Samsung has announced that it’s going to replace plastic packaging for its products with paper and other environmentally sustainable elements. The plan to first limit and ultimately replace plastic packaging is part of the company’s sustainability policy. It will also result in a change of finish for Samsung phone chargers.

The plastic packaging that’s currently used for Samsung’s products and accessories will be replaced with sustainable elements such as recycled/bio-based plastics and paper from the first half of 2019.

Samsung phone chargers to get a matte finish instead

Samsung has formed a task force to revamp product packaging. The design and development, purchasing, marketing and quality control departments will put their heads together to come up with innovative packaging ideas. For smartphones, wearables and tablets, Samsung is going to ditch the plastic holder trays for pulp molds. The bags wrapping accessories will be replaced with other eco-friendly materials.

Samsung is changing the phone charger design as well. The glossy exterior is out and a matte finish is in. The plastic protection films on chargers are going to be dropped as well. The announcement doesn’t mention when we will start seeing chargers in the box with this matte finish

This sustainability drive covers other products like TVs, refrigerators, air conditions, washing machines and kitchen appliances as well. The plastic bags used to protect the surface of these products will be replaced with bags made from recycled materials and bioplastics. These materials are made from plastic wastes and non-fossil fuel materials such as starch or sugar cane, respectively. As regards to paper, Samsung is only going to use fiber materials that are certified by global environmental organizations.

This is going to be a gradual transition. As per the company’s mid-term implementation plan, only paper packaging materials certified by global organizations will be used by next year. The company is aiming to use 500,000 tons of recycled plastics by 2030.