“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 Integration¹ 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.

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

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking images of once beautiful beaches that are now covered in plastic waste. This problem means that birds, turtles and other forms of sea life are now required to share their habitats with endless mounds of bottles, straws and other discarded plastics.

So far, most of our efforts to clean up the ocean have focused on single use plastic products. But the plastics we see are actually only the tip of the iceberg. Below the ocean’s surface lurks an invisible threat that grows more serious by the day, and makes the development of eco-conscious products and solutions more important than ever.

Our Oceans: A Sink for Microplastics

Scientists estimate that the ocean floor alone is now home to over 14 million tons¹ of what are called “microplastics”. These tiny pieces of plastic are often too small to see with the naked eye, but can also measure up to 5mm in size.

But, while often incredibly small, these microplastics can have devastating effects on ecosystems and even human health. Around the world, more than 80 percent of tap water samples contain traces of microplastics.² One study from the World Wildlife Fund estimates that humans ingest the equivalent of one credit card of plastic per week³ through the air they breathe and the water they drink.

Where Do Microplastics Come From?

Microplastics can enter the environment in a few different ways. The first is when they’re released directly as small plastic particles, such as microbeads. These substances are known as primary microplastics. The second way is when larger plastics from everyday items break down over time into tiny pieces. These types are known as secondary microplastics.

But another form of microplastic that many people aren’t aware of is the kind that is released from our laundry when we wash synthetic textiles. That includes your favorite fleece sweater, your nylon jacket, and yes, even those comfy spandex yoga pants. From manufacturing these fabrics to washing them, microplastics can be created throughout many stages of these products’ lifecycles.

Partnering Up To Stop Microplastics

However, there is hope on the horizon that we will soon be able to start eliminating microplastics from our waterways. NGOs, governments and brands around the world have taken note of the rising number of these invisible but harmful plastics and are taking important actions to help keep them out of our oceans. Add-on filters for washing machines and protective laundry bags are just some of the solutions that are now available to help capture some of the microplastics released during washing.

Working With Samsung To Stem the Tide

While add-on filters and laundry bags are a start, more holistic solutions are needed to cut down the amount of microplastics that are released throughout a product’s lifecycle. That’s why Samsung is working with Patagonia on a joint solution.

Together, the companies are working on a feasible, effective and expandable way to combat the microplastics that result from textiles and laundry. Samsung is taking the goal of cleaner oceans to heart by designing a sophisticated new washing machine that lets people safely wash their favorite garments while minimizing the impact of microplastics. And this eco-conscious solution will come without compromising on the high-performance cleaning and care that Samsung’s washers are known for.

This is only the latest in a long line of steps Samsung is taking to create long-lasting appliances that improve environmental sustainability. Samsung’s washers already use a unique feature called Ecobubble, which lets consumers clean their clothes efficiently, even at low temperatures, by generating a greater amount of bubbles. This helps the detergent quickly penetrate fabrics and remove dirt, all while saving energy and protecting the color and texture of the clothing.

What’s more, the AI Wash feature makes use of sensors to measure the weight of the load and the level of soiling to ensure that the optimal amount of water, detergent and energy is used to get that specific load clean – cutting down water waste, and using less energy in the process.

Collaborations like the one between Samsung and Patagonia can help turn the tide on ocean pollution. With its commitment to sustainable living, Samsung will continue working to design products that minimize its impact on the environment. Because the best way to get plastics out of our oceans is to prevent them from ending up there in the first place.

¹ “Microplastic Pollution in Deep-Sea Sediments From the Great Australian Bight,” CSIRO, (2020)

² “Invisibles The Plastic Inside Us,” Orb Media, (2017)

³ “No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People,” World Wide Fund For Nature, (2019)

As part of Samsung’s efforts towards creating eco-conscious products and services across all areas of its business operations, the Samsung TV’s solar cell-powered remote control is powered by lighting instead of conventional disposable batteries and can be recharged using sunlight, indoor lighting or USB.

Take a look at the video below to learn more about the sustainable – yet high-performing – Samsung’s SolarCell Remote.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics strives to incorporate environmental sustainability into everything we do. Our products are thoughtfully designed to minimize the impact on the environment during their entire lifecycle – from planning and manufacturing to consumption and recycling.

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.