Samsung unveiled a “green” cell phone on Thursday at its OR@S Olympic Rendezvous event in Beijing, China in conjunction with the 2008 Summer Olympics. The new phone is the Samsung E200 Eco (right), which is made of bioplastics from plant-based materials rather than traditional petroleum-based polycarbonate plastics.

The company will also package the E200 Eco in a recycled paper box that does not use any glossy coatings as part of its efforts to be friendlier to the environment. Samsung is working in conjunction with Cheil Industries on its efforts. The E200 Eco will launch in Europe in September.

Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecommunication Business, said, “We are committed to being an environmentally and socially responsible corporate citizen. We strive to make more products as green as possible and to proactively set up and expand a phone recycling system.”

The significance of using bioplastics which are made of corn and other organic materials is two-fold:

  • It reduces the production of non-renewable plastics
  • Samsung claims that the manufacturing process for bioplastics reduces fuel consumption and produces 35% fewer CO2 emissions