We’ve heard “reduce, reuse, recycle” used advert nauseam, however at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Samsung follows in Apple’s footsteps, doubling down on that, dedicating a major quantity of its keynote speech to underscoring its dedication to sustainability. The corporate is particularly increasing its efforts in direction of useful resource circularity, from the design of its units to how they’re used and, in the end, how they’re reused or recycled. The corporate Samsung has embraced recycled supplies in a few of its hottest merchandise.
“We start by incorporating recycled materials into some of our most loved products, such as recycled fishing nets in our Galaxy,” mentioned Inhee Chung, VP of company sustainability at Samsung. “Smartphones, recycled plastic in our TVs, and recycled aluminum in our bespoke refrigerators. Recycled plastic accounted for 14% of the total plastic used in our products in 2022. And we’re working towards increasing this amount.”
Past the manufacturing course of, Samsung can be contemplating the environmental affect of their merchandise throughout use. Progressive options like SmartThings AI Vitality Mode may also help shoppers handle power at residence by utilizing related intelligence. In keeping with Samsung’s knowledge, the variety of SmartThings power customers worldwide has elevated by greater than 75% in 2023 (though the corporate didn’t specify the bottom quantity for that, so who is aware of if that’s as spectacular because it sounds.)
Samsung has additionally introduced the mixing of SmartThings power with Tesla’s Powerwall photo voltaic inverter and Wall Connector EV charging options. This collaboration implies that SmartThings power can allow Tesla Powerwall Storm Watch to inform customers earlier than a extreme climate occasion and assist put together for energy outages by activating energy-saving automation.
Maybe probably the most fascinating initiative proven off on the press convention right now was the corporate’s dedication to sustainability past end-of-life use. The corporate prioritizes reuse and recycling, providing refurbished telephones by packages like 35 Renewed, and the Galaxy Upcycling initiative which helps customers reuse or repurpose outdated telephones. A method that reveals up is that the corporate has partnered with the D-Lab at MIT to develop new methods to upcycle Samsung units and divert them from turning into digital waste. The collaboration goals to create a transformative affect in low-income communities in Africa, the place the affect of e-waste is most acutely felt.
At present’s press convention gave me some hope that Samsung’s dedication to a low-carbon round economic system goes past lip service. From the design of their merchandise to their end-of-life, Samsung is proving that tech corporations can embrace sustainability and environmental accountability. The tech large shouldn’t be solely innovating in its product line but in addition in its environmental footprint, making strides in direction of a greener and extra sustainable future.
May they be doing extra? Probably, sure – however the metrics and milestones outlined right now do appear to transcend the run-of-the-mill greenwashing the cynical amongst us have grown to count on from companies all around the world; the initiatives are actual and value actual cash and energy to place into motion.
Extra of that, please.
