Creating Sustainable Wireless Devices and Packaging
Wireless manufacturers are incorporating a variety of green practices into the development and production of new devices and accessories. Some examples include carbon neutral phones and solar-powered handsets and chargers. More products are made using recycled and recyclable materials, such as biopaints and bioplastics that are made from vegetable oil, not crude oil. In addition, manufacturers have eliminated or greatly reduced the use of hazardous substances such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), lead and cadmium. While new devices continue to be more powerful than ever, many are more energy efficient and employ smarter charging features.
One example of the commitment by the industry and CTIA to more environmentally sustainable practices is the “one-charger-fits-all” Universal Charger Solution (UCS). As of January 1, 2012, most of the new smartphones in the U.S. will have a UCS, which will provide an estimated 50 percent reduction in standby energy consumption. It does this by utilizing the micro-USB format as the common universal charging interface and use energy-efficient chargers that meet U.S. “Energy Star” requirements for external power adapters. In addition, CTIA supports simplifying the input/output features for new wireless devices introduced to the market after January 2012 as a way to streamline and reduce the number of audio and data connectors for mobile devices. Developed by the Open Mobile Terminal Platform industry standards group and adopted by GSMA, the UCS will use the Micro-USB format as the common universal charging interface and use energy efficient chargers in compliance with the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Energy Star requirements for external power adapters.
In addition, the wireless industry supports simplifying the input/output features for new wireless devices introduced to the market after January 2012 as a way to streamline and reduce the number of audio and data connectors for mobile devices.
The wireless industry continues to reduce the weight and improve the design of its devices while reducing packaging waste. In fact, on average the new generations of wireless devices currently weigh approximately 79g; this is 42 percent less than earlier models. Various packaging initiatives include reducing the size of packaging containers to save paper and other valuable resources, eliminating or greatly reducing the use and size of plastic inserts, replacing paper manuals with digital manuals and using more environmentally-friendly inks and fewer glossy materials. In addition to developing more eco-friendly products, the lighter packaging is creating new efficiencies in shipping, which saves fuel.
Wireless companies are also focused on ensuring the environmental integrity of their supply chains is intact. Many of our members have established sustainably-oriented standards of production and distribution for their vendors.
To learn more about a CTIA member’s specific “go green” initiatives, please click here.