The world is going green, especially as we celebrate Earth Day on April 22. And, like cars, most people do not want to give up their cell phones. So, also like cars, companies that manufacture them are creating more Earth-friendly options. Here are some of the newest green phones on the market, most of which include the now-standard QWERTY keyboard, camera and web connection.

 

Made from 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, this next generation Motorola green phone is “the world’s first” phone free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and is CarbonFree®-certified, according to the Motorola website. Its housing is 99 percent recyclable, and comes with a postage-paid recycling envelope to return your previous cell phone. A portion of the sales of this phone help fund a hydroelectric project in India and a rainforest restoration project in Nicaragua. The E45 features up to 8.5 hours of talk time and 350 hours of standby time. EcoMoto wall and car phone chargers consume 0.03 watts on standby, 90 percent better than the current Environmental Protection Agency standard. Price: About $150

 

Available May 8, this smartphone features a case made of more than 80 percent recyclable materials, including more than 34 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. An optional back battery pack has a solar panel. The phone also was manufactured with fewer environmentally sensitive materials including PVC, BFRs and phthalates. The phone’s packaging is made of 80 percent post-consumer waste material and uses soy inks, and users can recycle their old phones in a postage-paid envelope. Price: $50 with a two-year service agreement

 

Samsung manufactures several eco-friendly phones, including this newer model, with hardware built from 70 percent recycled post-consumer materials and 80 percent recycled post-consumer paper packaging printed with soy ink. Like other green phones by Samsung (which include the Blue Earth, Reclaim and Restore), the Evergreen’s manual is available on CD-ROM instead of paper. Price: $30 with two-year contract

 

Part of the company’s GreenHeart™ initiative, the Naite is made with 60 percent recycled plastic and is painted with paint low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Its lighter, thinner package is made with less cardboard than traditional boxes, with no plastic bags. The 100-percent-PVC-free Naite includes a virtual manual and a low-energy charger. A preloaded EcoMate app includes Earth-friendly quizzes, advice and a virtual pet. Price: About $159

 

The packaging on this Sprint smartphone is 100 percent recyclable, and the phone is made with 87 percent recyclable material and lead-free paint. With low levels of PVC and BFRs, the LG Remarq charger also is energy efficient while on standby. Environmentally conscious users will appreciate the Eco Calculator, which helps you measure just how many pounds of CO2 you would emit if you walked or biked instead of drove. Price: Free with $50 mail-in rebate and two-year contract

 

See also:

• Eco-friendly phones