According to Mashable, tech giant Samsung is looking into more environmentally friendly packaging for its products.
Instead of plastic, Samsung is considering the following:
- Pulp molds to form holder trays
- Ecofriendly wrapping for accessories and manuals
- Matte finishes for chargers so that the plastic protection film is no longer need
- Recycled and bioplastics, which are made from materials like vegetables fats, corn starch and sugar cane, for the bags that cover large appliances, like T.V.s, refrigerators and washing machines
“The little things add up,” Mashable says.
Samsung’s packaging changes will kickstart during the second half of 2019, and new paper sourcing will start in 2020.
While the move to more eco-friendly resources is a good move in the long run, critics, like Engadget, say that “the initiative isn’t exactly a selfless gesture.” Samsung has faced serious lashback from environmental groups for years “for its lack of definitive environmental plans,” Engadget says.
On a more positive note, Engadget calls Samsung’s plans “a significant move:” “Samsung is easily one of the largest electronics companies, and a shift to greener packaging could eliminate massive amounts of waste.” Plus, as a large company, Samsung may also set a great example for other companies that still use too much plastic.
The again, Samsung may just be bringing up the rear. Mashable says that Apple has been reworking its resources for at least the past seven years; in 2012, Apple made its iPod packaging biodegradable. In 2017, the company “laid out plans” for its paper and plastic sourcing, according to Mashable.
Either way, both examples show that the technology industry is looking towards greener resources, and doing their part to minimize waste. Decision makers who want to make their own companies more environmentally friendly might consider looking to these companies’ practices, and see what might materials they’re trying to make greener, the cost involved, and how much impact it will actually have on the environment. Decision makers may also consider keeping tabs on Samsung, one of the most recent examples of a tech company turning to greener resources, and see how its plans turn out, what mistakes it makes, and how successful it ends up being.
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