O2 Goes Green With Recycled Smartphone Made From Grass

We all know that we need to recycle more in order to help the planet – but O2 has now extended this idea to our smartphones.

The operator today unveiled a concept device made from grass recycled from the home of rugby, Twickenham Stadium, alongside parts of other old smartphones.

The fully functional device took over 240 hours to build, with designers using tens of thousands of grass blades from Twickenham Stadium for the casing and locally-sourced wood for the buttons.

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The announcement is all part of O2’s new Recycle for Rugby campaign, which looks to show how old tech has the exciting potential to be upcycled into something new, and to inspire more people to recycle their old devices.

Electronics are the fastest growing waste stream in the world as devices are often discarded before they are unrepairable or technically outdated. O2 Recycle, which launched in 2009 as part of the company’s Think Big initiative, has to date received 1.4 million devices, and repurposes nine out of ten gadgets in an attempt to reduce their environmental impact.

O2 Recycle, which is available to both O2 and non O2 customers, offers cash payments of up to £260 for gadgets; including mobile phones, tablets, MP3 players, handheld consoles, digital cameras and SatNavs.

“By creating this phone we are demonstrating how two of O2’s passion points – rugby and O2 Recycle – can come together, as a force for good,” said Bill Eyres, head of sustainability at O2.

“O2 Recycle offers a simple, sustainable way to recycle unused gadgets and receive a cash payment in return whilst at the same time backing a great cause and recycling for rugby. We are calling on  people across the country to recycle unwanted gadgets and help raise the £350,000 we have pledged to support the RFU’s Try for Change social responsibility programme, aimed at promoting rugby as a powerful tool for social change.”

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