O2 goes green with its new eco-friendly handset
Mobile phones are often seen as an eco-menace, but O2 is aiming to help customers reduce their carbon footprint by launching a new, greener handset. The Sony Ericsson Naite is the first of the manufacturer’s GreenHeart range and reduces its carbon footprint by 15%. The Naite offers a greener solution without compromising on quality, packed with all the hi-tech features consumers would look for, including a 2 mega pixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, an FM radio and an expandable memory up to 8GB. But it’s in the design that the Naite is a green revolution: it is made from recycled and recyclable plastics and comes complete with a low power consumption charger. Sony have also reduced the outer packaging and, by using an e-manual rather than a paper one, the phone reduces paper usage by around 90%. If that isn’t enough to tempt, consumers who buy the Sony Ericsson Naite are being offered a choice of a free eco-friendly gift (such as a solar powered charger, organic food hamper or family eco day out) or the chance to donate to a charity. So, by purchasing this phone you can not only reduce your own carbon footprint, you can support initiatives such as paying teachers or supporting children in Africa. Let’s hope other manufacturers take note, and that this is the first of a green wave of eco-friendly mobile phones.
The Sony Ericsson Naite is free on selected pay monthly tariffs and £97.86 on Pay & Go.
Charge as you Ride
With all the pay as you go fees affecting mobile phone call rates and similar tolls imposed on cycling through congested UK cities, it is refreshing to note that university students in Kenya have invented a smart eco-friendly device that powers up mobile phones via the bicycle. Such ingenuity is essential in a country such as Kenya because the predominant methods of charging up mobile phone devices involve visiting specific shops that charge a fee for the service, which is often powered by a solar panel device. Furthermore, as many villages do not have a source of electricity, anybody wanting to power up their mobile phones might have to travel long distances to reach the relevant shops.
However, with the introduction of the bicycle charging device, which comprises a small dynamo-power unit invented by two electrical engineering students, villagers will now be able to fully charge up their phones by
cycling for up to one hour in total. Indeed, the device mimics a standard feature of bicycles in Africa, which are often sold with dynamo units that power front and back lights. Nevertheless, with this smart modification of existing technology, the students may have unwittingly produced a product that could be viable on the global market.
Indeed, whilst dynamo chargers may not be entirely original, they are relatively novel when used specifically to charge up mobile phones. Cyclists in cities such as London would be able to avail of any such device that charges their phone as they travel to and from work. Furthermore, with the rise in popularity of Fair Trade products, it is likely that consumers would buy this African technology.
Even your mobile phone can be eco friendly
Environmentally conscious consumers will be well aware that choosing products and services that are eco friendly can, unfortunately, require a great deal of effort. Indeed, what makes a product easy on mother nature is not always immediately obvious. For instance, mobile phones are one of those essential devices that do not appear to benefit the environment in any way whatsoever – in fact, the only green thing about them is the colour of the ‘on’ switch! However, mobile phones actually provide an excellent example of how people can make small, but not insignificant, contributions towards saving the environment.
The first environmentally useful point to make about phones is that they should never be simply thrown out when a new model is purchased. When the batteries from discarded mobile phones begin to degrade, they can be hazardous to the environment and should therefore be disposed of in the appropriate recycling bins. Old mobile phones can also be sold to companies like Mazuma Mobile that supply third world countries with low cost mobile solutions.
Furthermore, with the introduction of the new Nokia N79 Eco, consumers can upgrade their existing mobiles in the knowledge that their purchase will directly benefit the environment. Indeed, whilst the phone itself offers a competitive range of features including wi-fi connectivity and a 5MP camera, its gift to the environment comes in how it is delivered. The Nokia N79 Eco ships without a charger so that it can use much less packaging material. It is hoped that this will encourage recycling of old mobile chargers, and Nokia UK will also donate £4 towards the World Wildlife Fund for every new model sold!
