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By: John McCredie, Nokia’s head of marketing

In 2009 Nokia achieved a double first, ranking No.1 among technology companies in both the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics. But Nokia is not resting on its laurels. The efforts that earned the company recognition are part of an industry leading environmental strategy that is constantly evolving.

It begins with energy efficient campuses. Working with WWF International and the One Planet Living project, Nokia has introduced an Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce the impact of its operations. Not only have manufacturing facilities implemented the EMS, but all R&D sites and large offices – including Sydney’s Nokia House.  Nokia also demands the same standards of its contractors and suppliers.

The materials used in Nokia products are chosen to ensure sustainability at every stage in the product lifecycle. Nokia’s first device, compliant with the European RoHS legislation on the reduction of hazardous substances, debuted in 2005 – one year before the law came into force. After eliminating PVC from its products in 2006, Nokia voluntarily phased out all Brominated and Chlorinated compounds, and Antimony Trioxide in 2009.

All of the materials in Nokia devices can now be recovered for other uses, with collection points at more than 5,000 Nokia Care points in 85 countries. In Australia, Nokia is a founding partner of the MobileMuster program that has collected almost five million handsets and batteries – over 700 tonnes worth – since 1998. In the 12 months to June 2009, Nokia Australia contributed 291kgs of handsets, batteries and accessories through its various recycling initiatives.

Energy usage is another focus. Nokia is cutting the energy used by chargers by up to 95 per cent, as well as putting alerts into its devices to remind people to unplug them from the mains. All Nokia chargers in Australia meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards set down in the government’s Design for Environment (DfE) initiative, and by 2012 the majority of Nokia devices will support a universal, energy-efficient charger in an attempt to produce less waste.

Nokia has also reduced the size of its packaging, which means less cardboard and plastic being produced, transported and disposed of.

With one billion customers, Nokia recognises it is in a unique position to make a difference through awareness campaigns such as the It’s Easy to be Green contest for kids, Eco Profiles on its packaging, regular recycling initiatives and  eco services and apps such as we:offset , Eco-Guru, Climate Change and Green Explorer that encourage eco-conscious living.