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Circular Economy

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Recycling

We at Samsung
Electronics are
collaborating with
customers and
partner
companies to improve the resource circularity.

Longer life for the product and
even longer life for the material used
in the product.

We aim to manage resources more sustainably by using
recycled materials and researching methods to extract and
re-use resources from e-waste.

We strive for a circular
economy by utilizing
recycled
materials and
extracting resources
from e-waste.

Our approach to a
circular economy

Using
recycled materials
Use recycled plastic for all plastic parts*
in DX products by 2050
Extract raw materials from waste, use recycled materials and recycled packaging materials
* Plastic parts developed by SamsungLearn more
Extending
product life
Improve durability, repairability and
support upgrades
Use products for a longer period of
timeLearn more
Collecting and
recycling e-waste
Operate an e-waste collection system
in
all global sales regions by 2030
and work
towards collecting 10
million tonnes
(accumulated)
Categorize waste products by material
to recycle as a resourceLearn more
Using Recycled Materials

Using Recycled
Materials

E-waste, born again with
technology

Recycled materials roadmap

2023 - Ocean-bound plastic recycled and applied to DX products, Circular Economy Lab established / 2024 - 768,000 tonnes of plastic containing recycled materials used cumulatively since 2009 / 2030 - Aim to apply recycled plastic¹) to 50%²) of plastic parts³) in DX products, establish a recycling system for minerals recovered from collected waste batteries / 2050 - Aim to apply recycled plastic¹) to 100%²) of plastic parts³) in DX products

  • Ratio of recycled content varies by plastic parts
  • Percentage of parts containing recycled materials out of the total amount of parts
  • Plastic parts developed by Samsung
2022
  • Ocean-bound plastic recycled and applied to DX products
  • Circular Economy Lab established
2023
  • 567,056 tonnes of plastic with recycled resin used cumulatively since 2009
2030
  • Aim to apply recycled plastic1) to 50%2) of plastic parts3) in DX products
  • Establish a recycling system for minerals recovered from collected waste batteries
2050
  • Aim to apply recycled plastic1) to 100%2) of plastic parts3) in DX products
Circular process showing the Galaxy S25 Series Circular Battery Supply Chain flow from collecting Galaxy devices → dismantling, discharging, shredding batteries → extracting black mass & recycled cobalt → manufacturing new batteries → producing Galaxy S25.

Our products give
a
new life to materials

Circular process showing the Galaxy S25 Series Circular Battery Supply Chain flow from collecting Galaxy devices → dismantling, discharging, shredding batteries → extracting black mass & recycled cobalt → manufacturing new batteries → producing Galaxy S25.

We strive to use recycled materials
in our products.

We are constantly looking for ways to minimize our impact on the land and sea. By focusing on plastic waste as one of the biggest threats to the marine environment, we have developed technology to recycle discarded fishing nets and are continuing our efforts to improve circularity by recycling resources.

Along with the recycled plastic1), rare earth elements2), steel3), and glass4), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series released in 2025 incorporates new recycled materials such as recycled gold5), copper6), cobalt7), and aluminum8). The Galaxy S25 and S25+ frames also incorporate recycled Armor Aluminum.

In addition, the Galaxy S25 uses recycled cobalt extracted from previously used Galaxy smartphones and batteries discarded during the manufacturing process through Circular Battery Supply Chain. Furthermore, recycled plastics from wafer trays discarded during the semiconductor manufacturing process have been newly applied.

Our efforts to scale the use of recycled materials extend to televisions as well. The graphite sheets of the 2024 and 2025 Neo QLED 8K televisions, used for internal heat dissipation, contain recycled graphite9) extracted from end-of-life batteries.

Battery recycling innovation for the Galaxy S25 Series
  • Galaxy S25 Series incorporates recycled plastic in various components, such as 80% in the Back Glass Deco Film, 30% in the Volume Key and Side Key, 20% in the Top & Bottom Speaker Module (Upper and Lower) and 10% in the Front Case.
  • The magnets used in the Speaker Modules and Motor are made from 100% recycled rare earth elements (neodymium).
  • Some steel components in the Speaker Modules contain at least 40% recycled steel (Including 40% in the Galaxy S25 Ultra Top Speaker Module Grill and 70% in the Galaxy S25 Series' Bottom Speaker Module Lower).
  • The S25 and S25+ feature recycled glass on both the front and back, while the S25 Ultra includes recycled glass on the back.
  • The bonding wires in the Front and 3x Telephoto Camera Modules of the S25 Ultra, as well as the gold plating on the main Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) of the S25 and S25+, are made from 100% recycled gold.
  • The copper foil used in various modules such as Display, Camera, and Wireless Charging Module, and main Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) is made 100% of recycled copper.
  • A minimum of 25% of the batteries of the Galaxy S25 is cobalt by weight, 50% of which is recycled cobalt.
  • In the S25 Ultra, the Volume Key and Side Key contain 28% recycled aluminum, while the Internal Front Case Inserts and Rear Camera Deco contain 30% recycled aluminum. In the S25 and S25+, the Armor Aluminum used in the Front Case contains 20% recycled material.
  • Of the six graphite sheets used inside the 2024 models, five contain recycled materials. This does not apply to certain 2025 models that do not include the One Connect Box.
Increasing the usage of recycled materials in
plastic parts

We are significantly expanding the application of recycled materials in plastic parts used in products — 50% of plastic parts by 2030 and 100% plastic parts (by weight) by 2050.

In 2024, we used 201,755 tonnes of plastics with recycled materials, about 1.3 times more than in 2023.

Plastic usage with recycled materials (base year: 2009)
  • Unit: 10,000 tonnes
  • Usage for the current year
  • Total cumulative usage

This is a Double bar chart showing Usage for the current year and Total cumulative usage figures from 2022 to 2024. 2022: Usage for the current year 9.9, Total cumulative usage 40.9 / 2023: Usage for the current year 15.8, Total cumulative usage 56.7 / 2024: Usage for the current year 20.2, Total cumulative usage 76.9.

9.9
40.9
15.8
56.7
20.2
76.9
9.9
40.9
15.8
56.7
20.2
76.9

How did abandoned
fishing
nets become a part of Galaxy?

Learn more
  • Expanding the scope of
    recycled material use    Learn more
  • Our efforts to recycle
    by-products from
    semiconductor
    manufacturing    Learn more

From recycled, for recycling

The use of recycled packaging
materials by product category

Extending Product Life

Extending
Product Life

Get more out of our products

The longer the product
lifespan, the less
resources consumed

We continue to increase the lifespan of our products because longer lifecycles often mean fewer resources consumed and less carbon emitted.

To reduce the environmental impact of our products, we study and apply ways for our customers to use our products longer.

  • Extend product life

    Products pass tests according to international standards
    and meet strict internal standards

    Improved durability

  • Fix and recycle

    Easy-to-disassemble design
    Easy-to-recycle at the end of the product life

    Repairability

  • Upgrade

    Extended support period for software
    upgrades
    Modular design so users can use
    products that are
    tailored to their needs for
    longer period of time

    Upgradability

  • Refurbish

    Offers customers refurbished and upgraded
    smartphones with warranty

    Samsung CRN(Certified Re-Newed) Smartphones
Collecting and Recycling E-waste

Collecting and
Recycling E-waste

Bringing new life
to EOL(End Of Life) products

E-waste collection and
recycling roadmap

  • * Cumulative from 2009
2023 - Operated e-waste collection systems in over 70 countries / 2024 - Operated e-waste collection systems in more than 80 countries around the world / 2030 - Aim to operate collection systems in more than 180 countries around the world, aim to collect 10 million cumulative tonnes of e-waste* / 2050 - Aim to collect 25 million cumulative tonnes of e-waste* *Cumulative from 2009

*Cumulative from 2009

Not just thrown away
but repurposed

When we switch to a new product, where does the used product end up?

If you think about it, products made from various raw materials are a complex mix of resources. Our e-waste product collection and recycling process allow for e-waste to become ingredients for new products.

Expanding the e-waste collection system

From 2009 to 2024, we collected 6.9 million tonnes of waste electronics worldwide through e-waste collection system operated in over 80 countries.

By 2030, we plan to expand the e-waste collection system to all global regions where our products are sold, with the plan to collect a total of 10 million tonnes accumulated since 2009. Furthermore, we also plan to collect 25 million tonnes of e-waste by 2050.

Cumulative recovery of e-waste (base year: 2009)
  • Unit: 10,000 tonnes
  • Collected amount (current year)
  • Cumulative collected amount

This is a Double bar chart showing Collected amount (current year) and Cumulative collected amount figures from 2022 to 2024. 2022: Collected amount (current year) 59.9, Cumulative collected amount 569.8 / 2023: Collected amount (current year) 59.9, Cumulative collected amount 629.7 / 2024: Collected amount (current year) 61.1, Cumulative collected amount 690.9.

59.9
569.8
59.9
629.7
61.1
690.9
Cumulative recovery of e-waste base year:2009년 Collected amount (current year), Cumulative collected amount, Unit: 10,000 tonnes
59.9
569.8
59.9
629.7
61.1
690.9
Collect e-waste : Total of 6.3 million tonnes from 2009 to 2023. Extract valuable resources : Copper, aluminum, iron, plastic and other minerals, through pre-processing, such as screening and crushing. Recycle extracted resources: Used for manufacturing new parts and products Collect e-waste : Total of 6.3 million tonnes from 2009 to 2023. Extract valuable resources : Copper, aluminum, iron, plastic and other minerals, through pre-processing, such as screening and crushing. Recycle extracted resources: Used for manufacturing new parts and products
Map showing countries operating e-waste collection and recycling programs

Click a region to see a detailed list
of country/region.

Recycling Programs by Country/Region

E- Waste recovery and recycling programs

  • Korea E-waste recovery and
    recycling program in Korea     Learn more
  • U.S. E-waste recovery and
    recycling program in the U.S.     Learn more
  • EU, Asia, and Africa E- Waste recovery and recycling
    programs in EU, Asia, and Africa     Learn more

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