The scheme, launched yesterday, rates mobile phone handsets on factors such as the ecological impact of raw materials used, the manufacturing process and the energy efficiency of each device.

Mobile phones are given a rating between zero and five, dependent on their environmental footprint, the packaging used, the longevity of the handset and how easy they are to recycle or re-use.

Major mobile phone manufacturers including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung have signed up to the scheme and O2 has said that 93% of the devices its customers use will be tested.

Controversially, Apple have requested to block its range of iPhones from the scheme.

Over the past few months the mobile phone industry has begun to focus on the green issues surrounding its image.

Consumer and business user interest in eco-friendly phones has significantly risen.

11.5% of people recently surveyed by O2 said that sustainability had a ‘strong influence’ on the handsets that they choose to purchase.

With the release of the universal charger that is required to meet energy efficiency standards, many mobile phone manufacturers are looking for ways in which to publicise their environmentally friendly models.

It is hoped that this scheme will allow consumers and business users alike to make informed decisions at the time of purchase more easily than before.

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