Samsung expanding use of recycled parts for smartphone repair

Samsung is expanding its use of recycled parts to repair smartphones. Currently, while repairing some models, the company plans to increase the use of limited recycled parts to maintain an environmentally friendly attitude and reduce the burden on consumers.

When repairing expensive parts such as displays and mainboards, it is expected that the consumer cost burden will be halved if recycled parts are used. According to industry sources, Samsung plans to launch a ‘Manufacturer-Certified Recycled Materials Program’ in the process of repairing mobile devices such as smartphones earlier this year.

This is a method that allows customers to select refurbished parts when repairing products through the service center. The product repair using such recycled parts is already being implemented in some models.

For instance, in the case of the ‘Galaxy S22 Ultra’, when repairing the motherboard based on the return of the old parts, the new parts cost 465,000 won, but the refurbished parts cost about 233,000 won. The price of the ‘Galaxy S20’ will be reduced from 231,000 won to 1444,000 won if the recycled parts are used for display repair.

Samsung announced the ‘Galaxy for the Earth’ project in August last year and is increasing the use of recycled materials. In the ‘Galaxy S22’ released in February and the new ‘Galaxy Book 2 Pro’ series notebooks released in April, recycled plastic materials from waste fishing nets were applied in parts.

In addition, Samsung Electronics plans to launch a self-repair program in the United States from the second half of this year, which will allow customers to repair products directly with purchased parts.