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Samsung’s new gadgets to reuse discarded fishing nets

Feb. 7, 2022 - 13:40 By Son Ji-hyoung
An image of an abandoned fishing net beneath the Indian Ocean. (Samsung Electronics)
Samsung Electronics said Monday it plans to reuse discarded fishing nets as a new material for its handset devices as part of its sustainability strategy announced earlier this year.

According to the South Korean tech giant, the repurposed ocean-bound plastics, also known as “ghost nets,” will be incorporated in Samsung’s new product lineup under its Mobile Experience division, starting with the new Galaxy devices to be unveiled in the Unpacked event on Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. US Eastern Standard Time.

Collecting and repurposing discarded fishing nets -- which amount to 640,000 tons each year -- could contribute to addressing the marine environment threat, the company added.

The move is in line with Samsung‘s sustainability goal to eliminate single-use plastics for packaging and incorporate recycled material in all new mobile gadgets by 2025, under the “Galaxy for the Planet” vision unveiled in August. The Monday announcement marks the first collective action to address the climate crisis, the company said in a statement.

These are among a few confirmed hints about the new products -- presumed to be the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 series. Their respective Ultra variants are anticipated to feature built-in S Pens, a special stylus made for the Galaxy series.

The products have been receiving preorders globally starting January and are to start the shipment by late February.

With the new gadgets, Samsung is expected to beef up competition in the smartphone market worldwide in the first quarter, as its archrival Apple is also rumored to be unveiling low-cost 5G iPhones and iPads in as early as March.