LG Promises Greener Mobile Phones by 2012

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics has just announced plans to make its devices more eco-friendly for the next years, through using newer, better materials for them.

According to the company, the conventional magnesium currently present inside its mobile devices would be replaced with Eco-Magnesium, a new type of clean magnesium alloy, by 2012.

Through this replacement, the greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by a factor of approximately 24,000 for the die casting process. However, the quality of the final product won't be affected, the company continued.

The Eco-Magnesium was developed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), which received funding from the government of Korea, the mobile phone maker explains.

“During production, Eco-Magnesium creates practically no sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) cites as one of the most potent greenhouse gas ever encountered,” the handset vendor announced.

Basically, the replacement of conventional magnesium with Eco-Magnesium in mobile phones should result in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by four kilograms per every device that LG brings to the market.

“Eco-Magnesium is one of LG’s key strategies in our ongoing effort to transform LG into a leader in more environmentally responsible manufacturing,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and Chief Technology Officer of LG Electronics.

“This transition to Eco-Magnesium will allow LG and our customers to play a small but significant role in making the world cleaner for future generations.”

The company also announced that, on November 29, it inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with three makers of Eco-Magnesium -- HK High-Tech Co., Keumgang Coen and Hallacast Co.

“As part of the agreement, LG will provide the three companies with training in the practice of carbon credit trading and technological support,” the handset vendor continues. Through this MOU, LG should receive help in its attempt reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.