Moto's new status symbol: Mobile phone made from recyled plastics

Mobile phone big-wig Motorola plans to start shipping during this quarter a mobile phone, the MOTO W233 Renew, with a housing that is made out of recycled water bottles. The company also has arranged to offset the carbon used to manufacture, distribute and operate each phone through a deal with Carbonfund.org. The phone has been blessed with Carbonfund's CarbonFree Product Certification.

The first carrier to get the Renew will be T-Mobile USA.

While we're at it: If you have an old Motorola mobile phone that you'd like to ditch, you can go to its web site at this link and print a postage-paid label to ship it back to the company. In turn, Motorola donates a part of the proceeds from its phone recycling program to schools participating in its Race to Recycle program.