Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that it has had the carbon reduction impact of AI Energy Mode^[1] in its select washing machines verified by the Carbon Trust Assurance, based on the Decarbonising the Use-Phase of Connected Devices (DUCD) specification. This marks the first time that a product or feature has been validated using the DUCD specification. It is especially significant as it demonstrates the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction effect achieved through the AI Energy Mode during the use phase, verified by a third party.

“At Samsung, we continue to design our products and services with environmental factors in mind,” said Jeong Seung Moon, Executive Vice President and Head of the R&D Team for Digital Appliances (DA) Business at Samsung Electronics. “AI Energy Mode is a key example of such efforts, and with this verification recognizing its effectiveness, we will strive to further improve our products, features and services during their actual use.”

Samsung’s Longstanding Efforts

Samsung has long worked to establish objective and systematic indicators to assess and manage carbon emissions generated from home appliances. As part of these efforts, the company joined the DUCD initiative as a Secretariat member in September 2022.

The DUCD initiative is led by the Carbon Trust, a global climate consultancy, which partners with businesses, governments and financial institutions to drive positive climate action. Through collaboration with other industry leaders, it aims to standardise how energy use and savings from connected devices are measured, and contribute to building global methodologies for calculating the carbon savings of Wi-Fi–connected devices.

In November 2024, the initiative published a global specification establishing unified measurement criteria and reduction methodologies for connected devices. This approach measures the reduction in carbon emissions that occur during the consumer’s actual usage phase, distinguishing it from the measurement or reduction of carbon emissions during the production process conventionally used.

Verified Carbon Reduction with AI Energy Mode

Using this guidance, the Carbon Trust’s independent assurance arm, the Carbon Trust Assurance Ltd, tested a pilot assessment on Samsung’s global washing machine lineup.^[2] It verified the reduction effect of AI Energy Mode by comparing the amount of carbon emitted between July 2024 and June 2025 when using the AI Energy Mode with the amount emitted when not using this mode.

For Samsung’s select energy-efficient washing machines, the total energy consumption using the SmartThings Platform^[3] has been verified at 12.28 GWh during this time period,^[4] resulting in 5,266 tCO₂e, by Carbon Trust Assurance Ltd according to the DUCD Part 1: Specification and Guidance. The verified total energy savings of 5.02 GWh in energy consumption, and 2,084 tCO₂e in GHG emissions savings can be attributed to switched-on AI Energy Mode.^[5]

This level of energy savings corresponds to the amount of electricity that approximately 169,000 households can use in a single day, given that an average U.S. residential electric-utility customer purchases about 29.54 kWh of energy daily.^[6]

Meanwhile, the company will participate in the upcoming CES 2026, where it will showcase both its energy-saving solutions and innovative new products.

[1]Must activate AI Energy Mode via SmartThings Energy on the SmartThings app, available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

[2]A list of all applicable washing machine models and a lifecycle product carbon footprints can be found at https://www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/digital-library/policy-document/

[3]The verification is based on Samsung washing machines with the highest energy efficiency grade or equivalent in their respective countries where applicable, such as (but not limited to) Energy Star (U.S.), Grade 1 (Korea), and A (EU).

[4]The verification is based on Samsung washing that have been connected to AI Energy Mode at least once during the period from July 2024 to June 2025 globally.

[5]AI Energy Mode switched on versus AI Energy Mode switched off across all active devices globally during the same time period (July 2024-June 2025)

[6]Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA))

As part of Samsung’s “Together for Tomorrow” vision, the company has applied recycled materials in its select monitor and digital signage products to minimise resource waste. Samsung is now using more recycled materials in its monitor and digital signage products, including the rear cover of its monitors and digital signage to increase resource circularity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Digital signage solutions including the 2022 Smart Signage also received certified energy efficiency grades that rise to new industry standards. Samsung also has incorporated eco-conscious packaging featuring recycled materials in all signage products since 2021.

To improve both resource and energy efficiency, Samsung is using a SoC (System on Chip) solution that, when applied to the monitors and signage, allows content to be displayed without any additional devices, saving both waste and energy. Plus, Samsung has extended its product lifespan with enhanced durability to further minimise waste.

In recognition of its efforts for product efficiency, Samsung has earned an ENERGY STAR certification^[1], in addition to an EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) certification for its energy efficiency improvements and recycled plastic use in its 2022 Smart Signage lineup (QHB, QMB, QBB).

Samsung was also the first in its industry to achieve the reducing CO2 label, certified by the Carbon Trust, for its LCD Signage lineup (LH55QHB), LED signage (LH012IWA) and Business Monitor (LS34A65).  In addition, Samsung has developed and applied a new material, made with repurposed ocean-bound plastics, to the 2022 high resolution monitor S8 to reduce marine waste.

In recognition of its global 2022 sustainability initiative, which strives to incorporate environmental sustainability into everything it does, Samsung has been announced as the winner of ‘Sustainability Innovation of the Year’ at the AV News Awards on May 10.

“We are committed to ensuring everyday sustainability throughout our signage portfolio and playing a major role in reimagining a better planet,” said Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As we are grateful for the recognition of our efforts, we plan to make each step count as collectively change production practices for a sustainable future.”

The Samsung booth at 2022 Integrated Systems Europe is located at Gran Via, Hall 3, 3F600, in Barcelona from May 10-14, 2022. For more information about Samsung’s latest display technology, please visit https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/showcase/virtual-experience/ise-2022

[1] ENERGY STAR certification applicable only to U.S. market

The Carbon Trust is a global climate consultancy driven by the mission to accelerate the move to a decarbonised future. The ‘Reducing CO2’ certification signifies that a product’s carbon footprint is reducing year-on-year. It evaluates the amount of GHG(Greenhouse Gas) generated throughout the entire product lifecycle using internationally recognised standards^[1].

This year, 11 models across Samsung’s 2022 TV lineup, including three Neo QLED 8K models, three Neo QLED 4K models, two QLED models, two Lifestyle TV models, and one Crystal UHD TV model, obtained the certification by reducing the weight of the product and the power consumption during the use phase.

Samsung has long been committed to not only driving product innovation but also shaping and implementing environmental sustainability technologies. During Samsung’s keynote event at CES 2022, Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Samsung Electronic’s Device eXperience (DX) Division, unveiled the company’s vision of “Together for Tomorrow”, highlighting Samsung’s commitment to creating a sustainable future and driving collaboration as part of the global community to preserve our planet.

As part of the initiative, Samsung’s Visual Display Business is set to use around 30 times more recycled plastics to produce its display products than it did in 2021. Samsung also revealed its plan to expand the use of recycled materials in all of their mobile and home appliance products by 2025.

In addition, Samsung has been adopting various sustainable practices to minimise the environmental impacts throughout its products’ lifecycles. The company’s ‘Eco-Packaging’ program – which allows consumers to upcycle the packaging for TV products into versatile pieces of furniture – has been upgraded this year with product packaging using 90% less ink while also removing the staples during production.

Samsung has also expanded the SolarCell Remote, which eliminates battery waste with built-in solar panels, to all TV models in 2022. Additionally, Samsung has developed and applied a new material, made with repurposed ocean-bound plastics, to a 2022 high resolution monitor S8 to reduce marine waste and minimise the environmental footprint.

“Samsung is not only focused on the technological advancements, but innovations around human-centric technology and the environment,” said Seokwoo Yong, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung will continue to implement various sustainability initiatives and eco-conscious activities in line with its ‘Going Green’ vision.”

^[1] Internationally recognized standards such as PAS 2050, GHG Product Standard or ISO 14067