By Timothy Makokha

A vast majority of Kenyans are concerned about the environmental factors leading to global warming and would be willing to pay more for an environmentally-friendly mobile phone, a study conducted by Nokia reveals.

The study, by the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer, reveals that although people in Kenya share a deep concern for environmental problems, some of which are caused by lack of proper disposal of mobile phones and accessories, only a few recycle their old phones.

"Kenyans are eager to buy mobile phones, which have green features and are, to some extent, prepared to pay for these features," said Elisabeth Tanguy, Nokia’s Senior Sustainability Manager, Middle East and Africa.

"However, only a few recycle their old phones, indicating that there is no recycling culture in place yet, and that awareness and educational campaigns have a key role to play in changing behaviours."

Eighty four per cent of those interviewed in the study expressed concern about the climatic changes brought about by carbon emissions. Of those interviewed, a third expressed a "high concern" about environmental issues such as global warming or carbon emissions. About half of them, or 55 per cent, had a "medium concern."

The study found that over half of Kenyans would be willing to pay more for an environmentally-friendly mobile phone. They are also interested in getting information that would help them embrace a more sustainable lifestyle — and this involves green mobile applications on their mobiles.

According to the study, Nokia is seen as the greenest brand among global brands.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything that Nokia does. The firm is a market leader with over 1.3 billion Nokia phone users around the world.

New strategy

In addition, Nokia recently announced a new strategy including a commitment to connect the Next Billion people to the Internet. About 80 per cent of the world’s population is living within a mobile-network range, yet only 20 per cent have access to wealth of information on the Internet.

"As market leader, we have a responsibility to set the standards for sustainability in everything we do to ensure that we encourage sustainable development, support sustainable services and enable people to make sustainable choices," Ms Tanguy said.

"Our new strategy, aimed at bringing new mobile phone users to the Internet, offers a remarkable platform to increase awareness about living sustainably."

The sustainability efforts by Nokia include reducing the amount of electronic waste (e-waste) in Kenya.

Regional recycling practice pales in comparison to the global average — while a third of people claim to have recycled a mobile phone at one point worldwide, only six per cent have done so in Middle East and Africa.

Tanguy said awareness is a key barrier to recycling efforts — 70 per cent of respondents explained that it did not occur to them to recycle their old phone or they could recycle one.

As a result, only two per cent of people in Kenyan have recycled their last mobile phone.

"This presents businesses and communities with a real chance to redouble our local efforts aimed at all levels with the goal of reducing carbon emissions, and of creating a recycling society in Kenya," she said.

"The study we are launching today will help inform the stakeholders we can work with to chart the way forward in helping save our environment."

Nokia offers the industry’s largest voluntary recycling scheme for used mobile devices and accessories in over 100 countries around the world, with over 6,000 physical take back points.

In Africa, Nokia has established the take-back programme in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa.

Kenya was the first African country where we established "take back", in December 2008. Nokia Care Centres in these countries serve as "take-back" points.