Saint-Gobain colleagues recycle old laptops and phones to support community and reduce waste

Old smartphones have been given a new lease of life, preventing electrical waste going to landfill and helping people to connect with their loved ones.

Saint-Gobain colleagues have been donating their old, unused company and personal smartphones to Community Calling, a campaign run by environmental charity Hubbub, supported by mobile phone operator O2.

Community Calling aims to support seven million people in the UK who do not have internet access while aiming to tackle the environmental impact of electronic waste.

Colleagues have also been upcycling old laptops and ensuring any components that cannot be re-used or upcycled are disposed of responsibly, following the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive.

This commitment to the environment and community is part of Saint-Gobain’s ambition to Make the World a Better Home, to be net zero carbon by 2050 and meet interim 2030 targets validated by the Science Based Initiative. Roadmaps are being developed by each of the UK and Ireland businesses to achieve this goal.

Mike Chaldecott, Chief Executive, Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland, said: “We’re on a mission to make the world a better home and supporting the Community Calling campaign is just one of the many ways we are working to achieve this.

“This scheme has huge environmental benefits - avoiding electrical waste going to landfill or incinerations. It also offers a simple way to give unused smartphones to people who need them most during the pandemic, allowing them to access services online and stay in touch with loved ones.

“Small acts like this are part of our profound ambition to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place to live.”

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash