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Green mobile handsets popular if price is right

Just under half of American mobile phone owners would choose an eco-friendly handset over a conventional one, though a considerably smaller proportion would be willing to pay a premium for such a device.

New data from ABI Research show that 40 per cent of 1,000 adults questioned would opt for a green handset if the price, features and performance were equal to conventional mobile phones.

Industry analyst Michael Morgan says the results highlight the number of people "committed in principle" to using planet-conscious devices.

"However the public is largely uninformed about their availability – only four per cent said they were 'very familiar' with green handsets," he adds.

On the subject of price, Morgan notes that some recyclable components may be slightly more expensive than others for manufacturers, but sellers have often offered handsets with "comparable functionality" while keeping costs down.

He points out that the key factors marking the difference between being "merely compliant" and truly green are the use of recyclable or renewable materials, ensuring handsets are recycled after use and introducing low-power chargers.

According to ABI Research, the percentage of recycled handsets will grow from eight per cent in 2009 to 17 per cent in 2014.