On August 16, Sprint and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), will launch the Samsung Reclaim, the first phone in the U.S. constructed from bioplastic materials. Made from 80% recyclable materials, the Samsung Reclaim is a feature-rich messaging phone that the company says will provide environmentally conscious customers a perfect blend of responsibility without sacrificing the latest in network speeds and must-have features.

“An eco-friendly overachiever,” according to Samsung and Sprint, the Reclaim is designed with environmentally responsible components and fully recyclable packaging:
• Its bioplastic material, made from corn, makes up 40% of the Reclaim’s outer casing. It is also free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and phthalates, and is nearly free of brominated flame retardants (BFR): three materials commonly targeted on green electronics guidelines.
• The outer packaging and the phone tray inside the box are made from 70% recycled materials. The images and text on the box as well as the phone warranty information are printed with soy-based ink.
• The typical thick-paper user manual has been replaced with a virtual online manual.
• The charger is Energy Star-approved for meeting the highest energy efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. It consumes 12 times-less power than the Energy Star standard for standby power consumption and is equipped with a visible notification to alert the user to unplug the handset once it’s fully charged.

“Samsung Reclaim is more than just an eco-friendly device, it’s also a powerful and stylish phone that’s easy-to-use,” said Omar Khan, senior vice president of strategy and product management for Samsung Mobile. “When you combine the Reclaim’s impressive feature set with its bioplastic hardware and eco-friendly packaging, you’re using a phone that is good for you and the environment.”

Reclaim is the most full-featured QWERTY phone launched by Sprint at less than $50. It will be available on August 16 in all Sprint retail channels and at Walmart in early September. When customers purchase Samsung Reclaim from Sprint, $2 of the proceeds will benefit The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program, which supports land conservation across the United States and protects some of the world’s most beautiful and important natural habitats.

“This generous donation from Sprint will help us protect and restore some of America’s most beautiful and ecologically-important landscapes for future generations to enjoy,” says Mark Tercek, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “We applaud Sprint’s sustainability efforts, as innovation and new technology are crucial to the future of conservation.”

Sprint’s aggressive environmental goals
Sprint is also launching several new environmental initiatives in an effort to support its aggressive long-term environmental goals:
• Sprint is the first U.S. wireless carrier to establish a set of environmental design criteria for future devices and accessories.
• Sprint is implementing a series of new environmentally responsible retail initiatives, including adding a dedicated display area in stores that highlights Sprint’s commitment to eco-friendly products and accessories.
• Sprint is committing to reduce paper usage by 30% during the next five years.

“Sprint is widely recognized as a leader among telecommunications companies in environmentally responsible initiatives, and today we are proud to announce an even stronger commitment to sustainability with new eco-friendly products and programs,” says Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. “Samsung Reclaim enables customers to go green while getting the latest in wireless technology. When customers walk into a Sprint retail store, they will be greeted by the information they need to make earth-friendly wireless choices, coupled with Ready Now to learn about the rich functionality of this device.”