The EPA’s SMM Electronics Challenge program honors brands that have employed innovative strategies to use materials in a more environmentally responsible way throughout their lifecycle. Samsung’s eco-innovation in materials and responsible recycling program have been recognized each year by the EPA and our consumer recycling programs have received the highest SMM award level since the SMM Program’s inception in 2014. The 2021 SMM Electronics Challenge Award winners were recognized at a virtual award ceremony held today.

“At Samsung, we’re making sustainability the driving force of our bold innovations and we’re deeply honored by the EPA’s recognition of those efforts,” said Mark Newton, Head of Corporate Sustainability for Samsung Electronics America. “Our engineers and designers are continuously finding meaningful ways to reduce waste and minimize our environmental impact as part of our journey toward a more circular economy. When consumers buy a Samsung product, we want them to feel confident that they’re not only experiencing our cutting-edge technology and eco-innovation advances, but we’re also making it easy for them to repair, refurbish and recycle their products as well.”

“It’s going to take all of us working together to build a sustainable future, and I applaud the organizations recognized today for their leadership in essential electronic recycling efforts,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Electronics are a global economic driver with supply chains that reach around the world and products that play a big role in our daily lives. Because of these organizations’ efforts, we’re able to recover and recycle valuable resources like precious metals, critical minerals, plastics and glass.”

The EPA SMM Gold Tier Award, which Samsung has won for the eighth consecutive year, acknowledges our excellence in e-waste collection throughout the United States. We collect and recycle an average of 100 million pounds of e-waste per year in the United States, the greenhouse gas (GHG) equivalent of over two million trees sequestering carbon for ten years. Since 2008, we’ve responsibly recycled more than a billion pounds of electronics, diverting them from U.S. landfills and recovering reusable materials. And Samsung has an aggressive goal to incorporate 500,000 tons of recycled plastics into our products globally by 2030.

In addition to our legacy of SMM innovations over the years, the EPA Sustained Excellence Award recognizes Samsung’s SolarCell Remote, which was introduced in early 2021 and developed to reduce battery waste and to help close the loop on plastic waste. This innovation — which is currently available with Samsung 4K and 8K QLED (Neo, Q80A, Q70A, Q60A) and MicroLED televisions — is projected to eliminate the disposal of 99 million AA batteries and avoid 5,840 tons of GHG over the course of seven years of usage.* Beyond reducing battery waste, Samsung is cutting down on plastic waste as the remote contains 24% upcycled Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polycarbonate (PC).

What’s more is that, in January 2022, Samsung unveiled advancements on the second generation of its SolarCell Remote, which can now draw electricity from radio frequencies in devices like Wi-Fi routers. The remote has also been included in more Samsung products, such as new Samsung TVs and home appliances – all with the aim of eliminating the disposal of more than 200 million AA batteries from landfills.

To explore more about Samsung’s responsible recycling programs and innovative sustainability efforts, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/explore/sustainability/. And to learn more about the EPA Sustainable Materials Management programs, head to https://www.epa.gov/smm.

* Seven years is the average lifecycle of TV products.

Having a dedicated workspace is imperative to creating a conducive environment that allows us to perform at our best. Increasingly, workers are looking for multi-functional devices that value versatility without sacrificing performance. As we make our way back to the office, it’s time to evaluate our workstation set-up.

Maximize productivity and enhance entertainment

Everyone knows the benefits of having a second monitor to extend your laptop screen—take this another step further with a smart monitor that combines a seamless blend of work and play in a single, sleek, and sophisticated display unit. Samsung’s M5 and M7 Smart Monitors come in varying screen sizes to suit your needs, ranging from 24” to 43”.

The monitor with an Ultra-HD screen lets you access Smart TV apps and streaming services from the monitor, so there’s no need to connect a separate device. With the PC on Screen[1] feature, you can also access the Microsoft 365 suite without a PC connection, allowing you to conveniently view, edit, and save documents in the cloud. Even while at home, Easy Connection feature lets you work remotely on your office desktop.

A mobile screen is great on the go, but why strain your eyes when there is a better option? Using the DeX[2] feature, wirelessly connect your mobile device to the Smart Monitor and enjoy a full PC experience, without an actual PC. DeX will display your mobile productivity apps, including video conferencing, email, documents, and browsers, in a desktop view—and all you need is the monitor and your phone.

For Apple users, you can connect your devices with AirPlay2, allowing seamless integration with the Smart Monitor. Improve your workflow by creating a wireless dual monitor setup with your MacBook or enjoy photos, videos, and music from your iPad or iPhone.

Efficiency at its best

During a busy workday full of meetings and presentations, there’s no time to waste on auxiliary actions such as looking for adapters or fiddling with connections. With Automatic Source Switch+, your monitor detects and switches to newly connected devices as soon they’re plugged in. This also means that multiple people can take turns connecting to the monitor with minimal fuss, making this the perfect tool for collaborative work sessions.

Additionally, the SolarCell remote[3] works with Bixby to control the Smart Monitor, allowing you to switch between apps, control videos, and more. Just press and hold the Voice Assistant button on your remote and then say your command. If you’re concerned about your eco-footprint, then say goodbye to disposable batteries. With a solar-powered, all-in-one remote included, the Smart Monitor delivers eco-friendly efficiency with charging from indoor sunlight, lightbulbs, or a USB-C connection. The remote has been partially crafted from recycled plastic for enhanced sustainability.

Having a Smart Monitor that connects everything benefits both your team and your business at large. Your team can now share projects and data on a single device, without having to navigate multiple platforms or perform inter-device transfers. Be it on a desk or in a meeting room, this minimalist monitor will fit right into any office setting and become a fast favourite among working teams.

[1] Windows 10 Pro, Mac OS 10.5, or higher, and compatible network settings are required for this feature.

[2] Wireless DeX is supported on selected Galaxy, Note, and Tab devices.

[3] Only applicable to 43’’ M7 Smart monitor

Samsung Electronics strives to incorporate environmental sustainability into everything it does. The company’s products are thoughtfully designed to minimize their impact on the environment throughout their lifecycle – from the planning and manufacturing stages to their use and recycling.

This includes using power-efficient semiconductor chips, sustainable packaging and energy-saving technology, and offering consumers the ability to upcycle packaging and old devices. Through tangible solutions like these, the company is empowering consumers to take part in an important mission: conserving resources and reducing their environmental footprint.

These efforts are reflected in the company’s TV lineup, including its 75-inch Neo QLED TV (QN90A). Check out the infographic below to examine how Samsung took a ‘full circle’ approach to sustainability with one of its latest displays.

With all that has happened over the past year, it is now more important than ever before to assure our present and our future. The time is now to put our commitments into action.

Sometimes, big changes start with small actions. Leaving a positive impact on the environment can start in the form of small things we do at home to the purchase decisions we make when buying devices. Here are 4 mini projects that you can easily embark on during World Environment Day that will help make a big difference:

Give used packaging a second lease of life

Offering something for everyone, Samsung’s eco-packaging can be transformed into fun and functional household items such as bedside shelves, coffee tables and even cat houses!

Packaging materials serve a crucial role of protecting a product from damage before it gets into the hands of consumers. But given the materials they are made of, product packaging has so much more to offer beyond the delivery and unpacking stage.

For years now, many of us have been reusing product packaging such as cardboard boxes for storage. However, with some ingenuity and the right stationery, cardboards can actually be redesigned into proper home furniture! Today, there are plenty of hobbyist websites that show you how to covert cardboards into amazing furniture such as chairs, tables and even playhouses.

Samsung’s Eco-Package, for instance, lets consumers convert their product packaging into functional and fun furniture such as shoe racks, mini coffee tables and even cat houses! All you need to do is cut out the packaging by following the printed dots and assemble the parts to create an amazing item! For more design inspiration, check out: https://www.samsung-ecopackage.com/

Eliminate the (energy) vampire in your home

Galaxy Smartphone Chargers are designed to reduce energy consumption when in “standby mode”

You might think that there is no energy consumption when a device is not in use or not plugged in. However, even when on ‘standby,’ most devices have main components that are still running[1], ready to use anytime.

This represents a major source of energy inefficiency. Standby power usage accounts for about 10% of the total power consumption of households[2], giving it the notorious nickname: “The Power Vampire”. As a consumer, you can play a part in reducing energy consumption by looking out for devices built to attain near-zero standby power instead.

Since 2012, Samsung has reduced the standby power consumption of flagship Galaxy devices’ chargers to address the problem of power waste[3]. This has led to collective savings 13 million kilowatts (kW) of energy[4] – equivalent to the energy output of 4.5 hydroelectric power plants!

We have since applied this enhancement to the chargers of devices throughout our product range[5] and are currently aiming to reduce the standby power consumption of chargers to zero.

Look out for innovative technology built on sustainability

Launched in 2021, Samsung’s Solar cell-powered remote control will collectively prevent the wastage of 99 million AA batteries over the course of seven years.

Cutting-edge innovations can be built with sustainability in mind. When making purchase considerations as a consumer, you can play a part in protecting the environment by looking out for sustainability practices and green features. Ultimately, when you are using a device with built-in sustainability features, you are not only helping the environment – you will most likely enjoy savings in the long run too!

At Samsung, our sustainability-based approach to innovation has transpired into many new devices with best-in-class sustainability features, including:

• The Solar cell-powered remote control[6], which can be recharged through outdoor lighting or USB. Collectively, this will prevent the wastage of around 99 million AA batteries over the course of seven years[7].

• Our flagship AI Ecobubble washing machines, which leverage AI to optimize water, detergent and wash cycles, cuts wash time by up to 50% and energy usage by 20%[8] – going easy on the environment and utility bills!

• The Wind-Free Air Conditioner, which reduces energy consumption by 77%[9].

Upcycle your old devices

New innovations within the consumer electronics space are being introduced at breakneck speeds. Understandably, you would be inclined to purchase the latest gadgets to better support your lifestyles at some point.

However, this doesn’t have to mark the end of the line for your existing devices! Instead of disposing an old device, give it a new lease of life through upcycling. With a little dose of creativity, you can give your old device a new job by using it for a completely different purpose.

Here are a few simple thought-starters to give your old smartphone a new lease of life:

1. Use it as a permanent in-car GPS
2. Use it as a security camera at home to monitor your children, pets or elderly parents via an app
3. Use it as a standalone music player by connecting to your favourite speakers
4. Use it as a bedside e-book reader

Inspire others and do your part for collective action

Ultimately, every single action counts towards a greater good and your environmental-friendly habits will go a long way to inspire those around you. Let’s make this World Environmental Day more than just a social media post!

[1] Standby power will be marked as zero (0.00w) if the charger’s standby power reaches below 5mW to reduce power consumption.

[2] https://green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/green-tip/eliminate-vampire-power

[3] Based on 15W and 25W Galaxy smartphone chargers.

[4] The 540 million 15W and 25W Galaxy smartphone chargers sold from 2014 to 2019 saved approximately 350 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy (compared to the 100mW Level VI standard of Europe’s ErP and the United States’ Department of Energy), which is equivalent to the combined energy output of 4.5 hydroelectric power plants (13 million kWh-class).

[5] Availability of 20mW chargers may vary depending on markets’ national energy standards and policies.

[6] Available with all 2021 QLED TV product lines.

[7] Figure based on internal Samsung research (7 years is average lifecycle of TV products).

[8] Tested on WW7000T compared with Samsung WW6500K. Saves 50% time on Cotton (40℃, half load) cycle with washing performance within ±5%. Based on Intertek data.

[9] When set to Wind-Free mode; and compared to the unit’s Fast Cooling Mode

(From left) Engineers Kwanyoung Kim and Seungsan Han, and designer Sungdo Son – members of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business, and the developers behind the company’s new solar cell-powered remote control and environmentally friendly TV packaging.

Did you know that out of the more than 50 million¹ tons of electronics that are thrown away each year, only a mere 17 percent is eventually recycled? Most of this ‘e-waste’ ends up polluting the environment by sitting in landfills or being incinerated. With annual e-waste expected to reach as much as 74 million tons by 2030, the global community has started taking steps to reduce consumption and minimize waste.

Driven by a desire to keep our planet clean for generations to come, Samsung Electronics regularly engages in eco-conscious efforts that are helping to establish a circular economy. The company is constantly exploring ways to reduce its products’ impact on the environment, including increasing products’ lifespans and spearheading efforts to recycle their resources.

In celebration of Earth Day 2021 (April 22), this special series will shine a light on Samsung initiatives that are paving the way for a circular economy. Our first article took a closer look at how the company’s recycling campaigns are giving old phones new life. Here, we’ll examine how Samsung’s Visual Display Business is making its TVs more sustainable by adopting eco-friendly packaging and solar-cell-powered remote controls.

Today, innovation no longer focuses solely on creating a more convenient and efficient future, but a sustainable one as well. As such, leaders in the fields of science and technology are devoting their utmost efforts to making their products eco-friendly without compromising on performance.

Samsung consistently pursues innovations that allow it to make its products more environmentally friendly. Recently, the company added an eco-friendly touch to one of consumers’ favorite appliances by developing a remote control that’s made using renewable plastic and powered by photovoltaic energy rather than disposable batteries, as well as TV packaging that can be reused as small furniture. Samsung Newsroom recently sat down with members of the team behind the innovations that are making Samsung TVs more sustainable.

A Solar Cell-Powered Remote Control That Charges Itself Using Photovoltaic Energy

Even if you have a nice, big, high-performance TV in your living room, you won’t be able to fully enjoy its countless channels and manage the volume and other features without a remote control. When exploring ways to make remote controls more eco-conscious, Samsung’s developers focused their attention on disposable batteries.

“Supposing that a typical TV is used for around seven years, changing the batteries in its remote just once a year would mean that 14 batteries would get used and thrown out,” said Kwanyoung Kim, an engineer. If we apply that number to Samsung Electronics’ expected annual global TV sales, it amounts to approximately 99 million discarded batteries. If we apply it to annual TV sales overall, it adds up to nearly 3.1 billion batteries.²

▲Over the course of a TV’s lifetime, a solar cell-powered remote control could effectively prevent up to 99 million AA batteries from being used and discarded.

Rather than using disposable batteries in the remote, the engineers decided to go with a self-charging battery instead. Many charging methods were considered, including one that harnessed the kinetic energy that’s created when the remote is shaken, and one that utilized the vibrational energy that’s created when the microphone picks up sounds. As Kim explained, at the end of the day, the optimal charging solution turned out to be a solar cell.

“Even when we aren’t watching our TV or using our remote, we usually have the lights on, except when we are sleeping. This makes light an easily accessible charging solution,” said Kim. “If we substituted disposable batteries with self-charging solar cell batteries like the one we’ve developed, it would amount to reducing up to around 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.”

How exactly does the remote control generate energy from the fluorescent lights in our living rooms? Put simply, its solar panel takes in photons from light, which react with the electrons in the solar cells to create electricity. The difference between outdoor panels and indoor panels is the spectrum of light being used. “You can’t get as much light indoors compared to sunlight,” added Kim, “so we decided to utilize solar cells that generate energy even in low-light indoor environments.”

Increasing Electricity Efficiency Makes Solar Cell-Powered Remote Controls Possible

Because the amount of electricity that could be created by converting light energy simply wasn’t enough, it would be impossible to generate enough energy for the remote control using solar cells alone. This led the engineers to create a low power remote control instead of searching for ways to increase energy production.

The engineers succeeded in increasing the remote control’s energy efficiency by reducing its power consumption by 86 percent.³ They did this by taking users’ TV watching patterns, the number of times they pressed their remote control’s buttons, and usage time into account. As Kim explained, the solar cells in the final product “can provide up to 70 percent of the power used by the remote control.”

Making the design of the typical TV remote control, which has remained unchanged until now, more sustainable was no simple task. The color of the solar panel was already determined, so it was difficult to apply various colors to the remote control’s design. One of the team’s key concerns was that the remote control’s panel would need to be raised up high in order to be charged via light. “The solar panel itself is gray, so if we used a color other than black for the battery, it wouldn’t go well with the overall product design,” said Kim. “We also needed the design to encourage consumers to do their part to help the environment.”

The remote control is so small that you could ask whether it even needs to be energy-saving. If you asked the developers, they would tell you that, because the final product is even more eco-conscious than they anticipated, its design was undoubtedly meaningful and their efforts were worthwhile. Their ultimate goal is to develop a solar cell-powered remote control that is capable of charging itself up to the full amount of energy that it needs.

“TV remote controls are frequently used products, and our aim is to create the kind of remote that offers users meaningful value, and can be a deciding factor when purchasing a TV,” said Kim.

Use of Recycled Plastic Materials Contributes to a Huge Reduction in CO2 Emissions

Solar panel technology isn’t the only thing that makes Samsung’s new remote control especially eco-friendly. Indeed, the plastic material used to create this roughly 40g device is comprised of 28 percent recycled plastic. Samsung has been utilizing recycled plastic in its products for a long time, and has received various certifications for its eco-friendliness. Now, the company has expanded its scope by applying recycled materials to accessories like remote controls as well.

Recycled plastic is enticing because it reuses resources, but not everything about it comes easily. For a start, unit prices go up during the manufacturing process. While Samsung’s VD business does utilize plastic waste that has been collected in Korea, the volume is so small that additional resources need to be imported from overseas. This process causes costs to go up by five percent at the least, and 10 percent at the most.

“The amount of plastics used by Samsung Electronics’ VD Business alone is 250,000 tons,” said Seungsan Han, an engineer and colleague of Kim’s. “Even substituting 10 to 30 percent of that with recycled plastics would require 30,000 to 70,000 tons.”

Despite those costs, Samsung is committed to increasing its usage of recycled materials based on their clear eco-conscious benefits. According to Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), a methodology for assessing environmental impact, products made using approximately 28 percent recycled plastics emit 31 percent less CO2 than products made from non-recycled plastics.⁴ In an effort to maximize its use of eco-friendly materials, Samsung also explores ways to utilize waste that has been thrown indiscriminately into the sea. “Twenty percent of the waste that gets thrown into the sea is made of Polyethylene terephthalate,” said Han. “The marine waste plastic obtained here is called OBP (Ocean Bound Plastic) material, which can be applied to the exteriors of electronics. Using OBP in this way helps discourage marine pollution while promoting efforts to protect the environment.”

More Interest in Eco-Friendliness Widens the Range of Recycled Materials

Samsung has long practiced eco-conscious business management, and has been developing eco-conscious products and technologies for several years. As a result, the company is now capable of producing high-quality products using recycled materials, while keeping unit prices at manageable levels.

▲ Samsung’s eco-friendly solar cell-powered remote control.

Samsung currently utilizes recycled plastics when producing many products, including not just its new, solar cell-powered remote control, but other remote controls as well. Eco-conscious materials are used in the company’s monitors, signage stands, and back covers, too. “In the future, the use of recycled materials will be expanded to include more Samsung TV products,” said Han. “With 2030 being the year when we hope to reach our ultimate achievement, we will keep increasing our use of recycled plastics each year.”

Eco-Packaging: What Would Be Trash Becomes Small Furniture

Increasing products’ efficiency and using recycled materials are clear ways to become more eco-conscious. Now, efforts are being made to address the eco-friendliness of products’ packaging, which would usually be thrown away. Allowing consumers to use their TV’s packaging to make small furniture, the eco-packaging that Samsung introduced in 2020 is a perfect example of this point.

The TVs’ eco-packaging first began as a project of C-Lab, Samsung’s in-house startup incubation program. The C-Lab developers were wondering how best to recycle TVs’ packaging when they noticed that Serif TV users were placing their set-top box, small furniture, and electric devices under their TV as if it were a cabinet. This led them to the idea to use TVs’ strong cardboard packaging to make small, long-lasting furniture, which became the foundation for a new type of ‘eco-packaging.’

Eco-packaging’s manufacturing process is mostly the same as that of other packaging, but also includes the application of a dotted pattern that helps users assemble the packaging into furniture. Although adding the dotted patterns sounds easy and could be achieved by simply printing graphics, the task presented some difficulties as well. The thicknesses and specifications of the cardboard boxes varied slightly by country, which entailed continuous communication with various parties. “Although we faced many difficulties when making the eco-packaging, we managed to do a great job thanks to the efforts of many people, including the Graphics Team,” said Sungdo Son, a Samsung Electronics designer.

Easy to Make, Beautiful to Behold

Simple steps for assembling the furniture can be found on the website embedded in the QR code printed on the side of the eco-packaging. “The website, which was recently updated, not only offers instructions on how to make furniture, but also provides an overall introduction to eco-packaging with relevant videos,” said Son. “We’ve arranged the website based on difficulty, so users can choose the type of furniture they’d like to make depending on their skill level.”

The cardboard furniture displayed on the website are all items that were chosen by designers who actually tried making them themselves. “When we focused on aesthetics, it became difficult to make the furniture, and the designs often didn’t end up being very useful,” said Son. “On the other hand, when the furniture was too easy to make, it didn’t look so great. We also got rid of any furniture designs that could potentially create safety issues.”

Samsung’s safety- and environmentally conscious eco-packaging has gone beyond lifestyle TVs and is now being applied across the company’s entire 2021 TV lineup. The employees involved in developing the eco-packaging hope that it will eventually reach much more consumers, and will help encourage them to contribute to environmental conservation in any way they can. “Samsung is known for producing technologically advanced products, but I want others to know that Samsung also believes that little things like these matter, and we are working on them as well,” said Son.

¹ According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020 by Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), the amount of electronic waste in 2019 was 53.6 million metric tons (Mt).

² 2020 global annual TV sales figures are based on findings from market research firm OMDIA.

³ Compared to remote controls of Samsung Electronics’ 2020 TV models.

⁴ Emissions of general plastics: 2.15 kg CO2/kg; emissions of recycled plastics: 1.47 kg CO2/kg; a reduction in CO2 emissions of 31 percent (based on a Lotte Chemical LCA evaluation)