Two Galaxy S20+ cases can be made with one 500ml plastic bottle. (image: Samsung Electronics Co.)
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics Co. will manufacture and sell accessories for smartphones and smartwatches with thread made by melting plastic waste.
Samsung collaborated with Danish textile company Kvadrat to produce a case for the Galaxy S20 Plus and a strap accessory to the Galaxy Watch Active2, with fibers that recycled plastic waste.
The collaboration is also in line with the global trend of “upcycling”, referring to a process that uses end-of-life resources to make goods and give new value to them.
Samsung said it is the first company in the industry to manufacture cases for flagship mobile phones with recycled materials.
To make the case for the Galaxy S20 Plus, plastic bottles are melted, processed into small chips, made into thread and then colored. Afterwards, the dyed thread is turned into a smartphone case-making fiber.
Two Galaxy S20 Plus cases can be made with one 500ml plastic bottle.
In addition, the process of manufacturing recycling thread can save crude oil due to lower carbon dioxide emissions and lower energy consumption than conventional processes.
In particular, Samsung will donate part of its sales of the Galaxy S20 Plus edition created in collaboration with Kvadrat to the U.N. Development Program (UNDP).
The Samsung Global Gold Edition can only be purchased in some countries, including South Korea.
The Kvadrat Galaxy S20 Plus case is available on the website of Samsung.com. The price is 32,000 won (US$25.76) for members. In addition, the Kvadrat strap for the Galaxy Watch Active2 will be released sometime this month.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
