Samsung in partnership with Danish textile brand Kvadrat, has introduced eco-friendly accessories for the Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Watch Active2. These accessories are produced using Kvadrat’s yarn-making process by which one plastic bottle can be repurposed to produce two Galaxy S20+ phone cases. Re-purposed 500 millilitres plastic bottles are used.
Plastic bottles are melted and reformulated into textile yarns.
When developing accessories for the Galaxy S20 series and other of the company’s latest products, Samsung made the decision to partner with Kvadrat, a company rooted in Scandinavian design tradition that has acquired the European Union’s Ecolabel certification – a certification known for its strict judgment criteria.
Following the sustainable practice of upcycling, the special Galaxy S20+ phone case is made up of re-purposed 500 millilitres plastic bottles that are melted and reformulated into textile yarns. Upcycling, also known as ‘creative reuse’, is the process of transforming end-of-life products into new materials that not only are of better quality than the original, but also benefit the environment. In the case of Kvadrat’s yarn-making process, one plastic bottle can be repurposed to produce two Galaxy S20+ phone cases.
These recycled yarns help to reduce the number of plastic bottles found in landfills and are produced in a way that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during manufacturing as compared with traditional material processes. The plastic bottle-sourced yarn is formed in an eco-friendly process that preserves non-renewable energy resources. Samsung is the first company among major brands in the mobile industry to have produced a phone case for its flagship device using recycled materials.
The Galaxy S20+ phone case made with textiles by Kvadrat follows the sustainable practice of upcycling by transforming end-of-life plastic bottles into recycled polyester yarns, from which cases can then be fashioned. These recycled yarns are eco-friendly because they reduce the amount of PET bottles in landfills. In the US alone, it is estimated that over 60 million of these bottles end up in landfills every single day. Each recycled 500 ml plastic bottle can create two phone cases, allowing users the peace of mind that with the purchase of this special phone case, they are actively contributing to the reduction of plastic pollution.
The recycled yarns are also manufactured in a way that reduces carbon dioxide emissions as compared to traditional processes. Compared to conventional polyester production methods, Kvadrat’s recycled yarns are formed in a process that consumes less energy and preserves precious oil resources.
In addition to producing a line of cases for the Galaxy S20+, Samsung will also be releasing straps for the Galaxy Watch Active2 made out of Kvadrat textiles and other sustainable materials for eco-minded watch users.
Last year, Samsung announced a partnership with the UN Development Programme to support the Sustainable Development Goals (also known as the Global Goals) which address some of the biggest challenges faced around the world, including the fight for climate action. In line with this, a portion of revenue from sales of the Samsung Global Goals edition of the Galaxy S20+ case made with Kvadrat textiles will be donated to UNDP in support of the 17 Global Goals.
