorola will offset the amount of energy required to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone through an alliance with Carbonfund.org. Business Week seems to like this phone, giving it a 4 star review.
4. Samsung F268
It’s not suprising that Samsung makes the top 5 list yet again, with its F268. The phone was named the “Greenest Mobile Phone” by Greenpeace International earlier this month. The Samsung F268 is the brominated flame retardant (BFR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free mobile phone. Neither the device nor its accessories (including the charger and headset) contain PVC, and all the components are also entirely free from BFRs. In addition, the Samsung F268 has an alarm function that tells users to unplug their charger when the device is fully charged.
5. Nokia’s N79Eco
Nokia is going heavy on the green PR, but doesn’t have much to show for it yet. The N79 Eco is a start. It’s no where near as eco-friendly as the aformentioned phones, but Nokia deserves a spot on this list because they’re – at least – trying. This phone doesn’t come with a bundled external charger. How is that eco-friendly, you ask? As the company puts it – less packaging equals less waste. Plus, you don’t need to replace your old charger. Simply reuse it. That’s a smart idea, if not a necessarily green one. Who else is tired of buying a whole new set of mobile chargers everytime we upgrade our phones?