The inability to restrict our urge to possess everything has resulted in a scarcity of resources vital for a green planet. This urge has pushed the limits to a threatening level and one major contributor to this threat is the rise in the number of cellphones. According to a study an average user buys a new cellphone ever 18 months and simply discards the used phone. This not only adds to the e-waste problem, but this rise in the number of cellphones burdens the grid as well. Industrial designers have tried to reduce the impact of cellphones on the environment with greener concepts that are either made from sustainable materials or don’t require a connection to the wall socket to keep you connected. Here is a list of 20 such concepts that are trendy, high on technology and above all green.
• Cheers:
Cheers is a conceptual phone by industrial designer Tryi Yeh that doesn’t directly need an electrical recharge. The phone is designed to be powered not by electrons but wine. Designed in the shape of a liquor bottle, the phone features a fuel cell that runs on wine to generate electricity.
• Coke-powered Concept Cellphone:
Conceived by industrial designer Daizi Zheng, this concept phone for Nokia ditches Li-ion batteries and runs on a much cleaner fuel cell powered by sugar. The fuel cell generates electricity from carbohydrates, which are commonly found in soft drinks. he bio-battery, according to the designer, can operate the cellphone for three to four times longer than a conventional Li-ion battery on a single charge.
• SoleCall:
The SoleCall solar-powered cellphone concept by designer Julia Schlegel is a basic communicating device that lacks a screen. The phone isn’t designed to carry any hi-tech features under its rubber body, but will make sure that the user is able to call using the numeric keypad and the on/off button. The phone comes with a hanger to enable the user to hang it at any place that gets abundant sunlight. This ultra-cheap phone could be an ideal choice for people living in underdeveloped countries.
• Mechanical Mobile:
The Mechanical Mobile is the brainchild of industrial designer Mikhail Stawsky who believes that renewable energy isn’t only about solar and wind energy generators. This concept features two charging options, including a spin charger and a crank. The touchscreen cellphone is designed in two versions, allowing the user to either spin the entire thing around a finger or crank the tip for power.
• Sticker Phone:
Conceptualized by industrial designer Liu Hsiang-Ling, the Sticker Phone runs on abundant energy provided by the sun. The concept can be attacked to the windshield of your car or the window of your living room, where it can harness solar energy to juice up its onboard battery.
• Cell Wrap:
The Cell Wrap by designer Fernando Robert is a basic design for a communicating device. The idea is to make the cellphone from recycled polyethylene that literally wraps a lead-free LCD screen, a PCB and a keypad.
• NEC Flask Cellphone:
The NEC Flask Cellphone has been designed to run on a liquid fuel cell. Unlike a battery, this phone requires the user to fuel the onboard cartridge with a liquid, which drains as the device is used. Once fully empty, the cartridge can easily be refilled with the same liquid.
• Magic Stone:
Designed by Alexander Mukomelov, the Magic Stone is a device that can be order by the customers in any desired shape. The phone will be able to gather enough charge from electromagnetic waves that are used for calling. The device also features a nano-material coating that will convert sunlight into electricity.
• LINC:
The LINC Concept has been aimed to reduce the number of cellphones that are discarded each year around the world. The phone packs all features commonly available in smartphones, but isn’t actually sold but leased. The user can use the device for about a year and when any new technology arrives, the user can get his/her device upgraded to support the new systems.
• Atlas Kinetic Cellphone:
The Atlas Kinetic Cellphone concept is to be made using aluminum and glass. The phone uses an oscillating weight to power a mainspring to power the onboard battery.
• Magnet Phone:
The Magnet Phone by Tryi Yeh features a light OLED panel and a large solar cell for powering the device. The design allows the users to customize the structure according to their taste. With all this, the users can still enjoy their favorite music tracks, games and videos without worrying about charging the device.
• LG Eco Solar:
The LG Eco Solar by Aaron Martinez adds sustainability to your chatter with renewable energy. The phone features an onboard solar panel that can be recharged in sunlight or by incandescent and fluorescent lights when indoors.
• Nokia Ink 01:
Designed by Luis Barceló, the Nokia Ink 01 is an answer to the growth in the number of cellphones being used and their impact on the environment. The device is designed to reduce the energy consumption in all stages of the lifecycle of the phone, making it easy to disassemble and ensure that it had a high percentage of recyclable materials. All the structural parts of the phone are made of recycled aluminum, a material that be transformed with very low energy consumption and can be recycled almost endlessly.
• Label With Green:
The Label With Green by designers Shao Wei Huang, Chia-Yi Cho, Yu Pei Kuo and Chung Kai Chiang isn’t exactly a user-friendly device but does answer the big question of energy consumption. The solar-powered concept phone comes with Eco-Green Electronic Labels that are designed to power individual components of the phone. The idea is to make the phone run only on its essential systems till the time you’re not actually making a phone call or texting. When need arises you can attach Eco-Green Electronic Label, which is actually a solar paper label that can juice up various components.
• Leaf Phone:
Conceptualized by Seungkyn Woo and Junyi Heo the Leaf Phone is a wearable phone concept that gets powered by renewable solar energy. The flexible phone carries flexible solar modules, which enables the user to wear the device like a wristwatch. The ends of the wristband are secured with magnets. The device won’t allow you to download music or play games, but will make sure that the basic phone functions are made to run on clean energy.
• GettaGrip Musclephone:
The GettaGrip Musclephone is weird device that features a built-in squeezer that needs just 40 seconds of vigorous squeezing to give you a battery full of charge.
• Vertu Essence:
Vertu Essence is an ecologically sensitive mobile handset for the eco-luxury market. The outer casing is made from bamboo. The ceramic titanium core with sapphire crystal screen lasts several lifetimes. Essence comes with lifetime service where cases can be exchanged and firmware can be upgraded. All exchanged parts are reused or recycled by the company meaning that you add nothing to the trash bin.
• GEM:
Designed by Takumi Ota, the GEM seems more of a digital diary than a cellphone. This solar-powered device isn’t expected to boost smartphone features but will be great for calling and texting. In addition the device also features a digital clock, a calculator and a calendar.
• Nokia Morph:
The Nokia Morph device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. The device features built-in solar panels to charge the device. The electronics shown in the concept could cost less and include more functionality in a smaller space.
• Nokia Eco Sensor Concept:
The Nokia Eco Sensor Concept is a mobile phone with compatible sensors that will help you stay connected not only to your dear ones, but inform you about your health and local environment. It’s a two part concept, a wearable watch like device that monitors weather, health and environment conditions, and is powered by its solar strap. The data is then transferred to the Mobile phone (second part of Concept) via radio frequency.
