Samsung accused of creating ecological hazard by canning Note 7
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - 12:17:11
The release of the Galaxy Note 7 has been a disaster for Samsung, costing it billions as a result of not one but two recalls being required due to exploding batteries onboard its latest phablet.
While many industry experts commended the company for choosing to pull the Note 7 from sale after the issues arose and persisted, environmental campaigners have argued that it is causing more problems than it solves, according to the Daily Mail.
The biggest concern is that Samsung will now need to find a way to get rid of the 2.5 million recalled Note 7 handset, since it has pledged not to repair or refurbish these devices and instead cut its losses altogether.
Greenpeace spokesperson, Gary Cook, said that prior to the recall there were already questions about the sustainability of the manufacturing processes and minerals behind the Note 7. He said that the scarce natural resources which are being harvested to fuel the world’s mobile obsession were becoming rarer all the time and that without the ability to recycle or reuse old devices, disaster could loom.
Of the 50 different materials which are used in the construction of the Note 7, just 12 can be recycled. Because of this, it is not seen as an especially eco-friendly or sustainable handset.
Campaigners also argue that manufacturers should be forced to come up with ways to recycle old phones more thoroughly, rather than producing them in a way that makes this difficult to achieve.
Others have suggested that it is sensible for smartphone designs to reintroduce removable batteries so that scandals like this do not occur in the future. Meanwhile, Samsung is presumably a little too busy focusing on rebuilding its own brand to address these emerging concerns.
Latest News
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 10:32:41
Every industry around the world has been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and recycling has been especially affected as a result of force [...]
Read More
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 21:33:36
Apple has pulled back the curtains on the all-new iPhone SE, bringing with it a raft of eco-friendly design features which aim to improve the green cr [...]
Read More
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - 21:32:00
Researchers from New Zealand have demonstrated a new recycling solution which could help companies to reclaim rare materials from smartphones, PCs and [...]
Read More