Sustainable Packaging Efforts

Sprint is committed to being a leader in driving sustainable packaging practices within the U.S. wireless industry. When Sprint announced its vision for environmentally responsible devices, sustainable packaging was included as a key component. Specific guidance was provided to all device manufacturers in December 2009 as part of the environmental specifications document.

The packaging requirements provide preferred approaches for packaging with expectations gradually advancing over time. Sprint asks that all manufacturers adhere to our three standard box sizes, and starting in 2011, ensure device packaging is 100% recyclable. Sprint expects to expand the requirements over time and will give vendors a one-year notification for new requirements.

Sprint has a greater degree of control over accessory packaging than for device packaging and took advantage of the opportunity to improve sustainability and reduce costs. In October 2009, Sprint announced a complete overhaul of our accessory packaging to be more environmentally responsible, eliminating PVC, using FSC-certified paper stock, vegetable-based inks and ensured all packaging is fully recyclable. This effort is expected to save 647 tons of waste and $2.1M in accessory packaging costs annually.

Highlights of the new accessory packaging include:

• Overall packaging dimensions reduced by 20 to 40 percent.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) clamshell eliminated and replaced with Polyethylene terephthalate (PET 1), a more recyclable and environmentally friendly material that also includes 30% recycled content.
• Soy and vegetable-based inks replace petroleum-based ink, exceeding the American Soybean Association Soy Seal Standards and reducing the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Paperboard is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified – ensuring that the paper travels from an FSC-certified forest to a paper manufacturer, merchant and printer, all of whom have FSC “chain-of-custody” certification. The process promotes conservation and responsible management of forests. The paperboard includes 40% pre-consumer material and 10% post-consumer material.

Virgin Mobile USA Packaging – In early 2011, Sprint Nextel’s Virgin Mobile USA brand upgraded its packaging making it more environmentally responsible, more attractive and more accessible to its customers. The previous design incorporated two plastic clamshells that provided excellent protection for the devices and accessories, but were difficult for consumers to open and according to focus groups, didn't seem appropriate for a premium product. The new design eliminates the outer plastic clamshell and replaces it with a paperboard material. The paperboard is free of elemental chlorine bleach. A pull-tab mechanism was added to the box to make is easy to open and also served as a tamper-proof seal. The inner clam shell was changed from PVC to 100% recycled waste plastic, called RPET. The RPET consists of a mix of industrial and post-consumer waste and is fully recyclable. The new packaging uses 50% less plastic than the previous design. In-box printed materials were also streamlined to reduce the paper waste.