Samsung is repurposing fishing nets for its future devices

Having previously touted slogans around like ‘corporate citizenship,’ the South Korean enterprise is overhauling its supply chains, materials, and manufacturing as part of its Galaxy for the Planet program.

This will see it strive to eliminate all plastics in its mobile packaging, achieve zero waste to landfill, and incorporate recycled materials in future devices by 2025.

On that last note – and top of the agenda – are plans to utilise repurposed fishing nets in the manufacturing of all upcoming Galaxy S22 devices. Why fishing nets, I hear you ask?

While we hear no end of clean-up missions focused on ridding our oceans of single-use plastic bottles and bags, the fact that 640,000 tons of fishing nets are discarded every year is scarcely highlighted. Those hauled from the sea floor often date back to centuries past and pose a serious threat to delicate marine ecosystems.

https://youtu.be/2Jdpwb_0F5w

In terms of actual measurable targets, we’re not sure how many nets Samsung plans to collect. But, considering the last Galaxy model sold 13.5m units in the first six months, it’s safe to say it will need a lot.

As for dealing with its own carbon footprint, Samsung’s 2021 report highlights the good work it has being doing already. 95% of waste from its manufacturing processes is recycled, and it is collecting around 5 million tons of its own e-waste a year. Operations in the US, Europe, and China are running on purely renewable energy too.

It seems that encouraging people to upgrade their phones every three years – and not 18-months – still isn’t a feasible proposition in 2022. So, for the time being, let’s make sure we’re at least supporting companies with some sort of integrity and common sense.