Eco-conscious startups believe that groundbreaking, innovative technologies and solutions have the power to combat climate change and create positive outcomes.

Samsung Electronics announced a new environmental strategy in September 2022 to contribute to tackling climate change in partnership with the startup community, which includes identifying and supporting startups that have innovative eco-conscious technologies. As such, Samsung expanded the scope of its environmental support in the fifth C-Lab Outside, the company’s external startup acceleration program, to continue fostering and discovering excellent companies creating sustainable technologies.

In celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, Samsung Newsroom spoke with two startups from the fifth C-Lab Outside program that showcased meaningful technological climate solutions: QuantumCat and 60 Hertz.

The World’s First Organization To Succeed in Commercialization of Gold Nanocatalyst

QuantumCat was established in August 2019 with the vision of “ensuring a sustainable future for Earth and mankind.” The company became the first in the world to successfully commercialize the gold nanocatalyst with its unique, innovative technology. This raises the question — how are catalysts¹ related to the climate crisis?

When exhaust gases from sources such as cars and factory smokestacks cause incomplete combustion to occur, toxic substances including carbon monoxide are produced. For spontaneous oxidation of carbon monoxide to occur, a high temperature of over 600 degrees Celsius (1112 degrees Fahrenheit) is necessary. However, the temperature for oxidation can be brought down to 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit) when platinum catalysts, such as rhodium, palladium and platinum, are used. In short, using catalysts reduces energy consumption for the complete oxidation of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide while also effectively preventing the release of harmful gases.

More than 90% of the world’s chemical processes are controlled by catalysts which are also used to purify exhaust gases emitted from cars and at worksites. In addition, more catalysts are expected to be used as carbon neutrality legislation continues to be enacted and environmental regulations become stricter around the world. As such, catalysts have emerged as a crucial material necessary in responding to climate change.

QuantumCat’s gold nanocatalyst is even more groundbreaking than platinum catalysts. While platinum catalysts can accomplish the complete oxidation of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide at 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit), the gold nanocatalyst can enable the complete oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature (25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit). QuantumCat’s technology has significantly reduced energy consumption by lowering the combustion temperature and reducing carbon emissions. As a result, the company has earned cumulative investments of KRW 6 billion (about USD 4.5 million) and widespread recognition from various organizations, including the Ministry of Science and ICT’s commendation, Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute’s Presidential Award, the Innovation Start-up Korea Award and more.

▲ Shinhyun Kang, CEO of QuantumCat from Samsung C-Lab Outside

“Using the gold nanocatalyst means lower energy consumption, making it an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution,” said CEO Shinhyun Kang of QuantumCat.

Developing the Revolutionary Gold Nanocatalyst

Kang developed the gold nanocatalyst technology while researching nanomaterials as a doctoral student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). While gold is an excellent catalyst, the element has not been commercialized until now because it is less stable, as the catalyst particles tend to clump together. To prevent this from occurring, Kang successfully developed the “nanocage,” in which gold is broken down into nanoparticles and locked in.

▲ Nanocage with a special structure ensures the stability of the gold nanocatalyst

QuantumCat’s gold nanocatalyst can also be used for air purifier products as it can remove harmful substances such as carbon monoxide at room temperature or purify the air through selective oxidation.

Recently, the company established a process for mass production of the gold nanocatalyst, along with continuous efforts to improve the quality.

“The gold nanocatalyst will stand out in the global market when production technology is expanded,” said Kang. “Through Samsung C-Lab Outside, we hope our technology will evolve to be applied in diverse use cases and contribute to solving environmental issues.”

QuantumCat’s mission is to ensure a sustainable future for Earth through innovative technologies that address climate change. Samsung eagerly awaits continued advancements surrounding the commercialization of the gold nanocatalyst and how QuantumCat will benefit the Earth’s health in the long run.

Innovative Technology for Predicting Renewable Energy Generation

More organizations and governments have set their sights on the transition to renewable energy.² However, the amount of renewable energy generated from sources such as solar and wind is highly variable since weather conditions are difficult to predict. As such, determining the exact amount of energy supply is critical in operating a stable power grid.

▲ Jongkyu Kim, CEO of 60 Hertz from Samsung C-Lab Outside

60 Hertz is actively researching ways to solve climate issues and protect the Earth with software based on renewable energy generation prediction technology. “Our power grid can operate securely when the supply and demand of electricity are balanced,” said CEO Jongkyu Kim of 60 Hertz. “If it’s unbalanced, it can lead to problems with home appliances and to more severe disasters such as blackouts. So, technology to predict the energy produced from small-scale distributed generation, such as renewable energy, is critical.” When the supply and demand of electricity are in equilibrium, Korea’s power grid maintains a stable frequency of 60 hertz (Hz) — finding this balance is also the mission of the eponymous startup.

▲ The Sunlight Wind Map predicts the amount of renewable energy generated.

The transition to renewable energy is vital to solving the climate crisis. For renewable energy to become a primary energy source, a virtual power plant software that uses IT to connect and manage small-scale distributed generation can serve as an important tool in accurately predicting the current and future amount of renewable energy. Currently, renewable energy in Korea is generated across the nation in the form of tens of thousands of small-scale distributed generation power plants. Since the amount of power generated is dependent on weather, renewable energy plant management software with virtual power plant technology is required to operate stable power grids. With such technology, 60 Hertz operates the Sunlight Wind Map service, forecasting the amount of energy generated from renewable energy power plants throughout Korea for free. In 2021, the Sunlight Wind Map demonstrated its high value as a climate crisis tool through numerous awards, including the Presidential Award, the Prime Minister Award, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Award as well as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Award.

Pushing the Transition to Renewable Energy Further

60 Hertz’s innovative business strategy has proven that this model can be easily adopted by any company seeking to implement distributed generation, such as renewable energy, into its operations.

▲ EnergyScrum

One such company utilizing this business model is 60 Hertz’s EnergyScrum — an energy management platform that comprehensively manages various distributed generation modes, such as photo voltaic and electric vehicle (EV) chargers and energy storage systems (ESS). In recognition of this innovative software, the company was named a CES 2023 Innovation Award honoree in the Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart Energy category. “EnergyScrum provides various management features, including the prediction of energy supply and demand using AI technology,” explained Kim. “For example, it predicts the amount of energy generated from a solar voltaic power generator installed at a gas station as well as the amount of demand at an EV charging station to help with comprehensive supply and demand management.”

“60 Hertz will efficiently expand renewable energy implementation and usage with our technology,” said Kim. “Through Samsung C-Lab Outside, we will continue to take on challenges and be a leader in solving the global climate crisis with our technology in Korea and abroad.”

With 60 Hertz’s advancements to save the Earth, Samsung looks forward to the day when everyone can easily contribute to the transition to renewable energy.

¹ A material that catalyzes reactions by lowering the activation energy of other materials.
² The shift from utilizing fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, to renewable sources, such as wind and solar.

ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions in the U.S.

Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors a select group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the transition to a clean energy economy. ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production, sale and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services and strategies. These efforts are essential to fighting the climate crisis, protecting public health and creating a clean energy future for everyone.

“Not only does Samsung’s comprehensive environmental strategy include enterprise-wide net zero and 100% renewable energy goals, but we’re also raising the industry bar even higher on energy efficiency. Samsung is committed to implementing innovative, energy saving technologies in its home appliance, mobile and consumer electronics products — with the goal of lowering power consumption levels by an average of 30 percent by 2030 compared to like products released in 2019,” said Mark Newton, Head of Corporate Sustainability for Samsung Electronics America. “As a long-time ENERGY STAR partner and recipient of the rare Corporate Commitment Award, Samsung is proud to receive these tremendous recognitions from the EPA and DOE. We believe our ENERGY STAR collaboration to be paramount for our company, our customers, and — of course — our planet.”

“As we accelerate historic efforts to address climate change, public-private partnerships will be essential to realizing the scale of our ambition,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I applaud this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for working with EPA to deliver a clean energy future that saves American consumers and businesses money and creates jobs.”

The Sustained Excellence Award is the highest honor among ENERGY STAR Awards — and EPA presents the award to partners that have earned successive Partner of the Year awards and display continued leadership by demonstrating long-term commitments to climate action through energy efficiency. This marks the tenth year that Samsung has been named an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence partner in the Product Brand Owner category.

Beyond the efforts we’re making to minimize our environmental footprint, Samsung is empowering our consumers to make a meaningful impact on the environment through everyday changes with our eco-conscious products. In 2022, Samsung had 474 ENERGY STAR certified base models in the U.S., which is an increase compared to 2021. As of 2022, that includes 100% of Samsung dishwashers, notebooks, air purifiers, front-load washers and most of our refrigerators, as well as many of our top-load washers and dryers. Samsung’s investment in America is also tied to ENERGY STAR: all our front load and top load washers from our South Carolina facility are ENERGY STAR certified. Moreover, Samsung is the first major brand to certify many of its new Ultra HD 4K televisions to the latest ENERGY STAR criteria. As of 2022, Samsung global product efficiency improvements, as exemplified by our commitment to ENERGY STAR certified products, have helped our customers avoid an estimated 334 million metric tons of CO2 emissions through the use of our products since 2009 — the equivalent of taking over 71 million cars off the road for a year, nearly three quarters of all passenger cars registered in the U.S.

Moreover, Samsung’s efforts to enrich and expand SmartThings Energy, the first-of-its-kind solution designed to help people better understand and manage their energy use so that they can make smarter, more environmentally conscious decisions about consumption and reduce their carbon footprint, have led the U.S. EPA to award Samsung the industry’s first mass-market Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS) certification. The certification recognizes smart home appliances and services that manage and automate connected devices to help consumers gain insights into their energy use, thereby inspiring energy-saving behavior, reducing costs and helping to facilitate demand response measures that minimize stress on the grid.

The Sustained Excellence award for Energy Management is bestowed on ENERGY STAR partners that demonstrate year over year excellence in improving the energy performance of commercial buildings through a corporate-wide, portfolio-based energy program. Samsung Electronics America has a diverse portfolio of 45 owned and leased buildings located across the U.S. In addition to varying climates, the many buildings are also home to one or more distinct corporate activities from offices to warehouses and distributions centers to electronic and appliance labs. In 2022, Samsung doubled down on our commitment to ENERGY STAR and continued to retrofit major systems in some of our facilities with ENERGY STAR certified equipment and technologies related to HVAC and lighting controls. These continued investments reduce the impact on the climate by our facility operations and have led to an 8.6% reduction in energy use since 2019.

Another testament to our efforts was demonstrated by doubling the number of ENERGY STAR Tenant Space Recognitions in 2022 from six to twelve. This number ranks second nationally for most recognized Tenant Space properties with Samsung representing 17.39% of the total properties recognized nationally.

Samsung is humbled and honored by these recognitions from the ENERGY STAR program and is committed to advanced energy efficiency in our products and operations as part of our key environmental goals and a shared journey to helping mitigate our consumers’ impact on the planet.

For more information on the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Awards, head to www.energystar.gov/awardwinners. To learn more about Samsung’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/.

Samsung Electronics has announced its new environmental strategy, a comprehensive effort to join the global movement to tackle climate change. At the heart of the new commitment is achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by using innovative technologies to implement sustainability throughout its production process, product lifecycle and more — enabling a greener future for all.

In line with this vision, ESG — or environmental, social and corporate governance — is much more than a buzzword at Samsung Electronics, and we believe that having a positive impact on the planet starts with our employees. That’s why we’re highlighting Samsung workers around the world who are leading the way in cultivating a culture of sustainability and social responsibility. We’re breaking down the ins and outs of ESG throughout Samsung and answering your questions on how we’re building a better tomorrow for all.

Next in our new series on how Samsung employees worldwide are building a more sustainable future, we have two women blazing the trail, Francesca Falco and Paula Byrne from the Samsung European Public Affairs Office.

A Day in the Lives of ESG Influencers

There’s more to Brussels than chocolate and waffles. Located in Belgium, Brussels is known for being the unofficial capital of the E.U. due to its long history of hosting several principal E.U. institutions, including the European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Council and European Parliament. Since ESG is subject to increasingly heavy European legislation, the Samsung European Public Affairs office based in Brussels is integral to driving the ESG movement across the company and the continent.

Francesca and Paula work together for Samsung in the Brussels European Public Affairs office, reinforcing Samsung’s ESG strategy. “Our office is in charge of government relations with E.U. institutions,” said Francesca. “This includes building and maintaining strong relationships with the E.U., international organizations and other stakeholders in the areas of sustainability and corporate citizenship.”

The pair monitor and offer guidance on sustainability and corporate responsibility across not only the entire product lifecycle but also Samsung’s corporate activities. From publishing regular reports on environmental impact to collaborating with executives to ensure company-wide transparency and creating an overreaching strategy for Europe, these two women unite people and policy to spearhead a sustainable movement across the entirety of Samsung.

So what’s a day in the life like for these ESG experts?

Francesca and Paula go to work by bicycle. For them, sustainability isn’t just a job — it’s a lifestyle. Fortunately, the Samsung office in Brussels makes living green easy for employees. As the office is located in a walkable neighborhood that is well-served by public transport and easily reached by bike, many employees opt for more green ways to commute. This not only reduces their footprint but also earns them some healthy daily exercise.

Once they’re in the office, Francesca and Paula always greet each other before they start their day. Their daily schedules vary widely — ESG is a broad domain, so their agendas are never quite the same.

“One moment I’m organizing an event for students, the next, I’m reading the European Commission’s latest regulation on eco-design, and a moment later, I’m meeting with other companies to discuss energy efficiency,” said Francesca. “I cover a wide range of topics and tasks, so it never gets boring.”

Building Out a More Sustainable Supply Chain

Above all, Paula believes in the power of partnership — which she brings daily to her role as an Environmental Social Governance Expert for Samsung European Public Affairs.

Paula has been most passionate about her work advising suppliers and customers on safety, health, well-being, good labor practices, human rights and the environment, which has already seen fruitful results. As a global company, Samsung’s supply chain has an enormous reach and footprint. By working with the men and women shaping the future of ESG standards in Europe and around the world, Paula too hopes to shape the future of ESG at Samsung.

Samsung has adopted a thorough and transparent evaluation process and criteria for its new suppliers. “Samsung’s Eco-Partner evaluation system ensures that all materials used for Samsung products do not contain harmful chemicals or materials,” explained Paula. “Through this program, Samsung requests that all partner companies meet environmental criteria and evaluate themselves regularly.”

Samsung strives to build strategic partnerships with the best-performing suppliers based on mutual trust and offers its suppliers a variety of programs to support funding, education and innovation.

According to Paula, these partnerships are a perfect win-win for Samsung and its customers to create sustainable value. She plans to achieve greater results by sharing skills and knowledge, building both Samsung and her clients’ reputations as sustainable companies.

Helping Students Stay Safe, Responsible and Healthy Online

As a Senior Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Expert at Samsung European Public Affairs, Francesca has an interest in managing the company’s Corporate Citizenship activities in Europe, focusing on education and digital well-being.

Working on such a large scale is certainly impressive, but the personal impact Francesca has on people’s daily lives is what excites her the most. One stand-out example was Samsung’s activities promoting online safety among young people, parents and teachers, which was also Francesca’s first project at the company.

“Every year, Samsung sells millions of technological products which could end up in the hands of young consumers,” said Francesca. “I am proud that as a responsible business, in many European countries, we help create awareness and provide the technical tools minors, parents and caretakers need to use our connected devices safely.”

When it comes to Samsung’s approach to online safety, Francesca explained that we must prepare people with digital skills, provide knowledge and tools to use technology thoughtfully and safely and protect users from harmful content or behavior. As part of Samsung’s Better Internet for Kids Youth Pledge, Francesca mobilized several European subsidiaries to work together and organize workshops to involve youth in Samsung’s discussions on age-appropriate design and online safety features.

Francesca even had the chance to present Samsung’s efforts at the 2020 Safer Internet Forum and later, to European institutions and stakeholders — demonstrating the wide reach of her efforts.

“This type of activity, which goes beyond legal compliance, shows that Samsung is putting in genuine efforts to make a better future,” said Francesca. “Now that Samsung has announced its new environmental strategy, we look forward to supporting our headquarters’ climate and circular economy efforts with regional initiatives.”

Growing a Green Company Culture

Francesca and Paula strive to be eco-conscious whether they’re at home or in the office. For instance, both Francesca and Paula try to promote more sustainable choices as part of their office culture, such as reducing paper and plastic use and organizing recycling more efficiently.

Their entire office even got on board, installing a water filtration system for drinking water — in doing so, eliminating the use of plastic bottles — and replacing the coffee capsule machine with a bean-to-cup coffee machine.

After all, when it comes to making changes that protect the planet, Francesca believes it all comes down to mindset.

“The main obstacle to real change is the feeling that individual choices have no or limited impact. This is far from true,” said Francesca. “Our choice of how we get to work, what we eat, how we hold meetings and how many business trips we take can inspire those around us and create a wave of change.”

“We have one planet, and the mistreatment of it affects us all,” added Paula. “It is important to drive employees and consumers to make better choices for the environment. Environmental harm is closely connected to people, our work, our health and the general well-being and stability in our communities.”

Green Is Gold

Over the years, sustainability has gone from a “good to have” to a “must have.” From an individual to a company-wide level, there is a much bigger awareness of the need for ESG in business. This passion starts from its employees and drives positive change at Samsung at all levels: from design and manufacturing to sales and communication.

“It is crucial that my employer is a responsible corporate citizen because I want to work for a company that shares my values and matches my lifestyle choices,” said Francesca. “I love using my knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on the world, and I take great pride in knowing that with Samsung, I contributed to the launch and deployment of environmental and educational activities.”

“Technology can really be used for the good of the planet, profit and people,” added Paula. “Working for a company that considers the care of our planet as a key target is smart and can remain in business for future generations.

Companies have an important role in protecting the ecosystem and preserving natural resources for future generations. At Samsung, we strive to be the most socially responsible workplace we can be and to integrate sustainability into daily life for our employees.

The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program has been America’s resource for saving both energy and money, as well as protecting the climate, for 30 years. As part of its annual ENERGY STAR Awards, the EPA honors businesses and organizations for leading their industries in the creation of energy-efficient products and services, and in the development and adoption of strategies that provide substantial energy savings in buildings.

“Sustainability is core to Samsung’s mission and we have an obligation to help stem the effects of climate change and preserve our planet for future generations. These accolades from the EPA reflect our ongoing efforts to reduce our impact through our efficient ENERGY STAR products, as well as through our reduced energy footprint in the built environment,” said Mark Newton, Head of Corporate Sustainability for Samsung Electronics America. “We’re proud to promote the EPA ENERGY STAR program and are thrilled to be recognized for our leadership in delivering sustainable innovations to our customers and supporting a clean and efficient energy economy in our operations.”

“We know it’s going to take all of us working together to tackle the climate crisis, and the 2022 ENERGY STAR award-winning partners are demonstrating what it takes to build a more sustainable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These companies are showing once again that taking action in support of a clean energy economy can be good not only for the environment, but also for business and customers.”

The Sustained Excellence Award for Product Brand Owner represents a prominent honor granted by the ENERGY STAR program. It’s awarded to ENERGY STAR partners that have made a long-term commitment to fighting the climate crisis by providing and promoting energy efficient products to consumers and demonstrating leadership in energy efficiency. This marks the ninth year that Samsung has been named an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence partner in the Product Brand Owner category.

As a global technology leader, Samsung believes that consumers should have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the environment through everyday changes — and those changes include the opportunity to purchase energy efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features or comfort. In 2021, Samsung had 381 ENERGY STAR base models in the U.S., which is an increase of 25% compared to 2020. Moreover, all of Samsung’s PCs, dishwashers, front load clothes washers and air purifiers are ENERGY STAR certified. Samsung is committed to energy efficiency innovation and that is why the company won the 2021 ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award for Advanced Adaptive Compressors in the refrigerator category and the 2022 Emerging Technology Award for Induction Cooking Tops. These awards recognize groundbreaking technologies that advance energy efficiency significantly. Globally, Samsung product efficiency innovations have helped our customers avoid an estimated 301 million tons of CO2 emissions since 2009, the equivalent of removing more than 65 million cars off the road.

The Partner of the Year for Energy Management Award is given to ENERGY STAR partners that can demonstrate excellence in improving the energy performance of buildings and plants through a corporate-wide, portfolio-based energy program. From offices to warehouses and distribution centers, to electronic and appliance labs, Samsung Electronics America has a diverse portfolio of 41 buildings located across the country. As of 2021, the company has received ENERGY STAR Tenant Space recognition for seven leased spaces. As of 2021, this number ranked second nationally for most recognized properties within Tenant Space. As a result, Samsung Electronics America represented about 19% of the total properties recognized nationally within Tenant Space.

In addition to the Tenant Space effort, Samsung is meeting previous commitments for energy demand mitigation by retrofitting facilities with ENERGY STAR certified equipment, fixtures and products, as well as powering all facilities in the U.S., including manufacturing, with 100% renewable energy. Moreover, in 2021, Samsung enjoyed a continued reduction in electricity consumption from 2020 resulting in a 10% reduction in Weather Normalized Site Energy Use Intensity (kBtu/ft2).

Samsung’s commitment to energy efficient products and operations is a critical aspect of the company’s efforts to tackle climate change. The company looks forward to our continued efforts in ensuring consumers can make a meaningful impact on the environment through everyday changes, including by focusing on energy efficiency.

For more information about the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Awards, head to www.energystar.gov/about/awards. To learn more about Samsung’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.samsung.com/us/explore/sustainability/.

The EPA annually recognizes the top performers within its SMM Program. SMM Electronics Challenge participants are rethinking product life cycles, committing to innovative and responsible electronics management, and reducing environmental impacts. The 2020 SMM Electronics Challenge Award winners will be recognized at a virtual award ceremony later today.

“Samsung is humbled by the EPA’s recognition of our long-term commitment to the proper collection and recycling of e-waste in the United States and the sustainable design innovations that we continue to drive in product packaging,” said Mark Newton, Head of Corporate Sustainability for Samsung Electronics America. “We will continue to make investments to further our environmental stewardship practices and reduce our impact on climate change as we strive towards a greener and better tomorrow.”

“The Electronics Challenge award winners are corporate role models creating new products that show environmental improvement can go hand-in-hand with other technological advances. EPA encourages others to follow their lead by implementing similar innovative approaches,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

Samsung is one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers and fully embraces the responsibility that comes with our market position to effect change on a large scale to protect the environment. The EPA SMM Gold Tier Award acknowledges our excellence in e-waste collection throughout the U.S. Samsung annually collects and recycles approximately 100 million pounds of e-waste. Since 2008, we’ve recycled over a billion pounds of electronics, diverting them from U.S. landfills and recovering reusable materials.

The EPA SMM Champion Award in the Program Category recognizes Samsung’s innovative Galaxy S10 packaging strategies for its use of material in a more environmentally responsible way. The smartphone’s plastic-free box and interior packaging have been redesigned to reduce its environmental footprint and consume fewer resources. For example, the packaging includes an all-in-one pulp mold for the device and its components to minimize waste. Other adjustments include replacing plastic ties with paper materials. These design change have contributed to making the Galaxy S10’s packaging 32g lighter than that of its predecessors – a 16% packaging weight reduction.

For more information about Samsung’s sustainability efforts, click here, and to learn more about the EPA, please visit www.epa.gov.

In order to contribute to tackling this global crisis, Samsung Electronics has been devising sustainable ways to respond to climate change across all aspects of its business operations. Read on to learn more about the measures implemented by Samsung that aim to provide everyone with a better, more sustainable, tomorrow.

Renewable Energy Usage Reaches 100% in the U.S., China and Europe

In June 2018, Samsung committed to having all its worksites in the U.S., China and Europe rely exclusively on electricity sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Thanks to the unrelenting efforts put in hereafter, in 2019, 92% of the energy used in these worksites was generated by renewable sources; and in 2020, the company achieved its goal of 100% renewable energy for these worksites. Samsung’s efforts to use renewable energy continue across various other regions around the world, including Korea.

Solar panels at parking lots in Samsung campuses in Suwon and Giheung, Korea

Across various worksites in Korea, Samsung has installed solar and geothermal facilities for renewable energy production. At the company’s Suwon, Giheung and Pyeongtaek campuses, geothermal power generation facilities have been installed across the campuses’ parking lots, buildings, roofs and new construction sites.

In each of its operational regions around the world, Samsung has developed and is implementing specific regional action plans in order to promote renewable energy usage, including Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) purchasing and renewable power purchase agreements (PPA). Some examples of these region-specific action plans are the signing of a renewable energy supply contract with wind and solar power suppliers in India; the purchase of renewable energy certificates in Mexico; and the specific percentages of renewable energy set for the company’s worksites in Brazil.

Eco-Conscious Products for Everyday Life

In 2008, Samsung Electronics established its corporate Eco-Council and began holding regular meetings across its various business units to support the development of energy-efficient products. By sharing technologies that help reduce energy consumption and follow eco-conscious trends, the company’s many teams have managed to develop products that simultaneously maximize performance and minimize energy consumption. The results achieved through these co-operative initiatives have also been supported by company-wide efforts to develop highly energy-efficient products.

On January 6, Samsung Electronics unveiled its 2021 TV product portfolio at its virtual First Look event, and also announced the company’s latest long-term sustainability programs that include the inclusion of solar cell-powered remote controls and the reduction of product carbon footprints through the use of recycled materials.

Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLEDs will come with a new solar cell-powered remote control that can be recharged through indoor or outdoor lighting, or USB. This innovation will help prevent the wastage of around 99 million AA batteries over the course of seven years of usage.¹

Samsung is also making efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases throughout the TV product lifecycle through the application of recycled plastics. Samsung has been using recycled materials in the rear covers of their monitors and signage and is now planning to expand their usage into even more components across the company’s visual display product portfolio. Through various efforts including expansion of its Eco-Packaging Design to all 2021 Lifestyle TVs and the majority of the NEO QLED line, Samsung’s Visual Display Business is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000 tons annually, equivalent to the absorption of greenhouse gases by 3.8 million 30-year-old pine trees over the course of a year.²

By using Galaxy smartphones every day, users, too, can help protect the environment. Polyketone, a material that contributes to the reduction of carbon monoxide (greenhouse gas), has been used by Samsung on their Galaxy smartphone and tablet products since 2016. Most recently, in order to reduce the product’s carbon footprint, Samsung applied Polyketone to the side key internal brackets of its Galaxy S21 series.

By pursuing a minimal packaging design and changing the materials used throughout the entire product lifecycle – from manufacturing and distribution through to usage and disposal – Samsung’s Galaxy S21 smartphone have received the ‘Reducing CO₂’ certificate from the Carbon Trust,³ acknowledging the reduction of greenhouse gases the Galaxy S21 produces compared to the previous model.

In addition, the company has reduced the standby power consumption of its flagship Galaxy smartphones’ chargers since 2012 to press the problem of power waste. In the year since, the company has applied this environmentally conscious enhancement to the chargers of devices throughout its product range, and is currently aiming to reduce the standby power consumption of chargers to zero.

Samsung’s dishwashers DW80R9950UG, DW80R7060UG

As for Samsung’s home appliances, the mission to reduce products’ energy consumption is ongoing. Samsung’s dishwashers are also energy-efficient. In 2021, the DW80R9950UG and DW80R7060UG models sold in the U.S. were included in Energy Star’s 2021 Most Efficient Dishwashers list, satisfying the criteria of annual energy use of less than 240 kWh per year and water consumption less than 3.2 gallons per cycle for standard-sized models. This translates to 67 kWh per year in energy savings and 387 gallons per year in water savings compared to a conventional product.

In the company’s Semiconductor business, remarkable sustainable progress has also been made. A total of nine key memory products – four DRAM solutions, three solid state drives (SSDs) and two embedded storage (eStorage) devices – have received the Carbon Trust’s Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) certification. In addition to this, the 512GB eUFS 3.1 has been recognized with the semiconductor industry’s first Reducing CO₂ label.

Samsung has also been making efforts towards sustainability right from the manufacturing stage of packaging materials for the Portable SSD T7 Touch by developing an eco-conscious pulp material to replace plastic tray components. By using one-third less tray packaging, replacing the plastic trays with eco-conscious pulp material and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions throughout its production, the company saved approximately 84 tons of carbon.

Receiving Accolades and Acknowledgement for Eco-Efficiency

Six Samsung refrigerator models sold in the U.S. have been awarded the 2020 ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Every year, the EPA, through its ENERGY STAR Program, chooses one or two innovative technologies for their Emerging Technology Award. In 2020, the awards recognized six Samsung refrigerator models that successfully met three strict performance criteria: (1) super-efficient compressors; (2) low greenhouse gas blowing agents for their insulation; (3) low greenhouse gas refrigerants. Samsung digital inverter compressors use around 30% less energy than single-speed induction motor compressors, and thus also help contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The greenhouse effect, caused by increased global usage of fossil fuels, and the climate change witnessed in recent years are two of our greatest threats. Samsung will continue to monitor the ongoing climate change situation and pursue energy-efficient products and manufacturing processes in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the usage of renewable energies.

The company will also continue to pursue its policies of increasing energy efficiency and minimizing the usage of resources so that its users can rest assured that they are doing their part to help mitigate climate change with products that require low electricity and provide high performance.

¹ 7 years is the average lifecycle of TV products.

² Based on internal research.

³ The Carbon Trust is an accredited non-profit certification body established by the British government in 2001 to award the Carbon Footprint Certification to eco-conscious products and services after a comprehensive assessment of the carbon emissions produced throughout the entire production cycle of the product.