Samsung says it has developed a new kind of plastic made from discarded fishing nets to reduce their adverse effects on marine ecosystems and that it will be used in devices such as the upcoming Galaxy S22 series phones. The company has been incorporating elements of sustainability and environmental consciousness in its product portfolio for a while now. In 2020, it partnered with Danish textile brand Kvadrat to launch accessories made from repurposed plastic bottles that are turned into yarns. Samsung said a plastic bottle provided enough yarn for making two Galaxy S20+ cases.

The same year, Samsung revealed that its smartphone chargers, in part, were made using post-consumer materials (PCM). Or, in simple words, recycled material extracted from pre-owned gadgets. Of course, those eco-friendly goals also meant Samsung doesn't ship a charger in the retail box of its flagships. The company also started offering TV remote controls that rely on solar energy for charging instead of Lithium-ion batteries. The company also turned its attention towards packaging, with the Galaxy S21's retail box using only four percent plastic by weight.

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Samsung's latest initiative is putting more plastic, of the good kind, into its phones to bring down the footprint and reduce the harmful impact on the marine ecosystem. The company says it now recycles discarded fishing nets and repurposes them into plastic that goes inside its phones. And the first wave of phones to incorporate this green plastic is the Galaxy S22 series which is scheduled to be announced at its Unpacked event tomorrow. In addition, Samsung says it will use this repurposed plastic made from discarded fishing nets across its entire product range, and not just phones.

A Step In The Right Direction

Samsung repurposing ocean bound waste

Samsung cites a United Nations Environment Program report, which claims that about 640,000 tons of fishing nets are dumped into the ocean every year. Technically falling under the category of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), the discarded fishing nets pose a wide range of problems. They include entangling marine life that can lead to severe injuries and deaths, especially for larger species such as turtles and seals. A wide range of aquatic life and birds die every year due to entanglement and ingestion of plastic. Modern plastics are known to linger for roughly 600 years in the marine environment, depending on water conditions. Plus, they also pose navigation hazards and risks of entering the food chain.

Samsung will share more details about how it turned discarded fishing nets into phone-bound plastic at tomorrow's launch event. However, it appears that the recycled plastic will be used for internal components and not the rear panel. Instead, leaks suggest that all three members of the Galaxy S22 series will flaunt a rear glass panel, which feels more premium but also happens to be more fragile. The design of the S22 and its Plus variant will reportedly remain unchanged, while the stylus-toting Galaxy S22 Ultra morphs into a bonafide Galaxy Note 20 Ultra successor.

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Source: Samsung