Study ranks Samsung the 4th most-sustainable smartphone manufacturer

A new study meant to determine which smartphone manufacturers are the most and least environmentally friendly has ranked Samsung as the 4th most sustainable OEM after Apple, Google, and Sony. The study targeted smartphone companies that have sold at least one million smartphones a year, on average.

The study found that Samsung isn't even among the top 3 manufacturers but the 4th most sustainable OEM due to its failure to achieve carbon neutrality and its far-future net zero target of 2050 (via GreenSmartphones). The study accounted for several data points, including:

Direct greenhouse gas emission increase/decrease over the past year
Carbon neutrality
Net zero target
Plastic packaging reduction
100% renewable energy
Proportion of waste recycled
Recycling target
Percentage of recycled materials
Number of devices recycled

Samsung's not the worst, but it needs to catch up with the top dogs

Apple ranked 1st because it has achieved carbon neutrality and has a 2030 net zero target. The Cupertino-giant and Google have also achieved 100% renewable energy, while Samsung has not. And while Apple lowered its direct GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions by 9.96% compared to a year ago, Samsung's GHG emissions increased by 13% over the same time period.

Smartphone manufacturers trailing behind Samsung are Vivo, Huawei, Oppo, Alcatel, Motorola, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. The latter company ranked 11th and increased its GHG emissions by a whopping 162.67% over one year.

Mihai Matei - Senior Editor

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-A800

Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.

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Study ranks Samsung the 4th most sustainable smartphone manufacturer

Samsung's not the worst, but it needs to catch up with the top dogs

Mihai Matei - Senior Editor

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-A800