Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that, in collaboration with the Carbon Trust and other major tech companies, it has launched a new methodology aimed at measuring the emissions and emissions reductions linked to the use-phase of connected devices, such as laptops and speakers.

The launch of this methodology is part of Samsung’s participation in the Decarbonizing the Use-Phase of Connected Devices (DUCD) initiative, through which the company has teamed up with the Carbon Trust, Amazon, Microsoft and Sky to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from use-phase electricity consumption of internet-connected electrical and electronic products.

These organizations are focusing on the use-phase in particular because it is typically the largest source of product’s carbon emissions throughout its entire lifetime. Globally, connected devices currently require approximately 500 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy annually — similar to France’s total energy use. Therefore, understanding and accounting for products’ carbon impact and finding ways to drive down emissions while devices are being used is a priority for the tech industry.

This new methodology sets out how companies can assess and report emissions using data drawn from devices that are being used by their customers, allowing for reporting that has until now relied upon lifetime forecasts used in current emissions accounting. The methodology also aims to allow tech firms to be able to account for emissions reductions that have been achieved in the process of using the methodology.

The annual reporting of use-phase emissions and reporting of emissions reductions is intended to provide increased transparency in communication to consumers, incentivizing companies to make reductions while products are still being used. The standardization of the data is also intended to empower companies to identify innovative solutions to reduce the carbon impact of their devices.

Samsung’s contributions to launching the new DUCD methodology are a continuation of the company’s commitment to finding new ways to save energy. This type of innovation is exemplified by SmartThings Energy, which empowers users to track their energy usage and make better energy decisions, as well as AI Energy Mode, which considers usage patterns to help users better manage energy usage.

“The use-phase emissions make up the lion’s share of our products’ carbon emissions across their lifecycle, and measuring is key to managing and reducing emissions,” said Inhee Chung, Vice President of the Corporate Sustainability Center at Samsung Electronics. “At Samsung, engaging and empowering consumers through our energy saving solutions is a key element of our climate strategy, and we look forward to applying the DUCD methodology to demonstrate how our SmartThings platform and its AI Energy Mode enable consumers to monitor and reduce the energy use of their connected devices.”

“Connected devices are becoming increasingly relevant in everyday life and so it was important to bring key players in the technology industry together to start to address use-phase emissions now. This collaboration has produced a significantly improved approach for the calculation and reporting of carbon emissions and reductions achieved from connected devices and lays the foundation for further efforts to address emissions in this challenging area.” said Felix Prettejohn, Senior Consultant at the Carbon Trust.

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About the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust is a global climate consultancy driven by the mission to accelerate the move to a decarbonised future. We have been climate pioneers for over 20 years, partnering with businesses, governments and financial institutions to drive positive climate action. From strategic planning and target setting to activation and communication – we turn ambition into impact. To date, our 400 experts have helped set 200+ science-based targets and guided 3,000+ organisations and cities across five continents on their route to Net Zero.

Building on the strong foundation of a multi-year partnership, Samsung Electronics and Procter & Gamble launched the “Tide POD Cold” wash cycle on Samsung washers, making cold-water energy saving a convenient and effective reality for consumers across North America.

This type of joint innovation was made possible through close collaboration between two leaders in their respective industries. For example, Samsung continues to develop washer innovations with notable examples including AI Energy Mode, which allows consumers to save energy.

To delve deeper into this collaboration, we sat down with Sung Dae Lee, Head Engineer from the Digital Appliance (DA) Business at Samsung Electronics, and Jon Powell, Senior Director of Fabric Care Research & Development at P&G to get their thoughts on this cross-border, cross-time zone initiative. Below are some of the highlights from the interview:

Q: How did this collaboration come about?

Sung Dae Lee: The collaboration between Samsung and P&G has its origins in a simple idea. How can we deliver a superior cleaning experience when using cold water? The product developers at Samsung, together with P&G scientists, discovered that by combining key elements of Samsung’s hardware and software technology together with Tide’s unique formulation, laundry could be washed in cold water while still delivering excellent cleaning performance.

Q: Can you tell us about the synergy of this collaborative process?

Jon Powell: The collaboration involved technical synergy between P&G and Samsung, with both companies working together to design the Tide POD Cold cycle. This involved understanding the parameters of the Samsung machines and how the detergent chemistries interacted with those parameters to deliver optimal performance.

Sung Dae Lee: The Samsung washing machine with AI Energy Mode reduces electricity consumption for heating water, while the Tide POD Cold cycle ensures effective cleaning in cold water. Both companies prioritize energy conservation, which enhances our synergy.

Q: Can you tell us more about the formulation of Tide detergent? What makes Tide so effective, even in cold water?

Jon Powell: Tide detergent formulation incorporates special ingredients such as polymer systems to make it effective, even in cold water. Tide uses specially designed surfactants to help lift and remove soils, and these are especially effective at greasy food stain and body soil removal. Proprietary enzymes, which remain stable and effective at low temperatures, help remove specific types of stains like chocolate, toothpaste and grass stains. Polymer systems ensure that everything removed from the clothes gets suspended in the wash water and does not redeposit on the clothes.

To validate the performance of the new Tide POD Cold cycle, P&G performed certification testing. Stain removal tests were conducted using Samsung machines to compare the relative amount of stain removal between the normal cold cycle, the Tide POD Cold cycle, and the normal warm cycle.

Q: Were there any characteristics specific to the U.S. market or its users that were emphasized during development?

Sung Dae Lee: Generally speaking, U.S. consumers prefer shorter washing machine cycles, so we focused on achieving effective cleaning in cold water without increasing wash time. As a result of these efforts, the Tide POD Cold cycle only takes three minutes longer than the Normal cycle, while still delivering outstanding cleaning performance.

Q: What are your thoughts about Samsung’s laundry technology?

Jon Powell: Samsung has great machines, and their engineers have a deep understanding of designing machines that are easy to use and provide a high level of customization for consumers through AI. The LCD screen not only allowed for convenient product control but also provided easy access to various services such as the internet and YouTube. Samsung has designed a user experience that makes laundry easy and accessible for consumers.

Q:Please tell us more about P&G’s Tide Cold Certified program.

Jon Powell: The Tide Cold Certified program was launched to encourage more loads to be done in cold water. P&G aims to work with partners, such as Samsung, to provide an excellent wash performance, even when using cold water. Readers can learn more about the Tide Cold Certified program on the official website.

Q: Any final comments that you would like to share regarding the partnership, including your future vision or aspirations?

Sung Dae Lee: This experience has further encouraged Samsung to view consumer needs from many different perspectives and strive to deliver the most satisfying experiences possible.

Jon Powell: The partnership between P&G and Samsung is just getting started. The shared vision of both companies to deliver superior consumer experiences every day provides opportunities for future collaboration and innovation.

Together with P&G, Samsung shares a common vision to improve the consumer laundry experience through the power of innovation and collaboration. This partnership highlights how two global leaders are working together to provide more value to our consumers.

1 Available on select Samsung laundry machines in North America

New Joint Venture to Provide Outstanding Heating and Cooling Solutions to Customers in the U.S. and Canada

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that it has agreed to form a joint venture with Lennox (NYSE: LII), a leading provider of innovative climate solutions in the HVACR industry, to sell ductless HVAC systems in the United States and Canada.

As product requirements for ducted and ductless systems move together, the synergies of having both offerings for customers are becoming greater. The joint venture brings together Samsung, a trusted global brand with 40 years of innovative HVAC technology, and Lennox, a North American HVAC original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and direct distribution leader, in a partnership that will provide outstanding heating and cooling solutions to customers.

Samsung will own 50.1% of the joint venture, Samsung Lennox HVAC North America, and Lennox will own the remaining 49.9%.

“It is a great pleasure to take the first step in creating a long-term HVAC industry-leading partnership with Lennox,” said KS Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Electronics North America. “Our collaboration, focused on strong product offerings and customer networks in the growing ductless segment, will bring new solutions to the market. We look forward to launching innovative technologies together in the future.”

The joint venture will be distributing Samsung ductless products in the United States and Canada as well as “Lennox powered by Samsung”-branded products for Lennox, which will be sold through Lennox stores and direct-to-dealer network. The joint venture will continue to supply Samsung branded products to the existing Samsung HVAC distributors and representatives in the United States and Canada.

Samsung expects the joint venture will help the company to strengthen its position in the North American HVAC market by adding Lennox’s distribution channels, while Lennox is expected to reinforce its business by expanding the product lineup of innovative ductless systems from Samsung.

Through this partnership, Samsung plans to leverage its leadership in artificial intelligence, software, smartphones and semiconductors to provide more smart home services with Samsung SmartThings’ easy device connection and control for a smarter lifestyle and seamless experience. With SmartThings Energy, users can monitor overall power consumption within the household, while SmartThings Energy’s AI Energy Mode helps save energy consumption of connected home appliances.

Based on innovative products uniquely from the joint venture and through the expansion of distribution channels, Samsung Lennox HVAC North America aims to strengthen its residential and homebuilder business in North America. Furthermore, Samsung and Lennox will continue to seek more partnership opportunities and collaboration with homebuilders across various product categories from home appliances to TV, as well as in device parts and technology.

“This joint venture represents the union of two outstanding brands with strong market positions and deep customer trust. It is an honor to work with Samsung as we invest in solutions to meet our customers’ HVAC needs,” said Alok Maskara, Lennox Chief Executive Officer. “I am excited about the future of this joint venture as part of our growth strategy.”

Pending customary closing conditions, the new joint venture is expected to be operational in the second half of 2024. Samsung and Lennox will appoint the joint venture’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and the business headquarters and operations will be based in Roanoke, Texas.

About Samsung HVAC America

Samsung performs in the HVAC industry globally with business operations in 48 countries. Samsung HVAC America is growing the Samsung residential and commercial air conditioning business in the United States and Canada by building, training, and supporting a network of specifying representatives, distributors, and installers. For more information about Samsung HVAC visit www.samsunghvac.com.

About Lennox

Lennox (NYSE: LII) is a leader in energy-efficient climate-control solutions. Dedicated to sustainability and creating comfortable and healthier environments for our residential and commercial customers while reducing their carbon footprint, we lead the field in innovation with our cooling, heating, indoor air quality, and refrigeration systems. Additional information on Lennox is available at www.lennox.com or by contacting investor@lennox.com .

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that it has established a service integration with Tesla, to be showcased at CES® 2024, that will connect SmartThings Energy to Tesla products such as Powerwall home battery, Solar Inverter, Wall Connector charging solutions and electric vehicles (EVs). Made possible through Tesla’s open APIs[1], this collaboration will result in the further expansion of SmartThings Energy’s already-comprehensive level of connectivity and contribute to Samsung’s ultimate goal of enabling more convenient, seamless home experiences for consumers.

“Tesla Energy’s customers can now manage and monitor the power status of their homes through SmartThings Energy and Samsung devices in addition to the Tesla app, ensuring more access and connectivity,” said Chanwoo Park, EVP and Head of IoT Development Team of Device Platform Center at Samsung Electronics. “This new collaboration is a key milestone for Samsung Electronics in making our solution more widely available beyond home appliances.”

Samsung’s collaboration with Tesla allows SmartThings Energy to connect to Tesla Powerwall, Solar Inverter, Wall Connector charging and EVs, allowing SmartThings Energy to display information relating to users’ energy production, storage and usage.

Additionally, consumers will be able to use SmartThings Energy to sync with the Tesla app’s Powerwall “Storm Watch” function. This means that in the case of extreme weather events such as typhoons or heavy snowfall, users can be alerted through SmartThings on their connected Samsung TVs and mobiles in addition to the Tesla app. What’s more, they can activate AI Energy Mode to help extend the remaining backup energy stored in Tesla Powerwall.

▲ Simulated image (for demonstration purposes only) of SmartThings app alerting Tesla Powerwall status and AI Energy Mode activation with photo of Tesla products that are available to connect to Samsung SmartThings Energy

“At Tesla we are excited to add capability to our products to interact with other intelligent devices and software in customers’ homes. We recently published FleetAPI, allowing developers to interact with Powerwall, Solar, and Wall Connector in addition to our vehicles. We are pleased that Samsung has chosen to be an early developer, given their leading position in consumer smart home technology. Customers will be able to view the status of their grid connectivity across multiple devices and intelligently control home loads to extend their Powerwall energy when off grid.” said Drew Baglino, Tesla.

SmartThings Energy connected to Tesla Powerwall will be first shown at the Samsung booth at CES® 2024. The actual service is currently in development and is targeted to launch in the second quarter of 2024.[2] Please note that the features described above are subject to change.

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[1] An application programming interface (API) is a software intermediary that enables two different applications to integrate with each other.

[2] Service limited to countries where Tesla Powerwall is sold and SmartThings Energy is available.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. showcased its latest innovations for the connected home. During its IFA 2023 press conference, the company highlighted its vision for SmartThings is to enable consumers across Europe to prioritise the topics they care about – from saving energy, increasing security and access to great entertainment to making their everyday lives more efficient. The ever-growing SmartThings ecosystem allows its 285 million users to adapt and personalise their homes to suit their needs, seamlessly connecting and controlling multiple appliances and devices via one app.

Samsung’s presence at IFA 2023 comes as the company shares new consumer research, conducted across Europe to understand evolving needs for technology in the home[1].

“Samsung is passionate about connecting our users to the people, places and pastimes that matter most to them,” said Benjamin Braun, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Europe. “We will continue to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the latest innovations in technology to make sure the SmartThings ecosystem grows and develops in a way that allows people to make even more of the connections that matter.”

Enhancing the at-home experience 

The SmartThings app allows users to control their homes from anywhere, helping them to enjoy seamless entertainment as well as keeping them safe. Across Europe, our homes continue to be more important than ever as they play multiple roles each day – from offices to places for relaxation and entertainment. Seven in ten consumers (71%) agree that technology has a positive impact on their everyday living, including how they interact with their friends and family, how they conduct their chores and how they enjoy their hobbies¹.

Now, those with a passion for food can fully connect themselves to the joy of cooking and eating with Samsung Food, the new all-in-one app for recipe searching, saving and sharing, meal planning, cooking and grocery shopping. Announced at the press conference, Samsung Food is available in 104 countries and eight languages, and puts the world’s food knowledge at users’ fingertips, empowering them to make the food, health and cooking decisions that are right for them. It also connects to users’ kitchens, instantly sending the right time and temperature to their compatible Samsung oven. With more than 160,000 recipes, there will always be something new to cook.

By the end of the year, using Food AI, Samsung Food will provide personalised recipes reflecting users’ dietary requirements, such as converting recipes into a vegan version in just a few taps. In a further enhancement due later this year, it will link with Samsung Health so tailored meal plans can be adapted to suit preferences and dietary requirements, as well as support users in reaching their health goals. In 2024, using Vision AI technology, Samsung Food will use photos taken of meals to check nutritional information, recognise ingredients and recommend the best recipes to use them in.

As the number one TV brand for 17 years in a row[2], Samsung has an unrivalled commitment to entertainment. It has completed its super screen line up with the launch of the 98” Neo QLED 8K and 4K Q80C and plans to bring its full range of Micro LED screens to Europe by the end of the year, offering incredible contrast and jaw-dropping detail that places viewers in the middle of the action whether gaming or watching films.

To celebrate Disney’s 100^th anniversary, Samsung has announced the launch of The Frame – Disney100 Edition. Featuring an exclusive bezel in the Disney 100 signature platinum silver metal and a unique Mickey Mouse inspired Disney remote. It also comes with 100 pieces of iconic art from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel, Lucasfilm and National Geographic, as well as classic images of Mickey, Minnie, Woody, Cinderella and many others. Users can also display their family photos for a magical home environment.

Also announced at the press conference was the global launch of The Freestyle 2^nd Gen. This versatile, portable projector delivers a big screen experience wherever the user chooses – even on the ceiling. The Smart Edge Blending feature offers landscape and portrait screen experiences, meaning two Freestyle 2^nd Gen projectors can be paired to give a 160” panoramic and 120” vertical viewing experience. What is more, with complete access to the Samsung Gaming Hub, users of the Freestyle 2^nd Gen can enjoy the biggest games from Samsung’s streaming partners.

In partnership with Xbox and Bethesda Softworks, this now includes Starfield, the stunning, next-generation role-playing game set amongst the stars. Playable through the Samsung Gaming Hub with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, without the need for a console.

Taking small steps for our planet 

Samsung is committed to developing products and services that help people save money and take steps towards a better planet. These topics are high on the agenda for consumers too, over three quarters (77%) say they seek out tech products that save energy – not only to save money, but for the benefit of the environment too⁴. Two-thirds (67%) also consider it important that their next appliance can connect to an app that allows them to monitor and reduce their energy consumption⁴.

With energy prices increasing across Europe[3], 72% of those asked are concerned about the cost of running appliances in their home[4]. To help combat this, SmartThings Energy can help users optimise the energy used across their appliances to suit their needs and lower usage. For example, AI Energy Mode in SmartThings Energy allows you to monitor and reduce your washing machine’s energy use by up to 70%[5] by using Ecobubble to wash with cool water instead of warm.

Samsung has also partnered with global ocean conservation organisation Ocean Wise and apparel maker Patagonia to find solutions to the issue of microfiber shedding. The Less Microfiber Filter is an external washing machine filter that cuts up to 98% of microplastic emissions from laundry cycles[6]. Speaking at IFA, Charlie Cox, Manager of Microplastic Solutions at Ocean Wise said: “Through our collaboration with Samsung and Patagonia, Ocean Wise is proud to have shown a way for industry to play its part in stemming the flow of microfibers into the ocean. Through innovations like the Less Microfiber Filter, we can empower individuals to reduce their microfiber footprint at home. It is a simple, everyday solution that our oceans will thank us for.”

Heating technologies like heat pumps represent a rapidly growing market, and Samsung is at the forefront of this growth. Its innovative smart air source heat pumps have seen an unprecedented 97% growth in sales since 2022^[7]. These work with domestic hot water tanks or with Samsung’s ClimateHub, to make your home comfortable all year round, whatever the weather. They can also connect to the SmartThings ecosystem, so their energy use can be monitored and tailored to the user’s preferred environment[8]. The latest addition to its range of high temperature monobloc heat pump solutions, the  EHS Mono R290, launches in September.

Samsung’s journey is constantly evolving as it aims to design technology that helps people make the most of their day while taking small steps to reduce our environmental impact. The Galaxy Z Flip5[9] and Fold5[10] and the Galaxy Tab S9 series[11] feature a variety of recycled materials, including recycled aluminium, glass and plastics sourced from ocean-bound discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles. Even the Galaxy Watch6 series incorporate post-consumer recycled plastics. All of these Galaxy innovations come in packaging boxes made using recycled paper material[12].

Keeping your home secure

Samsung understands the reassurance that smart technology can provide across the generations. Security was an emerging theme from the research conducted. Watching their home while they aren’t there (54%), feeling safer when home alone (39%) and keeping their family safe when they are out of the house (39%) are seen as the key safety benefits of smart technology[13].

The SmartThings ecosystem includes a range of partners who are committed to helping people keep their homes and loved ones safe. This now includes Yale, a leading brand in home security. The Yale Linus® Smart Lock and the new Smart Opener for Gate & Garage enable doors and gates to be locked remotely via the app to ensure peace of mind for all family members.

Unlocking the future through smart technology 

Samsung is invested in a future built around the possibilities that technology can unlock. One area it aims to make a difference is in making the technology for smart homes more easily available. The research shows a quarter of Europeans consider the inclusion of smart technology to be a key factor in the desirability of their next home and over three quarters of respondents said fully functional smart homes are appealing (77%)¹².

Understanding this, Samsung is working to make these possibilities a reality and it believes in the power of collaboration when it comes to driving this vision forward. By partnering with ABB Smart Buildings and SMA, one of the world’s leading providers of photovoltaic and storage system technology, it hopes to connect people more closely to their homes by embedding the possibilities of smart technology into houses before they are bought. By integrating ABB and SMA products into SmartThings Energy, homes can become even safer, smarter and more sustainable. For example, the ability to run appliances at the optimum time, tracking energy use to adjust consumption based on energy prices and usage patterns, and optimising energy use based on solar production.

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[1] Conducted in conjunction with Opinium amongst 2,500 adults from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Polled between the 28th of July and the 1st of August 2023.

[2] Samsung TV has been ranked No.1 selling TV Brand for 17 consecutive years by Omdia.

[3] GreenMatch. https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/energy-prices-europe

[4] Conducted in conjunction with Opinium amongst 2,500 adults from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Polled between the 28th of July and the 1st of August 2023.

[5] Based on internal testing on the WW11BB944AGB model on a Cotton 40 degrees wash with the AI Energy Mode turned on (reducing the temperature) compared to not using AI Energy Mode. AI Energy Mode can only be operated at 40 degrees or lower.

[6] Captures approximately 89-98%; laboratory tested using 2kg synthetic fabric load in the WW90T734DWH, WF24A9500KW, washing machine.

[7] Compared to 2022 Jan~Aug sales

[8] SmartThings is available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. Some models require a separate Wi-Fi kit to connect SmartThings.

[9] Galaxy Z Flip5: 15 device components that feature a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled material plastic, a minimum of 28% pre-consumer recycled aluminium, or Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 with an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled content. These components include Volume Key Bracket, Speaker Module (Upper & Lower), Rear Top, Display Connector Cap, FPCB RF Cable Bracket, Rear Mid, Case Front (Main), Case Front (Sub), Volume Key, Finger Key Bracket, Receiver Deco, Connector to Connector Holder, SIM Tray, Sub Window, Back Glass.

[10] Galaxy Z Fold5: 15 device components that feature a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled material plastic, a minimum of 28% pre-consumer recycled aluminium, or Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 with an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled glass. These components include Volume Key FPCB Bracket, Top Speaker Module (Upper & Lower), Bottom Speaker Module (Upper & Lower), Cover Display Connector, Case Front (Main), Case Front (Sub), Antenna (Sub), Antenna (Main), Volume Key, Finger Key Bracket, SIM Tray, Connector to Connector Holder, Camera Deco (Top & Bottom), Sub Window, Back Glass.

[11] Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: 17 device components that feature a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled material plastic, a minimum of 30% pre-consumer recycled aluminium, or pre-consumer recycled aluminium and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 with a minimum of 10% pre-consumer recycled content. These components include Cable Holder Mid, Deco Pen Charger, Top-left Speaker Module, Top-right Speaker Module, Bottom-left Speaker Module, Bottom-right Speaker Module, Case Rear, Case Bracket, Key Bracket, PCB Support Top, PCB Support Mid, Cable Holder Bottom, SIM Tray, Volume Key, Side Key, Camera Deco, Main Window.

[12] 100% recycled paper is used in the following packaging components: the Product Packaging Unit Box, Cover Protector, Manual Box, Manual Pad, and DLC Band.

[13] Conducted in conjunction with Opinium amongst 2,500 adults from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Polled between the 28th of July and the 1st of August 2023.