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.

Following on from the previous iteration in the series for this year’s World Environment Day introducing the efforts being made across Samsung Electronics to reduce carbon emissions as told by the company’s employees themselves, Samsung Newsroom heard from the Device Solutions (DS) Division.

Take a look at the card news below to learn more about the DS employees’ efforts towards creating products with a reduced carbon footprint, as well as some of the industry recognition the Division has received in light of the sustainable actions taken so far.

No matter what country you live in, if something happens to our world, it affects everyone and everything living on Earth. That’s why it’s so important to take care of our planet — we only get one.

At Samsung Electronics, we want to lead by example and create a company culture that is not only dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology, but also to preserving our planet.

At a time when the climate crisis is top of mind, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is especially relevant to Samsung’s sustainability goals. Samsung is dedicated to numerous projects making our world a greener place, such as repurposing discarded fishing nets for use in Galaxy devices.

Samsung Newsroom is kicking off a new series highlighting how Samsung employees worldwide are building a more sustainable future. Jenni Chun’s journey is the first of many to showcase how we’re building a better, brighter world through ESG.

# A Day in the Life of Jenni Chun

Meet Jenni Chun, the Head of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs at Samsung Electronics America (SEA). As part of Samsung America’s Quality Assurance Lab, located half an hour away from SEA’s North American Headquarters in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, Jenni and her team take pride in activities that help tell Samsung’s sustainability story. So what is a day at Samsung like for Jenni?

“I get that question a lot, and I always tell people that no day ever repeats itself,” said Jenni. “My team and I manage such a wide range of topics, and the priorities may change in a moment, which is part of what makes this job so exciting.”

In her role, Jenni analyzes and connects each of Samsung’s products to different regulations and environmental issues, covering everything from air cleaners and dryers to tablets and packaging regulations. Whether her team is auditing, benchmarking or resolving issues related to standards and certifications, she oversees all environmental activities to make each day at Samsung more eco-conscious. No matter what she’s doing, however, Jenni usually collaborates with others to make her vision of sustainability a reality.

“I work closely with our research and development teams to ideate new projects or ideas that could become the next generation of technology while also ensuring a more sustainable future,” said Jenni. “We collaborate to influence at every level, as well as amplify all of our sustainability efforts to consumers.”

Her department has a wide reach — from working with the U.S. Public Affairs team to ensure that Samsung is well-represented in government and trade association communications, to product and brand teams to ideate how the company can reduce its environmental footprint, to Global CS Center’s work to make a global impact, Jenni works hard every day to see how the planet can benefit from Samsung’s vision for a brighter tomorrow.

# Living the Green Mindset

Whether she’s working for Samsung, volunteering for her community, or at home raising her child, Jenni wants to integrate sustainability into everything she does.

For Jenni, there is so much to learn and improve when looking at other countries’ public awareness and environmental practices. Of course, with a global company like Samsung, it is much easier to make an impact working with others than trying to do it alone.

“I’m grateful that my job can contribute to making an impact at a global scale with a company that genuinely cares for the environment,” said Jenni. “We have support from our leaders to make environmental sustainability a top priority.”

Jenni is someone who wants to bring her whole self to work, values and all. So what’s the best way to implement a green mindset at work? Jenni highlights the importance of leading and educating by example, especially when it comes to environmental sustainability.

“I always try to integrate environmental sustainability into conversations with my team because our colleagues are also our consumers,” said Jenni. “It is important to patiently explain, educate and build awareness.”

# The Gold Standard for Sustainability

When it comes to working at Samsung, Jenni is constantly looking to tell the next sustainability story that reduces the company’s environmental impact. According to Jenni, Samsung is a leader in innovation, not only within the technology of its products, but also in how the company practices sustainability. For instance, Jenni spoke highly of Samsung’s various ESG initiatives, like “Samsung Gives Week of Service,” where she was able to plant pollinator flowers with her son and help support the bees.

“I love that it’s a sustainability project where we’re able to speak to others and get the word out about sustainable topics,” said Jenni. “What better way is there to create ambassadors for environmental sustainability than by doing activities like this with our children?”

Beyond participating in internal company initiatives, Jenni has also been recognized for her award-winning work for the company. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually presents a Sustainability Materials Management (SMM) Award recognizing excellence in e-waste collection throughout the United States. Jenni has led the Samsung team to win this Gold-Tier award for the past eight consecutive years since the beginning, as Samsung collects and recycles an average of 100 million pounds of e-waste per year, an accumulation of over 1.1 billion pounds in the United States.

Over the years, Jenni and her team have also contributed to Samsung earning multiple U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Awards. She even worked with the EPA to set new criteria for refrigerators, using advanced adaptive compressors and induction cooktops to make them more energy efficient.

“In the long-term, we are looking for new ways that technology can positively impact our consumers and our planet,” said Jenni. “We wanted to be sure that consumers are benefitting from seamless Samsung technology, lowered costs and minimizing their environmental footprint with more sustainable options.”

# ESG From the Inside Out

For Jenni, sustainability is at the heart of her work at Samsung. So, Samsung Newsroom wanted to know how she spent World Environment Day, a holiday known for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.

For Jenni, she chose to spend time with her family, especially with her son, in the outdoors and appreciate nature up close. During the pandemic, she noticed that many people were spending more in the great outdoors. She, too, wanted to spend time enjoying the environment that her job and her free time focused on defending.

“I took my son to an aquarium, where he not only fell in love with ocean animals, but also learned about environmental issues,” said Jenni. “He discovered that plastic wastes are harmful to marine life, and since then, reducing plastic waste has become a big focus in our household.”

And not to worry — for readers at home, Jenni has her own eco-conscious tips for your everyday life. She recommends that we each change a product or behavior to reduce the use of plastic. This could include avoiding takeout with plastic containers, using reusable grocery bags or switching to hygiene goods made with environmentally friendly packaging.

“It can sometimes be uncomfortable to make a change, but making small, everyday changes can help make a big difference,” said Jenni. “I encourage everyone to make one change today, such as a behavior or product that would reduce your individual environmental footprint.”

In her personal life, Jenni certainly practices what she preaches, living an eco-conscious lifestyle both inside and outside of work. For instance, Jenni does a lot of career mentorship and speaks about sustainability practitioners at Columbia University. As a graduate from the university’s Sustainability Management Program, she has been invited to several career forums to discuss what a sustainability-focused job looks like, especially in the private sector and for large technologies companies, like Samsung.

# Our Planet, Our Future

On this renowned day for environmental action, it is important to remember that a healthy ecosystem can begin at our workplace. Now more than ever, companies must work to improve the quality of our lives, protect our ecosystem and preserve natural resources for future generations. Samsung is doing its part to become a socially responsible place to work by integrating environmental sustainability into every level of the business. We only have one planet Earth, and it’s up to us to care for it.

Jenni Chun is an excellent example of a woman using her passion for educating others on the importance of environmental sustainability to create a greener future for the next generation. From mentoring and providing career advice in her personal time to working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to raise the standard to minimize electronic waste, Jenni is an advocate for positive environmental change.

Learn more about Samsung Electronics’ sustainability initiatives here, and stay tuned for more Samsung employees who are helping to save the planet, one workday at a time.

In response to the growing climate crisis faced by the entire world, the international community is embarking on initiatives to help preserve the environment. Samsung Electronics considers sustainability to be a key business priority, and accordingly, builds eco-conscious efforts into every aspect of its products’ lifecycles across all the various business areas in which it operates.

This World Environment Day, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Samsung employees across the company to learn more about the efforts they are making towards reducing carbon emissions.

As the first episode of this series, take a look at the card news below for an overview of the sustainability efforts being made as told by Visual Display (VD), Mobile eXperience (MX) and Digital Appliances (DA) Business employees.

Be sure to stay tuned for the second episode in this series introducing the efforts of the DS (Device Solutions) Division.

This is why the company is this June launching a month-long celebration of sustainability initiatives, programs, and innovations to celebrate World Environment Day, a global day of sustainability awareness created by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that sees participation from people all around the world.

In order to encourage people to embrace creative and sustainable solutions for World Environment Day this year, Samsung is kicking off its month of sustainable celebration with the launch of Small World, a make-it-yourself cardboard collection to give packaging a second life developed in collaboration with artist Papersmith.

Putting a New Spin on Cardboard Packaging

Since 2020, Samsung has been expanding its revolutionary Eco-packaging solution that lets you upcycle your TV product packaging into helpful home décor items. Inspired by this program’s easy-to-use dot matrix design as a fun and simple way to encourage users to act sustainably, Samsung is commencing its month of eco-conscious activity with Small World, a program that provides users with even more creative ways of re-using cardboard boxes.

In order to bring the Small World program to life, Samsung collaborated with renowned Amsterdam-based paper artist AJ Smith, known as Papersmith, to create an astonishing art piece featuring buildings, animals, and plants built from the product packaging of Samsung TVs, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Buds Pro – and more – alone. What’s more, people around the world, too, can get involved at home through twelve downloadable prints of some of the characters featured in Small World. Along with this do-it-yourself cardboard template collection, users can then share their creations online using the hashtag #ReimagineABetterPlanet.

Towards a Better World for All

This June, Samsung is also going to highlight its existing range of programs, initiatives, and products that support environmental sustainability across the company’s social media channels and website, including the Galaxy Upcycling and Galaxy Upcycling at Home programs that encourage the repurposing of older smartphones into IoT devices and the company’s industry-leading energy-efficient memory chips that enable smarter power consumption from the inside out.

When It Comes to Sustainability, Every Bit Counts

When it comes to sustainability, no effort is too small. Accordingly, another event during Samsung’s month of sustainability awareness is seeing the company put the power of innovation right into the hands of its own employees. This June, Samsung employees based in Korea are set to have the opportunity to take part in an eco-conscious Idea Contest, hosted on the company’s collaboration platform, called MOSAIC. Starting June 9, employees will have two-weeks to share their own ingenious and creative eco-conscious product or service ideas via MOSAIC. By the end of the month, the winners of the competition will be announced internally and awards granted to the submissions that best build on or complement the company’s existing product, service, and packaging sustainability solutions.

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.

Stay tuned for more updates on Small World, the Eco-conscious idea contest, and more during this June’s month-long celebration of sustainability, and be sure to share your own sustainable creations with the hashtag #ReimagineABetterPlanet.

This is how Morfologico turned Samsung’s Eco-Package into a mansion for its kitty Samanta.

To celebrate the World Environment Day, Samsung Electronics Mexico invited Mexican content creator and influencer Morfologico to be part of the change towards a greener world by giving a second life to their television packaging.

Samsung’s Eco-Package was born to create sustainable packaging, first by reducing oil-based ink printing and then with a dot-matrix design so that anyone can create a functional piece for home by giving a second use to the packaging of their TV.

Morfologico’s Neo QLED box had the instructions and guide to create a cat house. With that, he decided to take this activity to a new level, by building a new home for his pet cat Samanta with a very innovative design.

The result was breathtaking: first with exterior decorations and then with spectacular lighting inside the house. To make the mansion cozier, Morfologico placed a rug made with Samanta’s favorite blanket, a portrait and even a miniature Samsung “screen” for her to watch mouse videos.

Undoubtedly the most surprised with the level of luxury and detail was Samanta, but Morfo shared his work on social networks and mesmerized his followers with his creativity.

Samsung foresees that, if each Eco-Package is used as accessories in homes, it could reduce up to 10,000 tons of greenhouse gases in 2021. In this respect, Samsung promotes accessibility, sustainability, and innovation in all its products and technologies to help redefine the role of television in consumers’ homes.

The company has embarked on a sustainability journey that puts the environment first in all business operations with several long-term sustainable programs, including eco-friendly packaging design across its 2021 display lineup, solar cell-powered remote controls, and carbon footprint reduction through the use of recycled materials.

Thus, to mark World Environment Day, Morfologico demonstrated that a new and fun way to recycle is possible thanks to the Eco-Package of Samsung TVs.

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.

Sustainability has always been a central theme for us designers; we understand the crucial role design plays when it comes to creating a sustainable future. So at a time when caring for our environment has become ever more important, let us take the opportunity to commemorate World Environment Day by sharing our vision for a better tomorrow through design.

Don-tae Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Corporate Design Center at Samsung Electronics

It will certainly take time to fully achieve environmental sustainability in a way that everyone can benefit from. For many, environmental issues may have been difficult to relate to until they’ve started to experience tangible changes in their daily lives, such as using air purifiers due to fine dust problems or wearing masks to prevent the spread of viral diseases. From a design perspective, even if initiatives such as waste minimization, upcycling and energy efficiency maximization are put into place, there is still always more to be done. On top of this, designers always need to consider the aesthetics of their design in addition to its environmental footprint.

There are three main principles behind the concept of sustainable design. The first is the Eco-design Process. This is where eco-friendly initiatives, such as low energy consumption and high energy efficiency, are implemented throughout the entirety of a concept’s design process, from planning through to development. An example of this would be the upcycling approach Samsung harnessed when producing special edition Galaxy S20+ cases. In order to develop cases that utilized end-of-life PET water bottles, Samsung partnered with premium Danish textile brand Kvadrat. The collaboration saw over two years of sustainable development and planning to ensure that the end products would be both aesthetically relevant and eco-friendly. The resulting manufacture process differed from that of conventional cases in that it harnessed recycled yarns to create a substantial material to work with; from sourcing these recycled materials to ensuring the products passed Samsung’s stringent reliability standards, the entire design process had sustainability built into it.

Samsung’s sustainable Galaxy S20+ cases, created in collaboration with Kvadrat

The second key principle of sustainable design is to create resonance with those who use the products by involving consumers’ considerations in the eco-design process. Samsung’s recently introduced ‘eco-packaging’ for its global lifestyle TV products is one such example. The innovative cardboard packaging, which serves both as protection for the TV product and can also be used in numerous ways as a piece of sustainable furniture, was developed out of the understanding that, when consumers purchased TVs, they were also often purchasing other furniture items for their homes at the same time. In order to give these consumers more eco-friendly furnishing options, the TV’s packaging comes with easy-to-follow DIY instructions on how to transform the versatile cardboard into a standalone shelf, a TV table or even a cat house. The end goal of this was to give consumers more options when looking to take part in environmental protection – and to help them avoid being wasteful.

Samsung’s lifestyle TV packaging can be repurposed to serve as a cat house

The final principle is to give consumers the tools they need to make real changes to their lifestyles towards living sustainably and protecting the environment. Samsung’s SmartThings Energy¹, part of Samsung’s IoT platform SmartThings, is a service that allows users to easily and comprehensively monitor their home’s electricity consumption. The service is designed to provide users with a more grounded understanding of their energy consumption and the effects their energy reduction efforts can have, as it provides this information in the form of visualizations. Such a service is capable of raising its users’ awareness of sustainable living and encouraging them to take steps towards more eco-friendly behavior.

In 1996, Samsung elevated design to being one of the company’s core competencies, and since then the company has consistently placed users at the center of its design philosophy. This is in line with Samsung’s mission of contributing to a better global society; if a sustainable society is not the end goal, then what use does any such action have? This is why the company opened design studios all over the world, including in Seoul, San Francisco, London, New Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo and São Paulo to research and study emerging sustainable design and lifestyle trends. Today, over 1,500 of our designers are studying sustainable development and design and collaborating to find solutions that are able to meet the company’s high sustainability expectations.

Samsung Electronics will continue to develop products and solutions that reflect the concerns of consumers who value ethical consumption and environmentally-friendly initiatives. We will also keep working towards creating a sustainable future for all with eco-friendly designs that have the consumer at their core.

¹ Currently only available in South Korea

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The keys to conservation are simple: reduce, reuse, recycle. Samsung applies these fundamental principles to product design by employing a system of circular resource management. Or, in layman’s terms, by mapping out a lifecycle of sorts for the devices it develops.

In a nutshell, Samsung aims to minimize its products’ environmental impact by maximizing resource efficiency from assembly to eventual disposal. This entails reusing parts, utilizing recycled packaging and plastics, and increasing the recyclability of new products’ components for later use.

A Green Stamp of Approval

In 2005, Samsung established in-house processes to ensure the eco-friendliness of its products from the development stage, and in 2014, the company instituted a proprietary system to assess the ecological merits of each product with an ‘eco-rating’.

The system’s three ratings – Eco-Product, Good Eco-Product and Premium Eco-Product – take into account each country’s eco-labeling standards, evaluating a wide range of criteria concerning a product’s compliance with energy and resource efficiency regulations, as well as its environmental impact.

As of the end of 2016, approximately 86 percent of Samsung products in development had attained ratings of Good Eco-Product or higher. This year, Samsung plans to revise its in-house evaluation formula to also incorporate the eco-labeling criteria of external accreditation bodies. The goal is to ensure that by 2020, 90 percent of Samsung products in development reflect the highest eco-labeling standards.

A Roadmap to Reduce GHG Emissions

In 2014, Samsung laid out a comprehensive roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in both the manufacturing process as well as in the product use stage.

At the product use stage, the goal is to achieve a cumulative reduction of 250 million tons of GHG emissions by 2020. Samsung intends to reach that magic number by taking innovative measures to improve its products’ energy efficiency – measures that, thus far, have yielded encouraging results. In fact, the company’s actions resulted in a reduction of approximately 188 million tons of accumulated GHG emissions from 2009 to 2016.

At manufacturing sites, Samsung aims to reduce GHG intensity levels by 70 percent (compared to 2008) by 2020. The company has made considerable headway on this goal by optimizing its global manufacturing sites and production facilities’ energy efficiency, and treating emissions, such as fluorinated greenhouse gases, that are generated during the production process.

More Eco-Friendly Every Year

In addition to reducing GHG emissions, Samsung is constantly exploring innovative ways to eliminate the use of hazardous substances in the manufacturing process. These measures not only lead to safer work environments, but safer products overall.

Over the past several years, Samsung has reduced its use of a range of hazardous substances commonly used in electronics manufacturing. As a result, products including Samsung’s latest TVs and smartphones are free of widely used but potentially harmful substances including PVC, a common synthetic plastic, flame retardants such as TBBP-A and BFRs, and phthalates.

Samsung’s commitment to reducing its devices’ environmental impact is responsible for QLED TV’s groundbreaking cadmium-free design. In addition, the recently released Galaxy S8 and S8+ have also been lauded for being especially environmentally friendly, having achieved ECOLOGO Gold certification to the ANSI/UL 110 sustainability standard.

The distinction – awarded by UL Environment, a division of Underwriters Laboratories, a global safety science company – evaluates criteria including a device’s energy efficiency, charging systems, use of post-consumer recycled and bio-based plastics, and ease of disassembly.

Samsung innovations have consistently attained such ‘green’ certifications. In total, as of the end of 2016, 2,054 Samsung models had been awarded eco-label certifications from governments and accreditation bodies the world over.

A Growing List of Green Innovations

Samsung’s flagship devices represent just the latest additions to a lengthy list of accolades the company has garnered for going green. Governments and environmental organizations around the globe have lauded Samsung with awards for an array of eco-friendly products, and in recognition of the well-rounded, ‘circular’ system of resource management mentioned above.

The system’s goal is not to simply manufacture cutting-edge devices in a responsible way, but to ensure the same eco-efficiency at the latter stages of the device’s lifecycle – namely everyday use and eventual disposal. Samsung’s commitment to green design at each product stage has seen the company minimize the eco-footprints of some of its most dynamic innovations.

These extensive efforts have led leading environmental authorities such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consistently honor Samsung for its responsible, energy efficient designs. These sustainability-minded distinctions encompass a wide range of categories and products including, most recently, the aforementioned cadmium-free Quantum dot technology behind Samsung’s TVs.

Properly addressing tomorrow’s environmental challenges requires manufacturers to carefully consider how their products will ultimately be recycled. Samsung’s foresight in this aspect of design has also garnered consistent accolades, including last year’s Design for Recycling Award from the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).

Samsung earned the distinguished honor, which recognizes a single brand who exhibits exceptional consideration for product recyclability, for its Curved Full HD TV (UN55K6250). The TV is the first to utilize polyketone, a plastic made from converting carbon monoxide, and its streamlined design allows it to be easily recycled.

Other commendations that Samsung received last year for eco-friendly innovations are outlined in the chart below.

The company’s current range of eco-offerings encompasses its smartphones, TVs, digital appliances and other products.

Going forward, Samsung will continue to develop exciting eco-friendly innovations that demonstrate the merits of going green in product design, and will ultimately help preserve our planet for future generations.