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.

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.

Everyone knows that the television in any home is a place to come together and enjoy the latest in movie and TV magic. Those who value sociability, hosting events, trending technology and an immersive entertainment viewing experience understand that the living room is more than just a room. It is where you experience playoff history, cinema’s classic moments and home movie nostalgia. With the unveiling of the 98-inch QLED 4K Q80C TV by Samsung, a standard for super-sized TVs has been established.

Engineered to offer you bright colours and ultra-vivid details on a dazzlingly super-slim screen, the 98-inch QLED 4K TV will have you captivated for every moment. Sit back from a comfortable viewing distance — as close as four metres away — and embrace a visual spectacle as your content is transformed into sharp 4K resolution. With its high-performance, AI-powered, Neural Quantum Processor, the 98-inch Q80C will upgrade your content scene by scene to near 4K quality with sharp details that you never even knew existed.

However, it is the Supersize Enhancer feature that distinguishes this TV from others in the market. The AI-powered image enhancer is tailored to the ultra-large screen and dedicated to optimizing upscaling, implementing noise reduction and boosting sharpness for superior picture quality. The three-dimensional Depth Enhancer is designed to mirror how human eyes process depth by increasing foreground contrast. Now, when you are watching a nature documentary, the 98-inch QLED 4K TV enhances a tiger’s whiskers while leaving the background as is – just as a person’s eyes would.

More importantly, as technology evolves, so should its accessibility. The 98-inch Q80C offers a built-in Smart Hub, accessed through your Samsung Account, which will allow you to discover all your favourite content and access all your TV capabilities with ease. From streaming apps for all the latest shows to console games in the Samsung Gaming Hub, you can access everything in the one place. You can also access Samsung’s SmartThings portal from your TV which gives you access to a host of benefits for your home including the ability to monitor the energy usage of your Samsung devices. Through SmartThings Energy on your TV, you can identify which devices are using more energy that others and create automations to reduce your energy usage, allowing you to enjoy your favourite shows and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.

The super-slim design of the 98-inch QLED 4K TV blends beautifully in any environment. It is a breathtaking aesthetic piece that offers an extraordinarily immersive entertainment experience. From the moment you turn it on, everything else around you may seem to cease to exist as you get lost in the breadth of this TVs size and stunning detail. More importantly, it makes a statement. It tells others that that you settle for nothing but the best because that is exactly what you deserve.

Q. What motivated you to participate in the Samsung SmartThings campaign?

When the Galaxy Z Flip was first released, I remember being impressed by its design — which led me to buy a Galaxy smartphone right away and switch both my tablet and watch to Galaxy devices. As a Galaxy fan, I love how my Galaxy products are all connected, allowing me to do things like check workout progress or calories burned on my phone or tablet while I’m exercising. Naturally, I was excited when Samsung approached me to participate in this campaign.

Q. What is the best thing about using SmartThings?

SmartThings has become a feature I really need. Once set up, the platform manages everything and gives me time and energy to focus on other stuff. The ability to find compatible products nearby and automatically pair them is so easy to do. It allows me to be much more efficient and productive.

Q. What was your favourite scene in this shoot?

If I had to choose just one feature, my favourite would be the gaming scene since I love playing video games. In the video, once I place my phone on the wireless charger and SmartThings automatically creates the perfect gaming environment. And there’s even lighting synced to the gaming screen via Hue Sync, so I really like to play games.

That’s when you will discover SmartThings takes gaming to another level. If you like playing video games, I strongly recommend using Gaming Mode on SmartThings for an all-new gaming experience.

Q. What are some specific SmartThings features you would like to highlight?

SmartThings helps me reduce energy consumption and control energy usage across all my products in real time.

In addition, I like how SmartThings allows me to expand the ways I use my TV. Before the shoot, I only played video games and watched soccer on my TV. Now, after learning about SmartThings and its functions, I use my TV to control home appliances, chat with friends while watching soccer and keep track of my workout progress while exercising. I hope more people are able to make use of these innovative features.

Q. Is there anything you want to share about your experience on this campaign?

Through this campaign, I was able to experience how SmartThings can program my home appliances based on my daily routine.

For those who haven’t experienced SmartThings yet, I encourage you to try it out! I look forward to getting involved with other Samsung campaigns and seeing the future of SmartThings!

Find out more about Son’s smart life by watching the full video below.

Samsung Electronics recently announced that 46 of its new products and service innovations have received CES® 2023 Innovation Award honours, including three Best of Innovation Honourees from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®. The annual program honours outstanding design and engineering across a multitude of consumer technology product categories.

Samsung was honoured across multiple categories, reinforcing the company’s commitment to providing a seamlessly connected, customizable experience for consumers while contributing to an eco-conscious world. With sustainability at the heart of all that Samsung does, consumers were encouraged to join with the company as they make everyday changes that have a meaningful impact on the environment. Bold new ideas were brought to life, including investment in sustainable materials, increased energy efficiency in products and responsible recycling, as well as refurbished and repairable devices.

Samsung products were distinguished as Innovation Awards Honourees in Digital Imaging/Photography, Mobile Devices & Accessories, Gaming, Digital Health, Wearable Technologies and Video Displays, Home AV Components & Accessories and Software & Mobile Apps categories. Several of these honourees incorporate eco-conscious features, including the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4, which are both made with repurposed fishing nets and include 100% recycled paper for flagship product packaging.

The Innovation Awards are sponsored by CTA, the host and organizer of CES – recognized worldwide as the global stage for innovation and the most influential tech event in the world. CES 2023 will take place from January 5^th through 8^th in Las Vegas, Nevada with a deeper focus on sustainability.

Highlighted Innovation Awards Honourees:

Galaxy Z Flip4, Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke Edition – As the ultimate foldable smartphone for self-expression, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is packed with innovative camera upgrades, a larger battery and even more opportunities for customization than its predecessor. Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke Edition were recognized in the Digital Imaging/Photography and Mobile Devices & Accessories categories. Galaxy Z Flip4’s form factor enables unique camera functionality like FlexCam that allows you to shoot hands-free photos and videos directly on your favourite social networking apps. It also allows you to take a photo from the Cover Screen without even opening your phone using Quick Shot. The Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke Edition offers another level of customization with glass colours and frame options that provide 75 unique combinations.

Galaxy Z Fold4 – Honoured in the Digital Imaging/Photography, Mobile Devices & Accessories and Gaming categories, the Galaxy Z Fold4’s top-of-the-line performance, upgraded camera and groundbreaking design make it a productivity powerhouse of our next generation of foldable smartphones. The Galaxy Z Fold4 delivers superb experiences for powerful gaming and increased productivity thanks to its 7.6-inch Main Display.

Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch5 Pro – Both Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro were recognized in the Digital Health and Wearable Technology categories for their advanced health tracking, increased durability and charging capabilities, making it Samsung’s most feature-packed watch yet. Galaxy Watch5 Pro is designed for adventure and a heavy-duty lifestyle with upgraded GPS-based features, the longest battery in a Galaxy Watch yet and an expansive Super AMOLED display protected by an enhanced Sapphire Crystal. With the innovative BioActive Sensor, the Galaxy Watch5 series empower users with the most complete picture of their wellness-related insights yet.

Samsung Wallet – With its reputation as an all-in-one, go-everywhere app, Samsung Wallet was recognized in the Software & Mobile Apps category. It combines Samsung Pass, Samsung Pay and more to provide Galaxy users a new and simple way to keep all their digital essentials in one place — from bank cards and digital keys to travel passes, driver’s licenses and student IDs. With the integration of platforms, such as SmartThings and Samsung Knox, the program offers a more secure and refined interface and one-swipe access to your important digital items and information. Samsung Wallet will be available in Canada in Q1 2023.

Bespoke AI Laundry – Samsung’s Bespoke AI Laundry products were recognized for its innovative design and integrated AI technologies. Bespoke AI Washer with AI OptiWash was recognized in the Smart Home category, and Bespoke AI Dryer with AI Optimal Dry was recognized in the Home Appliance category. Bespoke AI Washer automatically identifies fabric types and dirt levels, optimizing its performance accordingly, while cycles themselves can be controlled with Samsung’s SmartThings app. Bespoke AI Dryer uses sensors and algorithms to measure the moisture content of clothes, adjusting drying time and temperature to seamlessly optimize drying cycles. The Bespoke AI Laundry pair responds to frequent washing habits for a highly personalized experience, and the laundry pair has a range of colour choices to help inspire more ways to customize home laundry spaces.

SmartThings Energy – Recognized in the Software & Mobile Apps category, Samsung’s SmartThings Energy app provides an effortless solution for consumers to reduce home energy consumption. In addition to tracking energy usage, SmartThings Energy offers actionable insights and recommendations based on the devices connected to the platform and usage pattern.

Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink SSD 2TB – As an Innovation Awards Honouree in the Computer Peripherals & Accessories category, the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink SSD 2TB is the company’s fastest PCIe 4.0 solid state drive (SSD) with superb power efficiency. Designed for gaming consoles or PCs, it delivers lightning-fast speeds for faster loading times. The combination of a heatsink, nickel coating on the controller and Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard maximizes the cooling effects to prevent performance degradation due to overheating. The drive is also equipped with RGB lights to match the style of any setup. The Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink SSD 2TB will be available in Canada in Q1 2023.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. held its annual Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) today in San Francisco, bringing together developers, creators and designers to explore seamless, connected experiences powered by Samsung.

During the event, Samsung shared more about its commitment to creating simplified, game-changing customer experiences, including the company’s updated vision for SmartThings as it evolves from a connectivity platform to an enabler of smarter lifestyles. From deeper integration with Bixby to seamless connectivity with Matter-compatible devices, SmartThings is creating a richer, more open world that empowers all users to streamline their connections and their daily lives.

“At Samsung, we continuously innovate our devices, platforms and services to be simpler and more convenient. I am proud to share the next generation of our work, like SmartThings, to further our collaboration with partners and developers,” said Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “As technologies become more complex, we will always search for ways to make life easier, more connected, and more flexible, so our consumers can focus on what matters most.”

Connecting Platforms and Devices with Calm Technology

Samsung’s vision of seamless connectivity is inspired by the philosophy of Calm Technology – where devices instantly work together, so consumers can save time on setup and get right into the experience. To realize this vision, Samsung reimagined SmartThings and its connected services and partnerships, including Samsung’s Hub Everywhere, extending its capabilities to the entire smart home with audio and visual data as well as SmartThings Energy, SmartThings Pet and SmartThings Cooking. Samsung also partnered with Philips Hue to integrate Philips Hue Sync right into Galaxy devices so smart home lighting can match with music.

The seamless experience will extend beyond Samsung’s ecosystem through SmartThings’ integration with Matter and Samsung’s membership in the Home Connectivity Alliance. Google and Samsung have worked together to enable users to find and link their devices across platforms by building multi-admin feature on Matter devices. The collaboration will bring more devices and users into the connected home in the future.

Bixby has been integrated more deeply with SmartThings, a tool for developers to build more intelligent voice user interface experiences. As Samsung’s representative voice assistant platform, Bixby has evolved to become the on-device AI solution able to control individual Galaxy devices, as well as the cross-device experience throughout the Samsung ecosystem. With the new Bixby Home Studio, developers can now build differentiated, customized experiences for the SmartThings platform. In addition, Bixby will be even more widely available to users with support for Latin American Spanish, starting in November.

As the smart home is becoming more advanced, Samsung is introducing a new security paradigm, enabling Samsung devices to protect each other. Samsung Knox Matrix^[1] is a private blockchain based platform that turns eligible Samsung devices into a shield to protect users’ entire device ecosystem – from Galaxy devices to TVs and home appliances. Plus, users can customize personal privacy settings with the new Security and privacy dashboard, which scans for vulnerabilities, recommends security updates, and gives users data management options to keep privacy and security top of mind.

Personalized Services for Better Experiences

In the past year, Samsung TV Plus — Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming TV and video (FAST) platform available on Samsung Smart TVs^[2] and mobile devices— reached 100% growth in viewership^[3], and projects three billion hours streamed by the end of the year. To build on this momentum, Samsung TV Plus has expanded its offering by adding partnerships with Lionsgate and Vice Media, providing 8K video on demand. Samsung TV Plus has also gone through a redesign, to reflect its extraordinary variety of content with more than 1,600 channels across 24 countries. Samsung TV Plus is the premium choice for a seamless ad experience, where stream stitching makes ad playback simpler than ever.

After 10 years of service, Samsung’s Tizen operating system (OS) continues to offer best-in-class user experiences. The Samsung Gaming Hub brings better, faster and more convenient access to gaming on Samsung Smart TVs, provided by industry-leading partners, such as Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Utomik and Amazon Luna. Samsung Gaming Hub bridges expertise in hardware and software to integrate features like AI Upscaling and multitask functions to make gaming on Samsung Smart TVs an immersive, optimized experience.

Tizen OS is also expanding to offer NFTs support with partners like Art Token, laCollection and Nifty Gateway. For B2B customers and developers, Samsung is providing B2B APIs specific to industries and use cases like Syncplay, which allows content to be synchronized and played in multiple signages. Tizen is also introducing SALT, a new content conversion solution to display the highest-quality HDR10+ content on supported TVs.

Your Galaxy, Your Way with One UI 5

By introducing the new One UI 5, Samsung has empowered users to easily customize their device’s look and feel, while enhancing productivity and providing amazing experiences across devices and platforms. One UI 5 brings more personalized experiences with custom-built Modes and Routines, and a Dynamic Lock screen that displays multiple visuals on your phone, your Galaxy Watch and other One UI 5 devices. With the new Bixby Text Call feature, Bixby Voice will answer calls on your behalf and share typed messages with the caller, speaking aloud as if you had answered. One UI 5 also introduces new daily health solutions to help track health and wellness in one place. This includes the Samsung Privileged Health SDK, which enables developers to build apps that leverage the BioActive Sensor on the Galaxy Watch^[4].

Future-Forward Investment and Research

Samsung Research is looking beyond today’s horizon to innovate for a better tomorrow, full of relentless innovation and open collaboration. Samsung Research is making its robot arm manipulation code available on GitHub, enabling academics, researchers and developers to examine new ideas in robotic manipulation.

The team at Samsung Research was also inspired by the new wellness features Samsung has introduced, particularly on the Galaxy Watch5. To find new use-cases leveraging these features, Samsung Research is working with universities and healthcare institutions that will explore areas like heart health, stress, blood pressure, lung health and neuroscience. As a result, Samsung is offering a full stack SDK – the Samsung Health Stack – which will jumpstart research into important health fields and spark new development.

Samsung invites developers, creators, partners and more to join in on its commitment to open collaboration and seamless experiences.

For more information about the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2022, please visit developer.samsung.com.

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^[1] Starting as early as late 2023, Samsung Knox Matrix will be initially available on selected Samsung devices. Support for other manufacturers’ products will follow later.

^[2] Samsung TV Plus is available for selected Samsung Smart TVs only.

^[3] Comparison between viewership from September 2020 to August 2021 and viewership from September 2021 to August 2022.

^[4] Available on Galaxy Watch4 series and Galaxy Watch5 series.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the 2022 sustainability initiatives that will accelerate the development of eco-conscious home appliances. With these measures, Samsung is acting against environmental issues through innovative products and services that can be used in everyday life.

“At CES 2022, we outlined how Samsung will contribute in tackling some of the world’s most pressing environmental and sustainability issues,” said Hyesoon Yang, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Collaborations to combat microplastic pollution; helping consumers reduce their energy consumption; cutting back on waste by using recycled plastic; and adapting eco-conscious packaging, these are some of the activities we are working on to develop various tangible solutions for environmental problems and a sustainable future.”

Technology to reduce pollution

In a newly announced collaboration, Samsung is coming together with American clothing company Patagonia. As unveiled at CES 2022, this collaboration will promote environmental sustainability by addressing the issue of microplastics and its impact on the ocean environment. Patagonia CPO Vincent Stanley shared his thoughts during Samsung’s keynote speech on the significance of this collaboration and the direction it will take, calling it an example of how companies can “help turn the tide of climate change and restore nature to health.”

Patagonia is well-known for its commitment to innovative materials that lessen harm to the planet. The clothing company continues to help Samsung in multiple ways, including product testing, sharing its research, and facilitating an introduction to the NGO Ocean Wise. Samsung has been researching features designed to help overcome the negative impacts of microplastics.

Also, the Bespoke Water Purifier was recently certified by NSF International in the U.S. for its ability to filter out particles that measure as little as 0.5 to 1 micrometer, which include microplastics. This makes Samsung one of the first manufacturers of water purifiers to receive this certification.

Saving more energy and encouraging more eco-conscious energy use

To contribute to better energy usage and to support sustainable living, Samsung has also partnered with Q CELLS to establish a new Zero Energy Home Integration[1] feature for SmartThings Energy. This feature provides production and storage data from solar panels and energy storage systems to help users establish energy self-sufficiency.

SmartThings Energy monitors power usage of consumers’ connected devices and recommends energy saving methods based on their usage patterns. Partnering with Wattbuy in the U.S. and Uswitch in the U.K., SmartThings Energy allows users to switch over to the most cost-efficient energy provider in their area.

Ramping up use of recycled plastic

Samsung will also increase the amount of recycled plastic that is used in its home appliances. To this end, it will expand the use of recycled plastic from the interior components of its appliances to the exterior elements as well.

Samsung is set to raise its goal for recycled plastic utilization in its home appliances from five percent in 2021 to 30 percent in 2024. This is an increase from 25,000 tons of recycled plastic in 2021 to 158,000 tons in 2024.[2]

In addition, Samsung has also developed a new type of polypropylene recycled plastic for its washing machine tubs. Using discarded polypropylene and polyethylene from items such as used lunchboxes and facial mask straps, the company has created a new type of recycled resin that is more resistant to external shocks.

More sustainable packaging

Samsung is also expanding its use of eco-packaging to encompass a larger lineup of products, including home appliances such as vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, air purifiers and more. This will enable consumers to repurpose the boxes their products came in.

The expansion was first launched in Korea in 2021 and will be introduced to global markets in 2022.

For more information about Samsung’s eco-conscious initiatives, please visit Samsung.com.

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[1] Available from the first half of 2022 in the U.K., the second half of 2022 in Germany and 2023 in the U.S.

[2] Based on weight of final components