Nokia ships 1 million new handsets every day; along with the clothing industry, the mobile phone business is the pinnacle of continuous conspicuous consumption: people buy new phones just to have something new.

Nokia has released a concept that is at least heading in the right direction here – a handset that’s made completely from recycled materials.

“In remade, recycled materials from metal cans, plastic bottles, and car tyres are used beautifully; whilst helping reduce landfill and preserving natural resources. The concept also addresses cleaner engine technologies, and energy efficiency through power saving graphics.”

One of the major challenges for the mobile handset business on the sustainability front is to shift people’s thinking about phones from being disposable fashion objects to something that’s to be kept and treasured (Nokia’s Vertu subbrand, perversely, is probably the only company that does this).

I’m glad that Nokia, as the biggest handset manufacturer, is engaging in this conversation. Hopefully more good stuff will come out of this.

Link: Nokia remade (grignani.org)
Link: Remade concept (youtube.com)