Traditionally, environmental credentials have had almost no impact on consumer's device purchase decisions, but it is an area is starting to receive more attention. Nokia's latest effort to promote its eco-credentials should bring a smile to the face, but also makes a serious point - recycling is the key to sustainability.
Nokia prides itself on being one of the most environmentally friendly mobile phone manufacturers and regularly ranks near the top of Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics. The company produces an eco profile data sheet for every phone it produces, listing information on key environemental features, materials, restricted substances, energy consumption, packaged, recycling, and environmental impact.
For example, for the Lumia 1520, some of the highlights include:
- The device contains recycled metals in the inner part of the product (also true of other Lumia devices).
- The black variant uses recycled plastics in the polycarbonate shell.
- The device is 100% recyclable (all materials of the device can be recovered as materials and energy).
- Packaging contains 80% recycled material and is 100% recyclable.
- The device is made from 44% metals, 8% ceramic materials, 32% plastics, 15% battery, and 1% other materials.
- The devices comes with a five star rated energy efficient charger (AC-60), drawing less than 0.03W for no load consumption.
- Greenhouse gas emissions of 32 kg CO2 equivalent (assuming three year usage cycle, roughly the same as driving 233km in a typical European care). Of this 76% comes from the raw materials and component manufacturing process and 15% from product usage.