Green/Environmental Initiatives  

CTIA Position:
CTIA–The Wireless Association® supports the wireless industry’s commitment to developing environmentally-friendly products and services, to implementing energy-conscious measures in its network operations and business practices, and to educating consumers about end-of-life and recycling device and accessory programs. By changing our own practices and providing innovative solutions and applications for other industries, we are making major contributions to creating a low-carbon economy.

Many CTIA carrier and supplier members are bolstering their environmentally responsible business practices by reducing their waste and emissions, e-billing, alternative energy powered cell sites, and energy-saving IT.

At our annual INTERNATIONAL CTIA WIRELESS® Show in Las Vegas, CTIA has worked with GreenerVegas.org to reduce our show’s environmental impact and have saved substantial amounts of paper, plastic, water, and energy.

In addition to the numerous efforts the industry is taking with its own products, services, and operations, perhaps the single greatest contribution the wireless industry makes to being “green” can be summed up in one word – efficiencies. Companies around the world have deployed wireless technology to revolutionize their operations and reduce their environmental impact.

CTIA also supports the sustainable development and the environmentally sound management of end-of-life wireless products. In addition to the independent recycling efforts by CTIA member carriers and suppliers, the industry voluntarily developed a nationwide recycling campaign called “Wireless…The New Recyclable” in 2003.

The wireless industry recognizes its responsibility to our environment for the health of the planet and future generations. We look forward to continuing to work with all interested parties on green initiatives to protect and positively affect the environment.

Key Points:

• Wireless companies are enhancing & implementing eco-friendly business practices. Energy is a major expense for wireless carriers, accounting for about 86% of their operating costs. Wireless carriers are exploring the use of alterative energy sources such as wind, bio-fuel, and solar power at cell sites. Carriers and suppliers are using more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible equipment and components in their overall operations to find energy savings of up to 70% and substantial reductions in their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Wireless networks are also playing an increasingly significant role in enabling smart logistics, smart buildings, and smart grids. Wireless manufacturers have developed eco-friendly devices and accessories such as carbon neutral phones and solar-powered handsets and chargers. They are also continually improving the design of wireless devices and packaging to be more lightweight and environmentally-friendly. The use of substances such as lead and cadmium are being phased out of devices while increasing the use of recycled materials. In fact, the new generations of wireless devices currently weigh approximately 79g; this is 42% less than earlier models.
• Wireless is key to other industries being environmentally efficient. Businesses around the nation – & world – are saving millions of dollars & reducing their environmental footprint by implementing wireless technology. By wirelessly submitting work orders, customer forms, and credit card payments, millions are saved each year on paper and fuel costs. Through real-time management of fleets (from garbage trucks to school buses to farm equipment), dispatchers are able to wirelessly monitor and route the fleets, thereby saving millions of gallons of fuel and cutting thousands of tons of CO2 emissions every year. CTIA believes that wireless is a critical component of smart grid technology adoption and deployment. Congress and the FCC have identified smart grids as a promising way to advance energy independence and efficiency as part of the National Broadband Plan. Smart metering is one application that has vast consumer benefits and is being deployed in the U.S. In a joint Accenture and Vodafone report on smart grids using wireless technology, they found a reduction in carbon emissions in European Union member countries by as much as 113 metric tons per year in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). In addition, wireless technology cut energy costs by £43 billion (approximately $70 billion), with more than 80% of these savings attributable to machine-to-machine communications.
• More spectrum is needed, but overreaching network management policy might jeopardize smart grid & other eco-friendly innovations, developments, & deployments. CTIA is concerned about net neutrality rules being applied to wireless. It is an open question regarding how a non-discrimination regulation would impact devices such as smart meters or supervisory control and data acquisition (“SCADA”) system equipment. Further, if a provider or vendor devises an innovative smart grid communications technology or transmission algorithm to limit the impact of network congestion, would such a technology be permissible under new rules? If so, must the details be fully disclosed? It also is entirely plausible that certain communications in a smart grid solution would require prioritization. Finally, with the increasing demand for more spectrum, it would be inefficient to dedicate spectrum for smart grid-specific networks when commercial networks can and are already satisfying smart grid systems.
• Consumers have many options to participate in wireless device & accessory recycling programs. CTIA and some member companies developed the Wireless...The New Recyclable™ program to educate consumers on a variety of take-back programs. The member companies involved agree to abide by the specific guidelines regarding the collection, transportation, and recycling/material recovery of wireless devices that the industry, with input from all relevant stakeholders, developed several years ago. These wireless recycling programs are currently self-funded which eliminates costs to the consumers and makes companies more interested in collecting and recycling the devices. In spring 2009, CTIA conducted a survey and found a little more than two-thirds of Americans were aware that their mobile devices and accessories were recyclable and the same percentage was aware that the industry supports recycling programs. Consumers can learn more about how and where they can recycle their wireless products through the program’s website.
• The wireless industry supports a “One-Charger-Fits-All” Universal Charger Solution (UCS) & streamlined input/output features for mobile devices to reduce energy consumption & consumer costs. Devices to Reduce Energy Consumption and Consumer Costs. In 2009, the wireless industry committed to supporting a “one-charger-fits-all” solution for new wireless devices as of January 1, 2012. Developed by the Open Mobile Terminal Platform industry standards group and adopted by GSMA, the UCS will provide an estimated 50% reduction in standby energy consumption. The UCS will use the Micro-USB format as the common universal charging interface and use energy efficient chargers in compliance with the U.S. “Energy Star” requirements for external power adapters. In addition, the wireless industry supports simplifying the input/output features for new wireless devices introduced to the market after January 2012 as a way to streamline and reduce the number of audio and data connectors for mobile devices.

Last Updated: April 2010