Anyone who knows me knows that my cell phone situation has never been on the cutting edge of technology, my – I’m not buying into the whole ‘2 year contract’ – attitude has kept me with a ‘pay as you go’ phone for years now. The only way I could see obligating myself to the torture of a mediocre phone and a network service plan would be a phone that makes my life easier, (my first rule of a long term relationship) and is easy on the environment - then I would forget about the ‘contractual obligations’ (okay, so maybe I have commitment issues) Well – I have found that phone. I am now the proud owner of a Samsung Reclaim. I just got it today, and maybe it is the fact that I have been using the equivalent of two cups connected by a string for so long, but even my 16 year old says this phone is pretty cool – so naturally she has one too. How could I say no?
Enough about my life changing purchase, let’s get to the most important features about the Reclaim! The entire phone is produced from 80% recycled materials, and 40% of the casing was made using bio-plastic extracted from corn! The packaging is 100% recyclable and printed with soy ink, and the charger is Energy Star approved. One of the best aspects is that Sprint will donate $2 dollars, of the purchase price, to The Nature Conservancy organization. Sprint also has great transparency on their site with the up to date effects of their sustainable initiatives.
I am not one to keep up on all the new options and service plans on competing cell phone companies, but I am one to keep up on all things green, and this phone has some green features that will help me do just that. The Sprint One Click option is great to access eco-friendly applications and information. I am not yet a proficient texter, but the qwerty-style keypad, will get me up to speed. These features are great too: 2.0 megapixel camera; text; email; music; there are some features unique to the Reclaim, like built in connections to the social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. I chose the Ocean Blue color, but it is available in Earth Green also, it is cute with its stout, wide stance, and ringtones with sounds of nature, mine is a croaking bullfrog…
Sorry for all of you who still have a year left on your plan, but for those of us finally ready to commit, it is only $49.99 (after rebates and the over mentioned 2 year contract) but is worth it! I am aware that this phone was probably manufactured using carbon spewing processes, it is not claiming to be the answer to the climate crisis, but it does claim to be: “The eco-friendly, socially conscious, always networking phone”. And that is good enough for me. Another thing to check out is how Sprint is greening their whole company, it is awesome.
Now I just need a solar charger and I am set. Thanks Sprint and Samsung for being two of the good guys…
Sprint
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users.
- Organization Type: Profit
- Website: sprint.com
- Founder(s): Clayson Brown
- Founded: 1899
- Location:Overland Park, KS
- See complete company list here
Samsung
“At Samsung Group and Samsung Electronics, our products, our people, and our approach to business are held to only the highest standards so that w can more effectively contribute to a better world”.
- Organization Type: Profit
- Website: samsung.com
- Founder(s): Byung-Chull Lee
- Founded: 1938
- Location: Richardson, TX
- See complete company list here
Sources: sprint.com; samsung.com
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