Just last week, Sony Ericsson announced that they would be doing their part to save the planet by launching two new projects. The first, which they’re calling an “environmental warranty”, allows cell phone owners to drop off any old handsets or accessories at any of 500 collection points already in operation, from which they will be recycled in an eco-friendly manner.

Also announced is a new handset model they’ve dubbed “The GreenHeart”, built with the intent of being as green as possible from birth to dissolution.

They’ve forsaken traditional paper manuals, instead opting for tree-friendly digital copies. The keypads of the handset are made of recycled plastic, while the casing is made of bio-plastic.

It’s not going to dethrone any gadget geek’s handset of choice, and it’s not going to make a huge dent in the grand scheme of things – but it’s a step in the right direction. With millions of plastic-packed handsets being trashed each year, seeing a manufacturer or two trying to own up to some of the responsibility is a welcome sight.

[Pics via MobileCowboy via UnwiredView]