Samsung has announced that it has developed a new material from abandoned fishing nets that will be used for the Galaxy S22 series.
The new material produced by Samsung will be utilized in a variety of upcoming Galaxy phones, including the trio of Galaxy S22 phones, as part of the company's Galaxy for the Planet program.
According to the company, it would include repurposed ocean-bound plastics throughout its entire product lineup "now and into the future," beginning with the new Galaxy smartphones unveiled at Unpacked.
"These devices will reflect our ongoing effort to eliminate single-use plastics and expand the use of other eco-conscious materials, such as recycled post-consumer material (PCM) and recycled paper," Samsung said in the news release.
Discarded fishing nets, often known as "ghost nets," capture and entangle marine creatures, harm coral reefs, and ruin habitats, according to the company. And they are absolutely correct.
Ghost fishing gear, which includes discarded nets, lines, and ropes, accounts for roughly 10% of the more than 12 million tons of plastic pollution that ends up in the oceans each year, according to the World Wildlife Fund. It's one of the most dangerous types of marine plastic.
Samsung said that ghost nets pose a threat to marine life and coral reefs, citing a report from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization that reports 640,000 tons of fishing nets are discarded in the oceans every year.
Samsung has also stated that it intends to increase the usage of recycled PCM and recycled paper in its products and packaging in the future, as well as reduce the use of single-use plastics. This isn't a new development; the company already uses recycled plastic in its mobile chargers and TV remote controllers, and it ships TVs in reusable packaging.
Samsung isn't the only company that has jumped on board with sustainable materials. Microsoft launched the Ocean Plastic Mouse last year, according to Engadget. The shell of the device is made up of 20% recycled ocean plastic that has been processed into plastic resin pellets. The shell is created by combining the pellets with other components. The packaging is also environmentally beneficial, as it is made of recyclable wood and sugarcane natural fibers.
Samsung will continue to seek out new ways to make the environment a safer place for everyone. It's a small step, but one that the company will undoubtedly emphasize when the new Galaxy devices are unveiled on Wednesday.
