Nokia ups green drive

By Staff Writer for Nokia
Johannesburg, 11 Jun 2008

Cellular giant Nokia has expanded its global cellphone recycling initiative to SA.

Under the programme, take-back bins for old cellular devices - of any make and model - have been placed in 35 Nokia outlets throughout the country.

Nokia head of customer care in sub-Saharan Africa Matthew Channing says: "We want to make it easier for people to recycle their unwanted mobile devices and are investing in a number of different areas to make this happen."

He explains: "Throughout this year, we will be running a major training and awareness programme designed to ensure staff working in care centres, operated on behalf of Nokia, take back unwanted devices and can advise consumers on recycling issues."

The take-back campaign is only one part of Nokia's bigger green drive. The company has started putting alerts on its phones for customers to unplug their chargers when not in use.

This measure could save enough energy a year to power 85 000 homes. The alerts will be introduced across Nokia's product range by the end of 2008.

The company also uses 25% renewable energy in its facilities across the globe and aims to increase this to 50% by 2012.

In addition, the company has saved R700 million by introducing more eco-friendly packaging.

Channing explains that smaller device packaging was created in February 2006 using less than half of the normal materials.

"Accessories packaging was also redesigned to reduce the amount of plastic used by 60%. The cardboard used in Nokia packaging has been made significantly thinner," he adds.

"By the end of 2007, Nokia shipped 250 million phones using the compact packaging, resulting in 5 000 fewer trucks needed to distribute products around the world."