UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), announces today that it is releasing a new set of sustainability requirements, UL ISR 110, the first edition of a collaborative effort to develop a sustainability standard for:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin”> mobile phones. UL ISR 110 is the first set of requirements specifically drafted for use in evaluating mobile phones to identify those phones having the least environmental impact.
Samsung is the first company to have a mobile phone that has earned certification to the requirements for their newly released Replenish® device. Replenish® phones have attained a Platinum level certification, indicating that the phones have achieved the highest level of environmental performance recognized by the new UL Environment requirements. UL ISR 110 sets environmental requirements for “environmentally preferable” mobile devices by measuring environmentally sensitive materials, energy management, manufacturing and operations, impact to health and environment, product performance, packaging, and product stewardship.
The UL standards development process encourages innovation and excellence by establishing a baseline level for environmental design and performance, as well as a tiered approach that rewards environmental leadership. Products that demonstrate exceptional performance are recognized with the highest tier of achievement, designated as “Platinum Certification.”
“Mobile phone technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and leadership companies like Samsung are working hard to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with products that have short consumer life cycles. Fortunately, leadership companies within the mobile phone industry are intent on making improvements throughout their processes to start to address these challenges,” said Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment. “This important milestone provides mobile device manufacturers with a reliable and comprehensive model to design better products for the marketplace.”
“We are proud the Samsung Replenish is being recognized by UL Environment,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. “Meeting the requirements set by UL Environment is a great achievement and shows Samsung’s dedication to delivering environmentally preferable devices. The Replenish gives customers the option to have an eco-friendly phone without having to compromise features and functionality.”
Samsung is the first phone to publicly complete the UL Environment pilot program referenced earlier this year in an announcement by Sprint at the CES show. Third party sustainability standards establish the basis for differentiating environmentally superior products and services, enabling businesses and consumers to make environmentally-preferable choices more easily.
UL Environment’s Interim Sustainability Requirements (ISR) relied on input from a panel of experts. A 60 day open comment period gathered feedback on the requirements from a wide range of stakeholders. The next round of standards development will address these comments with the help of the Standards Technical Panel (STP), comprised of stakeholders such as manufacturers, government entities, non-governmental organizations and consumer interest groups. After review by the STP, the standard will then be considered for publication and voted on.
“The Life Cycle of Materials in Mobile Phones.” This paper details the variety of chemical elements and engineering materials often used to create mobile phones, to help consumers and businesses understand how their personal environmental footprints are impacted. The paper highlights the valuable resources found in mobile phones, including precious metals that can and should be recovered at the end of the product’s life. It is available for download at http://www.scribd.com/doc/55381227/The-Life-Cycle-of-Materials-in-Mobile-Phones.
Article courtesy of gamutnews.com?