Nokia launches its take-back initiative in Jordan

Amman, Jordan: June 22nd  2009 -  Only 3% of people recycle their mobile phones despite the fact that most have old devices lying around at home that they no longer want, according to a global consumer survey released by Nokia. Three out of every four people added that they don't even think about recycling their devices and nearly half were unaware that it is even possible to do so. To help raise consumer awarness and recycling rates Nokia also announced it is launching its first take back points in Jordan where people can recycle their unwanted devices.

The survey, based on interviews with 6,500 people in 13 countries was conducted to help Nokia find out more about consumers' attitudes and behaviors towards recycling, and inform the company's take-back programs and efforts to increase recycling rates of unused mobile devices.

The findings highlight that despite the fact that people on average around the world have each owned around five phones; very few of these are being recycled once they are no longer used.  Only 3% said they had recycled their old phone. Yet very few old devices, only 4%, are being thrown into landfill. Instead the majority, 44%, are simply being kept at homes and never used.  Others are giving their mobiles another life in different ways with one quarter of people passing on their old phones to friends or family, and 16% selling their used devices particularly in emerging markets.

Mia Ranta-aho, Senior Environmental Manager, at Nokia Middle East and Africa said, "It is clear from this survey that when mobile devices finally reach the end of their lives that very few of them are recycled. Many people are simply unaware that these old and unused mobiles lying around in drawers can be recycled or how to do this. Nokia is working hard to make it easier, providing more information and expanding our global take-back programs.

If each of the three billion people globally owning mobiles brought back just one unused device we could save 240,000 tones of raw materials and reduce greenhouse gases to the same effect as taking four million cars off the road. By working together, small individual actions could add up to make a big difference," she added.

Nokia has collection points for unwanted mobile devices in 85 countries around the world, the largest voluntary scheme in the mobile industry.

It is in this regard, Nokia is rolling out the Take Back Program in Jordan to provide the community with the necessary information and to raise awareness on the opportunity to recycle old mobile devices and accessories.

"We are proud to launch today our take-back initiative in Jordan. Consumers can drop their old and unwanted devices, chargers and mobile accessories in the recycling bins available at our Nokia Care Centres in Amman.  This is the first step of our program and we are currently exploring opportunities to establish more take back points in the Kingdom"said Robert Nadra, Care Manager - Nokia Levant.

To find their nearest take back point people can visit www.nokia.com/mea/environment

Up to 80 per cent of a Nokia device can be recycled and using the best recycling technology nothing is wasted. Precious materials within it can be reused to help make new products such as kitchen kettles, park benches, dental fillings or even saxophones and other metal musical instruments.

 Plastic covers and parts that can't be recycled are burnt to provide energy for the recycling process, and other materials are ground up into chips and used as construction materials or for building roads. In this way nothing has to go to landfill.

Did you know?

Tips how to use your mobile device the most energy efficient way:

• Unplug the charger when the battery is full.

• Decrease the brightness of your phone's screen if you wish to use less energy.

• Set the standby time to the minimum to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.

• Turn off or disable the sounds you don't need such as keypad tones. You may also want to adjust the volume of your phone to average level, particularly if you are inside your home or office. Fewer sounds mean you're using less energy.

• Turn off functionalities like Bluetooth, WLAN etc. when you're not using them.

•Use Green Explorer to plan your travel in the most environmentally friendly way or check up on eco tips when you are on the move. http://www.greenexplorer.nokia.com

• If you have to fly, consider using the we: offset service on your mobile to offset your emissions. You can download the application at www.nokia.com/weoffset

•Consider using your mobile device to read emails and browse the internet. Research suggests doing this uses one thirtieth of the energy used by a laptop computer.

•Take your no longer needed mobile phone back for recycling. You can find the nearest recycling point at www.nokia.com/mea/environment

-Ends-

About Nokia
Nokia is the world's number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of devices for all major consumer segments and offer Internet services that enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Media Enquiries:
Karen Bou Fayad
Communications Manager, Levant
Nokia Middle East and Africa
Email: karen.bou-fayad@nokia.com
www.nokia.com

Asmaa Jadallah
Consultant for Nokia
Bidaya Corporate Communications
Tel. : 0788777767
Email: asmaa@bidayacorp.com

© Press Release 2009