Sony Ericsson has announced plans to explore using environmentally sound components in its cell phones.
Cell phones are not biodegradable, containing small amounts of potentially harmful substances in batteries which, if not disposed of properly, could damage the environment.
The GreenHeart concept will research green technologies, using bio-plastic housings, recycled plastic keypads, zero charger with 3.5mW standby power, HTML based e-manuals, a game style educational application 'Ecomate' and environmentally conscious packaging.
In August, Samsung released its E200 Eco, a phone whose entire case is made from bioplastic. NEC introduced a bioplastic phone in Japan in 2006, and has been using plant-derived materials since 2004.
"The global take back scheme and the GreenHeart project bring us closer to our vision of being a leader in sustainability in the mobile phone industry," said Mats Pellback-Scharp, Head of Corporate Sustainability for Sony Ericsson.
Sony Ericsson has also setup collection points to recycle used cell phones in an environmentally sound way. There are currently more than 500 collection points in India, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Singapore, USA and Mexico. By 2009, it plans to rollout the program in all the countries in which it operates.
