Samsung has always challenged existing notions of what’s possible with technology, including rethinking how the devices we use can be more sustainable.
Ahead of World Earth Day on April 22, discover how Samsung advances everyday sustainability by empowering consumers to lead a greener digital lifestyle. The company’s commitment to putting sustainability at the heart of everything it does has sparked innovative approaches in product design, manufacturing and packaging, and new sustainable experiences that consumers can expect when choosing Samsung products to suit today’s lifestyles.
1) Rethink Packaging
Packaging for electronic products serve the dual purpose of both protecting the device as well as delivering brand experience. However, packaging is often discarded or stored away when the device is unboxed.
One way to minimise contributing single-use packaging materials to the landfill is simply to reduce the need for them where possible.
An initiative under Galaxy for the Planet, the sustainability platform for Samsung’s Mobile eXperience (MX) Business powered by its scale, innovation and spirit of open collaboration to take tangible climate actions across its business, the new Galaxy A series comes without the charger plug and with reduced packaging that uses sustainably sourced paper.
Samsung has also reduced the total weight of the packaging for the latest flagship Galaxy S22 series by 19% since the Galaxy S21 series, and 56% since the Galaxy S20 series . In addition, Samsung switched to materials made from 100% recycled paper that’s certified by FSC, as well as protective films that use recycled plastic.
Another way to minimise discarded packaging materials is by giving them a new lease of life. Product packaging such as cardboard boxes may be used as storage, or even transformed into fun and functional home furniture.
First introduced in 2020, Samsung’s award-winning Eco-packaging program lets consumers upcycle the thick, corrugated cardboard boxes that used to hold their TVs into furniture such as small tables and shelves. Building instructions can be accessed by scanning QR codes on the outside of the boxes.
At CES 2022, Samsung announced that it plans to use 30 times more recycled plastics than it did in 2021, including expanding the use of recycled materials to include the boxes’ interior packaging of Styrofoam, box holders and plastic bags. Samsung is also expanding the Eco-packaging programme to encompass a larger lineup of products, including home appliances such as vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, air purifiers and more.
2) Rethink Recycled Materials
In addition to the sustainable packaging, Samsung also looked inwards for ways to incorporate recycled materials in its devices. The Galaxy A series smartphones use recycled post-consumer materials (PCM) for the side buttons and SIM card trays, while recycled discarded fishing nets made up 20% of the inner cover of the S Pen and the key bracket of the Galaxy S22 series.
Furthermore, every new Galaxy S22 smartphone case is now designed with UL-certified, eco-conscious materials such as recycled post-consumer plastics or bio-based substances.
Having devised the formula for polyamide resins that match Samsung’s high-quality standards for smartphone technology, Samsung is committed to evolving and expanding its use of ocean-bound plastics across all its products. By the end of 2022, Samsung’s use of recycled ocean-bound material could prevent more than 50 tons of discarded fishing nets from entering the world’s oceans.
Samsung also announced at CES that it will also increase the amount of recycled plastic used in its home appliances to include both interior components and exterior elements. One such innovation resulting from Samsung’s sustainability efforts is a new type of polypropylene recycled plastic for Samsung’s washing machine tubs. From discarded items such as used lunch boxes and facial mask straps, Samsung created a new type of recycled resin that is more resistant to external shocks, which extends the lifespan of the material used in these parts.
3) Rethink Energy Usage
Sustainability also extends to the ways that users experience Samsung products, which can empower people to reduce their carbon footprint.
Over in the laundry room, Samsung’s flagship AI Ecobubble™ washing machine uses advanced QuickDrive™ technology to let you wash clothes more effectively with less energy, time and effort . AI Wash uses the four built-in sensors to determine the optimal amount of water and detergent for your load, letting you save on utility bills and help the environment at the same time.
The first-of-its-kind SolarCell Remote, which is included in new Samsung TVs and home appliances, aims to eliminate more than 200 million batteries from landfills with a built-in solar panel that can be recharged through indoor or outdoor lighting. Notable enhancements made since its inception include getting electricity from radio frequencies emitted by nearby devices like Wi-Fi routers .
Samsung has its sights on even greater heights: By 2025, Samsung plans to make all its TVs and phone chargers operate on near zero standby power. This means the products will consume almost no energy when not being used.
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