Are cell phones designed in an environmentally responsible way?
Wireless manufacturers are making great strides in designing new phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to be more environmentally friendly in all stages of the phones’ life cycle. New generations of mobile phones are designed to meet the European RoHS Directive which means they use less toxic material; while maximizing the use of recyclable materials such as metals and plastic. The new phones are lighter and more compact than earlier models, reducing the amount of packaging and the number of trucks needed to transport the product. Much of the packaging uses recyclable materials, generates less waste and is designed to facilitate more efficient transportation. The power cords for today’s phones and the networks on which they operate also have been designed to be more energy efficient than telecommunication equipment of the past. End-of -life management of the product also is considered during design, making phones easier to disassemble for reuse of parts and recycling.
