Greentech Lead America: As part of the wireless
industry’s continued commitment to being “green,” CTIA-The Wireless
Association announced the Green Working Group (GWG) and its sustainability
benchmarks.
Included in the GWG’s initiatives are five areas on
postpaid, or contract, handset packaging and a three part plan for more
recycling of “old” devices and accessories.
The CTIA Green Working Group has developed three
components to encourage more recycling of “old” devices and
accessories: Develop a take-back program for devices and accessories and to
educate consumers about these programs; use third party recyclers that comply
with applicable federal and state electronic recycling laws; and develop a
common approach for measuring handset collection rates with a goal of
increasing the collection of devices and electronic accessories either directly
or indirectly by 20 percent by 2015.
Even though the new generations of wireless devices
currently weigh approximately 79 g, which is 42 percent less than earlier
models, CTIA’s Green Working Group has developed five benchmarks on postpaid,
or contract, handset packaging.
The participating wireless companies will eliminate
plastic inserts and trays from postpaid wireless device packaging by the end of
2013.
All U.S. postpaid wireless packaging will be labeled with
internationally recognized symbols to facilitate recycling of products, accessory
boxes and contents by December 31, 2013.
The postpaid packaging elements will use less than 10
percent volatile organic compounds, including labels by the end of 2013.
Water-based adhesives or self-sealing tab locking boxes
will be used by June 2014.
All postpaid packaging material, including the user
guides, will be printed with non-petroleum based inks by the end of 2014.
Companies participating in the packaging benchmarks
include: Asurion; AT&T; Brightpoint, Inc; Brightstar Corp; HTC America,
Inc.; Motorola Mobility, LLC; Nokia, Inc.; Samsung Telecommunications America,
L.P.; Sprint Nextel Corporation; T-Mobile USA; U.S. Cellular; and Verizon
Wireless. Additional companies have indicated they will participate.