Summary

Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program is setting a new standard for reducing e-waste by giving old smartphones a “second life” as innovative IoT sensors and life-saving medical devices. Since 2017, this initiative has evolved from a DIY open-source project to a robust strategy that not only cuts emissions but also expands Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem and advances global health screenings. Brands seeking profitable sustainability models can learn valuable lessons from Samsung’s blend of corporate responsibility, technology, and circular innovation.
A sleek smartphone lying on a dark table at night, showing a lock screen notification from SmartThings with the title “Upcycling@Home – Baby crying.”

What is the Samsung Galaxy Upcycling Program?

Samsung launched its Galaxy Upcycling Program in 2017 with the goal of reducing electronic waste by repurposing old Galaxy smartphones. Originally an open-source initiative encouraging DIY conversions of devices into PCs, cameras, or IoT tools, the program has since evolved into more structured efforts that align with sustainability and circular economy principles.

Samsung’s Upcycling at Home

Since 2021, Samsung has enabled the Upcycling at Home feature via a software update delivered through the SmartThings app. This update allows users to transform their eligible older Galaxy phones into useful IoT sensors, contributing to sustainable living and smart home innovation.

How Does the Upcycling at Home Feature Work?

Key features include:

  • Compatible Devices: Galaxy S, Note, and Z series from 2018 onward, running Android 9 or later.
  • Sensor Functions: Convert phones into sound detectors, light detectors, and other smart sensors.
  • SmartThings Integration: Seamless connection with over 5,000 compatible smart home devices.
  • Automation Opportunities: Create custom scenarios, such as triggering lights or alarms based on sensor input.
  • Energy Efficiency: Help optimize power usage by automating device behavior based on environmental changes.

Together, these capabilities encourage users to reduce e-waste while enhancing convenience and sustainability through smart home technology.

What is the Community and Medical Upcycling Initiative?

The Galaxy Upcycling Program extends its impact beyond homes through partnerships that convert outdated devices into life-saving medical tools and community resources.

Key elements include:

  • Device Transformation: Converting Galaxy smartphones into Pulse Oximeters and other essential medical monitoring devices.
  • Target Communities: Focus on underserved and remote areas lacking adequate healthcare infrastructure.
  • Collaborations: Partnerships with NGOs, healthcare providers, and local community organizations to facilitate distribution and training.
  • Benefits:
    • Offers critical health monitoring at low cost.
    • Extends the useful life of devices.
    • Enhances accessibility to healthcare.
    • Drives positive social and environmental impacts.
Close-up of the back of a modern black smartphone with multiple camera lenses, placed on an orange perforated surface.

What Environmental and Social Impacts Does the Program Have?

Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program delivers meaningful environmental and social benefits by transforming how old devices are reused. Key impacts include:

  • E-Waste Reduction: Diverts functional smartphones from landfills and recycling, preventing toxic waste and resource loss.
  • Carbon Emission Savings: Extends device lifetimes which reduces the demand for manufacturing new devices, thereby lowering overall carbon footprint.
  • Improved Healthcare Access: Medical upcycling projects use refurbished devices to provide critical health screenings, benefiting thousands worldwide.
  • Brand and Social Impact: Strengthens Samsung's social responsibility profile and fosters greater brand loyalty through sustainable innovation.

Why Are These Impacts Important?

  • They help tackle the growing global e-waste crisis.
  • Support global efforts to limit climate change through reduced emissions.
  • Address healthcare disparities in underserved communities.
  • Enhance corporate reputation by aligning business goals with societal values.

How is the Program Positioned as a Business Model and Brand Strategy?

While not a direct revenue source, the upcycling program operates as a strong CSR and brand-building initiative. It advances Samsung’s ESG targets and enriches the SmartThings ecosystem, fostering customer engagement through sustainability. Investments come mainly from R&D and CSR budgets, leveraging existing product take-back channels and infrastructure for reuse and refurbishment.

What Partnerships and Logistics Support the Program?

Samsung collaborates with internal teams such as C-Lab and R&D Institute Bangalore, NGOs like the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, medical institutions including Yonsei University and Aravind Eye Hospital, and startups like LabSD for hardware innovation. The company sources phones through its global take-back programs, where devices undergo testing, wiping, refurbishment, and redeployment. Consumer upcycled devices are monitored via SmartThings, while medical device usage is tracked through partner reports.

How Does Samsung’s Upcycling Align with Regulations and Circular Economy Goals?

The program aligns with Extended Producer Responsibility laws, right-to-repair and reuse policies, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12. It anticipates and supports tightening global e-waste regulations, positioning Samsung as a leader in corporate compliance and circular business transformation.

What Can Other Brands Learn from Samsung’s Upcycling Program?

Samsung’s approach demonstrates how large technology companies can operationalize circular economy principles by combining environmental impact with social innovation and brand value. Key lessons include leveraging existing take-back infrastructure, partnering with NGOs and healthcare providers, and connecting reuse initiatives to wider business ecosystems and sustainability goals.

FAQs

What is Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program and how has it evolved since 2017?

Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program launched in 2017 to reduce electronic waste by repurposing old Galaxy smartphones. Initially an open-source initiative encouraging DIY conversions of devices into PCs, cameras, or IoT tools, the program evolved significantly in 2021 with the introduction of Upcycling at Home via SmartThings app updates. This structured approach allows users to transform eligible Galaxy phones from 2018 onward running Android 9 or later into useful IoT sensors including sound detectors, light detectors, and smart home automation tools that seamlessly integrate with over 5,000 compatible smart devices, combining sustainability with practical smart home innovation.

How does Samsung’s Upcycling at Home feature work and what devices are compatible?

Upcycling at Home transforms older Galaxy smartphones into functional IoT sensors through software updates delivered via the SmartThings app. Compatible devices include Galaxy S, Note, and Z series from 2018 onward running Android 9 or later. Users can convert phones into sound detectors that trigger alarms when babies cry or pets bark, light detectors that optimize energy usage by automating device behavior based on environmental brightness changes, and custom automation scenarios connecting with over 5,000 SmartThings-compatible smart home devices. This approach extends device lifespans while enhancing home convenience and energy efficiency without requiring new hardware purchases.

How does Samsung use upcycled Galaxy phones for medical and community healthcare applications?

Beyond smart home uses, Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program transforms outdated devices into life-saving medical tools through strategic partnerships. The program converts Galaxy smartphones into pulse oximeters and other essential medical monitoring devices, targeting underserved and remote areas lacking adequate healthcare infrastructure. Samsung collaborates with NGOs like the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, medical institutions including Yonsei University and Aravind Eye Hospital, and startups like LabSD for hardware innovation to facilitate distribution and training. This approach offers critical health monitoring at low cost, extends device useful life, enhances healthcare accessibility, and drives measurable positive social and environmental impacts.

What environmental and regulatory benefits does Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling Program achieve?

The program delivers significant environmental impact by diverting functional smartphones from landfills and recycling streams, preventing toxic waste and resource loss. By extending device lifetimes, Samsung reduces demand for manufacturing new devices, lowering overall carbon footprint and supporting climate change mitigation efforts. The initiative aligns with Extended Producer Responsibility laws, right-to-repair and reuse policies, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 for responsible consumption and production. By anticipating tightening global e-waste regulations, Samsung positions itself as a leader in corporate compliance and circular business transformation while strengthening its social responsibility profile and fostering greater brand loyalty through sustainable innovation.

What can other electronics brands learn from Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling approach?

Samsung demonstrates how large technology companies can operationalize circular economy principles by combining environmental impact with social innovation and brand value. Key insights include leveraging existing take-back infrastructure through global collection programs for efficient device sourcing, partnering strategically with NGOs, healthcare providers, and startups to extend impact beyond traditional business boundaries, connecting reuse initiatives to wider business ecosystems like SmartThings to create customer engagement beyond first purchase, and positioning sustainability programs as CSR and brand-building initiatives that advance ESG targets while fostering loyalty. Brands exploring similar circular strategies can assess their readiness and discover implementation pathways through tools like our Circularity Check or by partnering with specialized platforms like koorvi that streamline take-back, refurbishment, and resale operations.