Samsung Electronics has announced that, as of this year, it will start replacing its plastic packaging with either paper or other types of environmentally sustainable materials.
The company took it as far as to form a task force that will focus solely on finding innovative packaging ideas.
In the mean time, the company is already making small changes: it will change the glossy finish of phone chargers, which requires a transparent protective film, and opt for a matte one instead.
At the same time, the plastic bags that protect the surfaces of home appliances like TVs, washing machines, etc., will also be replaced with bags made out of bioplastics and other recycled materials.
“Samsung Electronics is stepping up in addressing society’s environmental issues such as resource depletion and plastic wastes.
– Gyeong-bin Jeon, head of the Samsung Global Customer Satisfaction Center
We are committed to recycling resources and minimizing pollution coming from our products. We will adopt more environmentally sustainable materials even if it means an increase in cost.”
Samsung will only be using fiber materials that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The company plans to only use these certified materials on their packaging and manuals as early as 2020.
By 2030, Samsung plans to use 500 thousand tons of recycled plastic and eventually collect 7.5 million tons of discarded products.
While it might not fix the entire plastic problem we’re currently facing, it’s definitely a step in the right direction so Samsung deserves a round of applause from us all and hopefully other companies will follow in its footsteps sooner rather than later.
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