Motorola unveils 'carbon-neutral' mobile phone

Think “carbon neutral,” and two things not likely to spring to mind are “Las Vegas” and “International Consumer Electronics Show.” But those two things are precisely where Motorola has decided to unveil its newest innovation for the eco-conscious mobile-phone user: the MOTO W233 Renew.

Certified as CarbonFree® by no less than Carbonfund.org, the Renew is — according to Motorola — “the world’s first mobile phone made using plastics comprised of recycled water bottles.” (Note: the grammar marm in me must note that “comprised of” is not an acceptable synonym of “composed of” … but I digress.)

The phone’s housing is not only made of recycled materials, but is also “100 percent recyclable,” Motorola says. And, if you choose to buy the Renew, the company says it will throw in a postage-paid envelope so you can send in your old mobile phone for recycling as well.

Motorola adds that it is offsetting all the carbon dioxide emitted through the production, distribution and operation of the Renew, making the device the world’s first carbon-neutral phone.

“Today, natural resources, energy and time are more precious than ever before,” said Jeremy Dale, corporate vice president of global marketing for Motorola Mobile Devices. “From the product’s design, to the packaging to our partnership with Carbonfund.org, we wanted to ensure that this device makes the right impact with consumers and the environment.”

OK, so it’s not exactly a cure for global warming. But what do you expect? It’s a mobile phone, for heaven’s sake, not a next-generation “clean coal” plant or ethanol-producing algae farm.