Samsung brings recycled fishing nets to foldables phones: How the green tech works and more

Samsung aims to use more recycled and ocean bound plastic in its galaxy Devices. During a media round, the company said that 50 percent of its Galaxy products will contain recycled plastic resin by 2030 and plans to increase that number to 100 percent by 2050. The company says it has created a new Circular Economy Lab researching material recycling technologies and resource extraction processes. During an online roundtable interaction with the media, Pranveer Singh Rathore, Materials R&D Manager, Samsung electronics, said: “I think we all recognize that tackling the climate crisis and building a circular economy are among the most difficult challenges of our time. In this context, we all have a crucial role to play – business, governments and the general public – and we must do it together. At Samsung, we will rely on our strengths to develop innovative products and services and create a sustainable ecosystem along our value chain.”
Earlier this year, Samsung announced it had partnered with Royal DSM, a science-based company, to collect fishing nets from fishermen who collect them along the shores of the Indian Ocean. After the nets are collected, the company separates, trims, cleans and extrudes them to develop an environmentally responsible material made from at least 80% recycled polyamide or nylon. Samsung then works with Hanwha connection, a polymer blends company, to optimize the material’s performance to meet the company’s standards for smartphone technology. The material is converted into polyamide resins made up of at least 20% recycled fishing nets. Samsung has incorporated these recycled polyamide resins, now ready for use in mobile technology, into key components of the Galaxy S22 series key holder and the S Pen inner cover.
Fishing nets are coming to the latest generation of folding phones
After the flagship S22 series, Samsung has also introduced the technology in its latest foldable phones. The new Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 are the company’s first foldable phones made in part from recycled fishing nets. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro also consist of more than 90% recycled parts.

As for the special features, the side button holder on the display port of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 and the Fold 4 lid should be made from discarded fishing nets. “Thus it acts as a barrier against water and dust and improves the durability of your phone. Likewise, with receiver decoding showing the connector cap and other green parts, they act as housing for the critical components,” Rathore said. “Since they house the critical components, they act as a barrier and are durable, allowing them to withstand all climatic conditions and all types of stress they are subjected to,” he added.
Speaking about challenges, he said that it is a unique design and with that comes new challenges. “The internal parts are different. The sizes are different. The way they’re supposed to work is different.”
Why fishing nets
Discarded fishing nets pose a serious threat to marine life and natural ecosystems, and often end up in people’s food and water sources. Due to long-term exposure to seawater and UV rays, fishing net material is fragile, making it difficult to directly upcycle the nets. To find a solution, Samsung has developed a material that will maintain the quality of its smartphones while preserving the health of the world’s oceans.