Pakistan has become 86th country in the world where Nokia has launched its recycling program, through a press event in Karachi.
“Take Back” program will have recycle boxes at all 9 Nokia Care centers across the country. Along with, there would be 400+ collection points and a mobile van in Karachi to serve urban mobile market.
The initiative is launched to invite the mobile phone users to recycle their old phones.
Nokia isn’t accepting only Nokia made models, but also Samsung, Siemens and other makes are also encouraged to be dropped into Recycle Boxes.
Moreover, customers can drop old batteries, chargers or any other accessories in drop boxes too.
When asked about any incentives offered to customers or society in return, Nokia said that there are no incentives for customers in this. They will have to drop their phones for no-return at all!
So there is no monetary advantage involved here. Nokia assumes that it’s the customer’s social responsibility.
However, for society’s betterment, Nokia said that it will re-invest money saved through recycling, which ultimately will help company bring better devices at low cost.
In response to a question that there are already options available to customers where they can sell their old/useless phones for Rs. 200 or so, Nokia said “Naiki ki koi keemat nae hoti”.
During the briefing, Nokia said that devices collected through this program will be shipped back to Hungry. When asked about the establishment of a recycling unit in Pakistan, Nokia explained that transporting it outside Pakistan is less costly than actually maintaining the plant here.
Following are other highlights of Nokia’s Briefing:
- Nokia is saving some 500 million Euros, globally, out of this recycling program
- Nokia was the first company in Pakistan to introduce simple packaging.
- 80 percent of Nokia’s new devices are recycle-able. New packaging is also made up to 65% of recyclable material. It’s free of PVC since 2006.
- According to Nokia’s country manager in Pakistan, average life of cell phone is one and a half year or two at most.
- According to a survey conducted by Nokia, only 3% people know about recycling. 74% have no idea about it. 50% of the people are unaware that it is possible to recycle mobile phone
- Interesting fact: According to Nokia’s surveys almost 8% of cell phones are stolen each year.
- Nokia has been trying to reduce the cost of cell phones so basically they are putting their saved money in reducing the cell phone cost.
“We know that Itikaf is an important experience for Muslims during Ramadan. Nokia Ramadan Applications 2010 includes the feature rich Mozzaker application which offers a large collection of Azkar and supplications with translation. All those Muslims who are planning to sit in Itikaf in this holy month can enrich their religious experience by using the Mozzaker application. Mozzaker application for 2010 is free and ready to be downloaded for the widest range of Nokia devices.” said Imran Khalid Mahmood, Country General Manager, Nokia Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Nokia is apparently unable to combat the challenge given by touch-screen smart-phones manufacturers and they were humble enough to admit it on the record.