Corporate Culture...

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Green Tech May 12, 2008

The Greenest Cellphone Company in America: CREDO

Smart Choices: Solar Chargers, Carbon Offsets, Recycling Programs

How happy are you with your current wireless provider?

No matter how you answer that question, you might want to check out CREDO Mobile, the self-described "greenest phone company in America." While CREDO (formerly Working Assets Wireless) doesn't have coverage across 100% of the U.S., it does provide one of if not the most environmentally friendly alternatives out there, and the company runs itself in a greener manner than anyone else.

For one thing, CREDO donates 1% of your charges to "progressive" nonprofit groups, including such green causes as the Center for Biological Diversity, the Organic Farming Research Foundation and Greenpeace. CREDO and its parent company have donated $60 million since 1985, including more than $3.5 million just last year.

As a company, CREDO has also made some smart, green decisions. Their bills are printed on 100% post-consumer paper, and they have planted 2.5 million trees to offset their paper use. They buy carbon offsets from Carbonfund.org to offset both its company energy use and the cost of shipping its phones to customers. They have also committed to recycling old cell phones, and have collected 22,000 of them since 2002.

As for its customers, CREDO offers you a way to go greener. Right now, when you buy an LG 150 flip phone from them, they'll throw in a free Solio™ solar charger, which you can use to power your phone or just about any other portable device.

Think about all of that the next time you charge your cell phone -- or look at your bill!