DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Facts

• Samsung Evergreen™ earns platinum certification from UL Environment, a leading global science company, for meeting UL Environment's high Sustainable Product Certification standard.  
• First Samsung device from AT&T* to receive sustainable industry certification.
• In 2010, as part of AT&T's handset sustainability efforts, it collected more than 3.7 million cell phones for reuse and recycling and over 1.8 million pounds of cell phone batteries and accessories.

Customer Benefits

Environmentally conscious AT&T customers will be pleased to learn that the Samsung Evergreen received platinum certification from UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories).  Evergreen is the first Samsung product from AT&T to achieve the highest level of environmental performance recognized by new sustainable requirements established by UL Environment.

Over past year, AT&T has been an active participant with UL Environment and other sustainability stakeholders in working towards the development of requirements to identify leadership mobile phones from an environmental and human health perspective. The UL Environment requirements set minimum requirements for "environmentally preferable" mobile devices by measuring environmentally sensitive materials, energy management, manufacturing and operations, impact to health and environment, product performance, packaging and product stewardship.

Samsung Evergreen

Launched in Fall 2010, the Samsung Evergreen is a quick messaging device constructed with 70 percent recycled post-consumer plastics and packaging that utilizes 80 percent recycled post-consumer paper. The device boasts eco-oriented wallpaper/ringtones not to mention a sleek, 2.4" display, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 2.0 megapixel camera, video camcorder, AT&T Navigator and stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology v2.1. Evergreen also features dual-band 3G connectivity and quad-band GSM technology, which allows AT&T customers to make calls in more than 220 countries and download data in more than 195 countries.

In addition to the UL Environment platinum certification, the Evergreen already meets strict RoHS standards (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive)(1), including being free of PVC(2), BFR(3) and Beryllium and powered by an Energy Star Version  2.0 qualified energy efficient charger (level V) with standby power loss less than 0.03W and an energy efficiency of less than 75 percent.

Since launch, Samsung has donated $1 for every Samsung Evergreen device sold, with a maximum donation of $100,000, to the non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers®.

AT&T's Environmental Sustainability Initiatives and Offerings

In 2010, AT&T collected more than 3.7 million cell phones for reuse and recycling and over 1.8 million pounds of cell phone batteries and accessories. Last year, AT&T launched the ZERO Charger which automatically senses when a mobile device is not plugged in to the charger and cuts the power supply from the wall socket. The company also challenged customers to make the switch to paperless billing through its One Million Mobile Eco Challenge. Recently, AT&T was included on the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for the second year in a row.

AT&T currently offers customers simple, convenient ways to donate old cell phones and accessories: drop-off bins in more than 2,000 company-owned retail stores; free, prepaid mailing envelopes available in the stores; and postage-paid mailing labels available via our web site at AT&T Reuse & Recycle.

For more information regarding AT&T's overall sustainability initiatives, please visit www.att.com/csr.

Quotes

"We're honored to receive global recognition for the environmental performance of the Samsung Evergreen," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "This platinum certification from UL Environment is truly a testament to AT&T's ongoing efforts to provide effective, sustainable solutions for our customers."

"We know the vast majority of consumers are looking for greener products in several categories(4) and we are excited that AT&T will now be offering the Platinum-certified Samsung Evergreen cell phone at their stores to help meeting this growing demand," said Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment. "We further congratulate AT&T and Samsung on demonstrating their commitment to sustainability with this superb device."

(1) Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, 2002/95/EC as amended.

(2) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

(3) Brominated flame retardants (BFR).

(4) According to 2011 EcoPulse Report, Shelton Group.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. T is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.