HMD Global launches Nokia XR21 featuring 100% recycled aluminium in the European market

HMD Global, the Finnish company that secured Nokia branding rights in late 2016, has launched its first smartphone manufactured in Europe. Composed of 100 per cent recycled aluminium, the new Nokia XR21 is advertised for its durability and sustainability. It has "military-grade durability" and an IP69K rating, indicating its suitability for industrial use cases where dust, heat, moisture, and impact are problematic. 

The decision comes six months after HMD Global announced plans to shift some of its manufacturing to Europe to address increased enterprise demand for locally produced gear. The effort aims to address security and sustainability concerns, with the company's European manufacturing location first kept under wraps for security reasons.

The organisation has officially designated Hungary as one of its European manufacturing sites. The initial product manufactured is the exclusive 5G Nokia XR21, available in limited quantities. A total of 50 units have been manufactured as an initial production batch, of which 30 units are being made available for purchase through the Nokia phone store. The smartphone, previously introduced to the consumer market earlier this year, is currently offered in the 'Frosted Platinum' colour variant in various European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Finland.

While the assembly will take place in Europe, the materials for the smartphone will still come from other regions of the world, most notably China. HMD Global's move to bring manufacturing closer to home is primarily motivated by enterprise security concerns. For similar reasons, the company relocated its data centres to Europe in 2019 and conducted rigorous software and malware testing there.