Samsung is celebrating Earth Day by reflecting on the Galaxy S24 series and highlighting the work of young changemakers.
Samsung strives to harness the power of technology to improve the world we live in. To celebrate Earth Day, Samsung wants to reflect on how we advance our mission: are we increasing the use of recycled materials in our Galaxy mobile devices or collaborating with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Finding the balance between innovation and environment
Samsung is reinventing the way Galaxy technology is designed and packaged to do more with less when it comes to our planet’s natural resources. Over the past decade, we have worked to innovate high-performance components made from recycled materials.
We reached an important milestone in 2022 by integrating recycled fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, into the Galaxy S22 series. Recycled materials can now be found in all Galaxy mobile products, including smartphones, tablets, PCs and wearables.[1]. At the same time, we have expanded our use to a wider variety of materials, from several types of plastics to metals and glass.
The Galaxy S24 continues to expand the variety of recycled materials in Galaxy devices by applying recycled plastic, glass and aluminum to internal and external components.[2]. It also takes these efforts a step further. For the first time, Galaxy S24 features components made from recycled cobalt and rare earth elements[3]. In the Galaxy S24 Ultra, a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt was used in the battery[4]and 100% recycled rare earth elements have been incorporated into the speakers[5].
Samsung has long addressed the pervasive challenge of plastic waste through our recycled material innovations, and recycled plastics continue to play an important role in the Galaxy S24 series. The Galaxy S24 series continues to use recycled plastics from discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles.
Recycled plastic sent to the oceans[6] The material was created in partnership with global organizations that have collected abandoned fishing nets near the oceans. Together, we separated, cleaned and extruded the properties of the nets before optimizing them into high-performance recycled polyamide granules. Similarly, recycled polycarbonate and PET materials come from discarded water barrels and PET bottles that we crush, filter and melt with other additives. This process helps us transform these fragile resources into optimized, high-performance materials that meet Samsung’s cutting-edge design and high quality standards. We have also partnered with other organizations to recycle discarded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) generated by shoe manufacturing.
This is the culmination of our ongoing efforts with our partners to transform fragile plastic waste into high-performance materials used in Galaxy devices. Through the Galaxy S24 series, we aim to use nearly 100 tons of recycled plastics[7] by the end of 2024, which is equivalent to 10 million empties Plastic bottles[8].
In terms of recycled metal, the Galaxy S24 series incorporates recycled aluminum[9] which comes from scrap metal generated during manufacturing. Scrap aluminum is remelted, filtered to remove impurities, and then recycled to make components as part of Samsung’s product development process. The Galaxy S24 series has the potential to use approximately 110 tons of recycled aluminum by the end of 2024, which is equivalent to 9 million soda cans.[10].
Additionally, the Galaxy S24 series comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper. By the end of 2024, we hope use 2760 metrics tonnes of recycled paper, i.e. equivalent of 552 million pieces of A4 paper[11]. If they were stacked on top of each other, it would be about the same height as 71 Burj Khalifa.[12]which is the tallest building in the world.
From the smallest components to the latest, most premium features, the Galaxy S24 series represents a significant step forward in Samsung’s ongoing commitment to using recycled materials in its smartphones. This work could help us move to more circular designs and create technology that supports a more sustainable future.
[1] Recycled materials can be found in all Galaxy devices released from 2022
[2] The Galaxy S24 Ultra contains recycled materials in the top speaker module, bottom speaker module, body front, S Pen inner cover, S Pen button holder, side key, volume key, SIM tray, camera decoration, front screen, rear glass and battery.
[3] Neodymium
[4] Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24+ batteries contain at least 50% pre- and post-consumer recycled cobalt. The Galaxy S24 battery includes a minimum of 10% pre- and post-consumer recycled cobalt.
[5] Galaxy S24 series speakers contain 100% pre- and post-consumer recycled neodymium.
[6] Ocean plastic is discarded plastic waste of all sizes (microplastics, mezzoplastics and macroplastics) that is found within 50 km of coasts in communities or areas.
[7] Calculated tons of recycled plastics based on Galaxy S24 series sales estimate through 2024.
[8] Assuming the weight of 500ml PET bottles is 10g, which is the average weight of PET bottles from manufacturers in the market.
[9] A minimum of 28% pre-consumer recycled aluminum is used in the internal and external aluminum components of the Galaxy S24 series. For more information on recycled materials in the Galaxy S24 series, please see Samsung’s product environmental reports on the Sustainability website.
[10] The average weight of a 330 ml can of soda is calculated from Metal packaging Europe article.
[11] The average weight of A4 paper is calculated based on ISO 536:2019.
[12] At 828 meters above sea level, the Burj Khalifa holds the record for the tallest building in the world.
Samsung is celebrating Earth Day by reflecting on the Galaxy S24 series and highlighting the work of young changemakers.
Samsung strives to harness the power of technology to improve the world we live in. To celebrate Earth Day, Samsung wants to reflect on how we advance our mission: are we increasing the use of recycled materials in our Galaxy mobile devices or collaborating with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Finding the balance between innovation and environment
Samsung is reinventing the way Galaxy technology is designed and packaged to do more with less when it comes to our planet’s natural resources. Over the past decade, we have worked to innovate high-performance components made from recycled materials.
We reached an important milestone in 2022 by integrating recycled fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, into the Galaxy S22 series. Recycled materials can now be found in all Galaxy mobile products, including smartphones, tablets, PCs and wearables.[1]. At the same time, we have expanded our use to a wider variety of materials, from several types of plastics to metals and glass.
The Galaxy S24 continues to expand the variety of recycled materials in Galaxy devices by applying recycled plastic, glass and aluminum to internal and external components.[2]. It also takes these efforts a step further. For the first time, Galaxy S24 features components made from recycled cobalt and rare earth elements[3]. In the Galaxy S24 Ultra, a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt was used in the battery[4]and 100% recycled rare earth elements have been incorporated into the speakers[5].
Samsung has long addressed the pervasive challenge of plastic waste through our recycled material innovations, and recycled plastics continue to play an important role in the Galaxy S24 series. The Galaxy S24 series continues to use recycled plastics from discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles.
Recycled plastic sent to the oceans[6] The material was created in partnership with global organizations that have collected abandoned fishing nets near the oceans. Together, we separated, cleaned and extruded the properties of the nets before optimizing them into high-performance recycled polyamide granules. Similarly, recycled polycarbonate and PET materials come from discarded water barrels and PET bottles that we crush, filter and melt with other additives. This process helps us transform these fragile resources into optimized, high-performance materials that meet Samsung’s cutting-edge design and high quality standards. We have also partnered with other organizations to recycle discarded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) generated by shoe manufacturing.
This is the culmination of our ongoing efforts with our partners to transform fragile plastic waste into high-performance materials used in Galaxy devices. Through the Galaxy S24 series, we aim to use nearly 100 tons of recycled plastics[7] by the end of 2024, which is equivalent to 10 million empties Plastic bottles[8].
In terms of recycled metal, the Galaxy S24 series incorporates recycled aluminum[9] which comes from scrap metal generated during manufacturing. Scrap aluminum is remelted, filtered to remove impurities, and then recycled to make components as part of Samsung’s product development process. The Galaxy S24 series has the potential to use approximately 110 tons of recycled aluminum by the end of 2024, which is equivalent to 9 million soda cans.[10].
Additionally, the Galaxy S24 series comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper. By the end of 2024, we hope use 2760 metrics tonnes of recycled paper, i.e. equivalent of 552 million pieces of A4 paper[11]. If they were stacked on top of each other, it would be about the same height as 71 Burj Khalifa.[12]which is the tallest building in the world.
From the smallest components to the latest, most premium features, the Galaxy S24 series represents a significant step forward in Samsung’s ongoing commitment to using recycled materials in its smartphones. This work could help us move to more circular designs and create technology that supports a more sustainable future.
[1] Recycled materials can be found in all Galaxy devices released from 2022
[2] The Galaxy S24 Ultra contains recycled materials in the top speaker module, bottom speaker module, body front, S Pen inner cover, S Pen button holder, side key, volume key, SIM tray, camera decoration, front screen, rear glass and battery.
[3] Neodymium
[4] Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24+ batteries contain at least 50% pre- and post-consumer recycled cobalt. The Galaxy S24 battery includes a minimum of 10% pre- and post-consumer recycled cobalt.
[5] Galaxy S24 series speakers contain 100% pre- and post-consumer recycled neodymium.
[6] Ocean plastic is discarded plastic waste of all sizes (microplastics, mezzoplastics and macroplastics) that is found within 50 km of coasts in communities or areas.
[7] Calculated tons of recycled plastics based on Galaxy S24 series sales estimate through 2024.
[8] Assuming the weight of 500ml PET bottles is 10g, which is the average weight of PET bottles from manufacturers in the market.
[9] A minimum of 28% pre-consumer recycled aluminum is used in the internal and external aluminum components of the Galaxy S24 series. For more information on recycled materials in the Galaxy S24 series, please see Samsung’s product environmental reports on the Sustainability website.
[10] The average weight of a 330 ml can of soda is calculated from Metal packaging Europe article.
[11] The average weight of A4 paper is calculated based on ISO 536:2019.
[12] At 828 meters above sea level, the Burj Khalifa holds the record for the tallest building in the world.