Sustainable packaging: Samsung Seek launches first-of-its-kind reusable packaging

-- Packaging Digest, 5/13/2010 12:31:29 PM

With the launch of its new Samsung Seek compact messaging device, Sprint and Samsung claim to be the first in the United States to trial a new recycling solution that enables customers to easily reuse the packaging to ship old wireless phones, batteries, accessories and data cards with a postage-paid paper mailing label. Customers who purchase the Cool Blue or Fantasy Pink Samsung Seek can use the label and box to repackage their old equipment for recycling in less than one minute and at no charge.

Sprint will recycle both the equipment and the box. To compare the performance of this new solution, the Scarlet Red Samsung Seek will contain the traditional postage-paid envelope made of LDPE #4 recyclable plastic for customers to recycle their old wireless device.

Samsung Seek eco-friendly packaging:

    * Several plastic elements – the inner tray, bags for literature and the battery, and mailing envelope – are replaced with paper-based solutions.

    * Box and inner tray contain at least 90 percent post-consumer waste (PCW) paper fiber, are 100 percent recyclable, and come from sustainable forests. Top sheets and liners are chlorine-free, printed with soy inks, and have a water-based aqueous coating.

    * Mailing label contains 30 percent PCW paper fiber, is 100 percent recyclable, has a water-based acrylic adhesive, and is attached with glue dots that are RoHS and REACH compliant.

    * Literature band contains at least 30 percent PCW paper fiber and is 100 percent recyclable.

“Sprint is committed to environmental sustainability and product responsibility,” said Kevin Packingham, Sprint senior vice president-Product Development. “Each time customers use the postage-paid mailing label with the box to recycle an old device, they are helping keep electronic and packaging waste out of landfills and support Internet safety for kids. All net proceeds from the sale of recycled equipment collected will be used to fund and promote 4NetSafety, a charitable program of Sprint Project Connect.”

SOURCE: Sprint Nextel; About Samsung Telecommunications America

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