The Sunday Times Top Brands rankings have been awarding South Africa’s most recognised brands for the past 20 years. The 2018 survey polled 3,500 individuals, aged 18 years and older in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of South Africa to establish a raking of Top Brands in 32 consumer categories.

Samsung views these prestigious awards as a benchmark for future growth. It’s all about the relentless pursuit of consumer satisfaction that can be seen and felt in all product offerings. The ethos is clear – to create ideas that empower people to work smarter, live better and create a greener tomorrow. To this end, 2018 has been a year of unprecedented innovations which have accelerated the integration of these product offerings into an ecosystem where they complement each other and work symbiotically and seamlessly to cater to the needs and wants of our consumers. Inspiring South Africans to do what they can’t is the rewarding outcome.

“We are both pleased and humbled by these awards. It motivates our people to look far beyond the functionality or look of our products. They point us in the direction of the future where devices are the gateways into an experience that goes beyond aesthetics. Through our “Make it Meaningful” design philosophy, we try to develop products that enable people to interact with technology in immersive ways. The fact is, we believe in creating meaningful experiences for consumers, who are at the heart of Samsung’s innovation. By doing so, we  are able to make better connections with them and therein give them the power to enhance their world in bold, new ways,” said Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group & Corporate Affair.

Samsung devotes its talent and technology to creating superior products and services which contribute to a better global society. The effects of which, are clearly felt locally. Awards stemming directly from the votes of customers, inspires Samsung  to continue the unyielding quest for the hearts and minds of the nation.

“We would like to thank the South African public who voted and also our dedicated employees for their contribution towards making Samsung the powerhouse that it is and helping to secure this achievement. Samsung’s brand is all about innovation. As we tell the story of our brand, we will keep focusing on what matters most – consumer satisfaction,” concludes Shivanda.

Electronic goods contain numerous precious and semi-precious metals as well as several elements that need to be mined from the earth. Conservation of earth’s precious resources is a fundamental issue that all humans face and this means the requirement for effective recycling and eco-conscious manufacturing is vital. The keys to conservation aren’t complicated – reduce, reuse and recycle. These fundamental principles are applied by Samsung to product design with a system of circular resource management – by mapping out the lifecycle for the products developed.

Justin Hume, Marketing Director of Samsung South Africa, says, “Samsung aims to minimise its products’ environmental impact by maximising resource efficiency from assembly to eventual disposal. This entails reusing parts, utilising recycled packaging and plastics and increasing the recyclability of new products’ components for later use.”

Technology is almost constantly in flux, which means that a device or product that was cutting edge last year could be practically obsolete this year. Because of this, there are many electronic products discarded in favour of newer models or upgrades. But what happens to products that are no longer needed? When it comes to upgrading a cell phone or television, for example, there are numerous opportunities to donate goods that are still in good working order to charities or those less fortunate. But what about products that aren’t in good working order?

If an electronic product is disposed of properly, it will go to an e-waste facility for processing. The first thing that happens is it gets dismantled. Then the various parts are placed in sorting bins. From there, data (where relevant, such as in a cell phone or computer) is destroyed, precious metals are extracted and plastics are readied for recycling. Most cell phones contain precious metals, chemical elements and minerals, including copper, gold, lead, zinc, beryllium, tantalum, coltan, as well as plastics that can be recycled to save energy and resources that would otherwise be required to mine or manufacture.

There are several e-waste facilities in South Africa, many of which belong to the e-Waste Association of South Africa (EWASA), an organisation that works with stakeholders to establish a sustainable and environmentally sound e-waste management system for the country.

Samsung makes use of Desco, an accredited e-waste recycling facility. Anyone wanting to dispose of their electronic goods can make use of the drop-off bins located in Makro or hand the device or product to a salesperson at Incredible Connection or HiFi Corporation stores. Alternatively, there is a list of electronic waste facilities on the EWASA website (www.ewasa.org). While a number of facilities currently exist in South Africa, there is a growing requirement for more, which creates an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs to own and operate businesses that meet the growing demand.

In order to tread more gently on the environment, Samsung has reduced its use of a range of hazardous substances commonly found in electronics manufacturing over the past several years. 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 ground-breaking cadmium-free design. Samsung’s Vision 2020 centres around the environment, creating products and designs that both enrich peoples’ lives and contribute to a socially responsible, sustainable future,” concludes Hume.

While innovative technology enables companies to reduce the utilisation of potentially hazardous or precious resources to manufacture goods, there’s still a mountain of products out there that contain elements that are potentially harmful to the environment and can be recycled. To do your part, ensure you dispose of your defunct electronic goods safely and responsibly.