Sony Ericsson eco phones announced

Sony Ericsson plans to launch two new environmentally friendly handsets as part of its GreenHeart initiative.

The carbon footprints of the GreenHeart C901 and Naite handsets will be 15 per cent lower than most phones, the company claimed.

Sony Ericsson aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2015 as part of the GreenHeart plans.

The C901 will include a 5-megapixel camera with an MP3 player and a YouTube interface, whereas the Naite will be a simpler handset with a 2-megapixel camera.

Green features of the handsets include a built-in electronic manual to save on paper, with 50 per cent recycled plastics being used for the outer shells.

Sony Ericsson has also cut down on packaging for the handsets and the Naite will also include an innovative low-power charger.

Both mobiles will include eco-friendly features such as a carbon footprint calculator and will be available to purchase later this year.

This week it was revealed that overcharging mobile phones produces 85,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.