Management of Take-back & Recycling

Recycling Process for End-of-Life Mobile Phones

Many customers might think that end-of-life mobile phones are worthless, but they still contain many reusable or recyclable materials. This means that leaving old phones in your desk drawer is a huge waste of valuable resources. Let's see how all parts of mobile phone could be recycled.

1.Valuable metals are used as component materials for the circuit board, LCD module, and camera module.
2.During the smelting process, valuable metals such as gold, silver, and copper can be retrieved from these electronic parts

3.The metals that are retrieved can be used for new electronic parts or can be sold separately on their own.

1.Plastic materials are used for structural components such as the case and cover.
2.The plastic materials that have been collected are recycled as energy resources after going through a heat recovery process. Alternatively, they can be used as a form of recycled plastic once they have been broken down and processed.

3.Recycled plastic can be used to produce products such as traffic cones, plastic fencing, and car bumpers.

1.It is important to collect batteries separately, given the variety of batteries that are used. Li-Ion batteries are frequently used in mobile phones.
2.Cobalt can be collected once the batteries have been pretreated to avoid the risk of explosion during the recycling process.

3.It is possible to sell the cobalt that is collected or use it as a raw material for products such as padlocks and speakers.

1.Paper is the main component used in packaging.
2.Paper can be recycled.

3.It is then used as recycled paper or in products made of paper.

Mobile Phone Voluntary Take-Back

Though telecommunication service providers, mobile phone retail shops and some supermarket chains offer the possibility of returning unused mobile phones and their accessories for reuse or recycling, it is not common practice in today's society. LG Electronics plans to make it much easier for consumers to return their end-of-life or unused phones.

Since August 2007, we have made available 392 mobile phone drop-off points and are expanding the global accessibility of take-back channels to all customers. To maximize resource efficiency through mobile phone recycling, LG Electronics works closely with all mobile phone supply chains including telecommunication service providers, distributors, merchandisers, customers, and the recycling industry.

The U.S. is offering a free mailing service, which enables you to send back your phone whatever the brand.
Please place your phone in a package (including the accessories), visit the website (http://us.lge.com/recycle), download the label and print it out, stick it onto the envelope instead of a stamp, and then mail the package.

Sustainability Report

We are pleased to present our Sustainability Report, LG's promise for happiness on Earth.

- Sustainability Report 2008

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