Something To Talk About: Green Mobile Phones and Accessories

The International Herald Tribune reported an interesting trend at the Mobile Congress in Barcelona earlier this month: "green" cell phones made of recycled and biodegradable materials that require less energy than regular cell phones.

Until now, there have been few environmentally-friendly cell phone options available to consumers. This seems, however, to be quickly changing! Nokia, the Finland-based manufacturer that made one of every 3 cell phones sold last year, introduced "green" features on a number of its mobile products, including sensors that detect natural light to allow the phone to save energy, and chargers that beep when they are fully charged, cuing the owner to unplug them from the wall socket.

Motorola showed off its MOTO W233 Renew, which it touts as the first carbon-neutral phone. The W233 is made using plastic from recycled water bottles and can itself be recycled, arriving to customers in 100% recycled paper with a prepaid shipping envelope for customers to send in their old phones for recycling. Motorola also pays to offset the carbon emissions created to manufacture and distribute the phone, and to recycle it at the end of its life. 

Sony Ericsson presented GreenHeart, a cell phone made of recycled, biodegradable components that was actually released in the U.S. late last year. GreenHeart's charger also uses less energy than other chargers when it's plugged into the wall. Both ZTE and Digicel, from China and Latin America respectively, offered low-cost solar-powered options that would make mobile communications possible for 2 billion people that don't have electricity.

If these new offerings are an indication of where the mobile industry is headed, we are clapping our hands in delight! One World Projects is also proud to offer "green" accessories to accompany your new mobile, including cell phone holders that are handmade from recycled Huipils (pronounced wee-peel), traditional blouses worn by Mayan women in Guatemala. Available in multiple sizes and colors, each holder comes with a handy button loop that can be attached to belt loops or key rings for easy access and has been handcrafted by an income-generation project that makes work for disadvantaged women in Guatemala. Please browse our selection of cell phone holders starting at $12.

Thanks for reading and for your support of sustainable and socially-responsible business. Our 11,000 artisan partners (and Mother Earth) thank you too! 

Sincerely,

The Team at One World Projects