Category Archives: Environmental

EcoFlow Presents Lawn Mower, Portable Fridge, Portable AC and Home Power Solution at CES 2023

Posted on by

EcoFlow, a portable power and renewable energy solutions company, debuts three new smart devices at the show: the Wave 2 Portable Air Conditioner, as well as CES 2023 Honorees – Blade robotic lawn-sweeping mower, and Glacier Portable Fridge with a built-in ice maker. EcoFlow Wave 2: Following the success of the first Wave Portable Air Conditioner, the new second generation is capable of both heating and cooling, making life even more comfortable outdoors and in off-grid spaces.

EcoFlow Glacier: Glacier is the industry’s first portable fridge to feature a built-in icemaker, keeping food fresh and drinks topped up with ice for maximum enjoyment WHAT IS A
PORTABLE POWER
STATION?
If you’re looking for a UK portable power station, a great place to start is with an EcoFlow. With AC outlets to fit all your gear and a ton of ports, they’re designed to keep you powered on no matter what. Replace your old-school generator with a solar powered one and get clean, quiet battery power.
Portable Works
IndoorsFastcharging
Renewable charging

EcoFlow

EcoFlow is a leading eco-friendly energy solutions company with the vision to power a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow’s mission is to reinvent the way individuals and families access energy by providing reliable, accessible and renewable power solutions. Today, EcoFlow has operational headquarters in the United States, Germany and Japan, with more than 2 million users in over 100 markets worldwide. EcoFlow’s products are now available in all 44 countries and regions across Europe, supported by a network of over 800 local retailers.

For more information, please visit EcoFlow’s websites:

United Kingdom: uk.ecoflow.com
France: fr.ecoflow.com
Germany: de.ecoflow.com
Italy: it.ecoflow.com
Spain: es.ecoflow.com
Other European countries: eu.ecoflow.com

Xeros and IFB launch washing machines in India that reduce water use by up to 50%

Posted on by

Xeros Technology has partnered with IFB Industries Limited, India’s largest domestic and
commercial washing machine manufacturer, to launch a washing machine which reduces the environmental impact of clothes laundering using Xeros’ patent-protected innovations.

IFB will launch the premium 11kg domestic washing machines in its Indian retail stores in
December 2022, following the successful launch of a 38kg Xeros commercial machine in 2021. The 11kg machine incorporates Xeros’ Care technology and is designed for use in large domestic households as well as small commercial operations. The machine uses up to 50% less water and 25% less chemistry than a conventional machine, and also reduces time by up to 25%.launch of this 11kg machine complements ongoing preparation for field trials in January 2023 of a new 9kg domestic washing machine designed for mass market adoption. IFB is expected to install trial machines in homes in Indian early in the new year and will then proceed with a nationwide launch in Q1 2023, subject to the field trials being successful.

The Xeros Care technology uses a combination of patented XDrum and XOrb technology and can be integrated at any scale to enhance domestic and commercial washing machines.

Using polymer spheres, XOrbs, allows for a significant reduction of water, chemistry, and energy, with the benefit of more gentle mechanical action to improve wash performance and better care for fabrics. The XOrbs are released through a closed-loop system, complimenting wash programmes to reduce the impact of laundry. At the end of the cycle, the XDrum collects the XOrbs back into the storage system.

Not only does the Xeros Care technology reduce environmental impact during washing, but it also helps clothes last longer. In our current throw away culture we buy 60% more clothing than we did 15 years ago but only keep things for half as long,v with a reported 73% of textiles ending up in landfills. Studies have found if we could extend the life of 1 in 5 garments by just 10%, an estimated 6.4 million tonnes of textiles would be diverted from landfills, potentially saving 3 million tonnes of CO2 and 150 million litres of water every year.Further developments from the Xeros and IFB partnership in both the domestic and commercial laundry markets are expected to be announced in 2023

January 2023 Liebherr will launch the first vacuum perlite refrigerator: BluRoX

Posted on by

Liebher is revolutionising technology in its fridges and freezers, using a vacuum in conjunction with finely ground lava stone, the raw material perlite, to insulate its appliances. The first vacuum perlite models, named BluRoX, will be on the market as early as January 2023. For the very first time, it is possible to produce freezers with the energy efficiency class “A” and “B” in accordance with EU legislation thanks to the innovative technology.

Until now, refrigerators and freezers have been insulated with conventional insulating materials made from petroleum-based polyurethane foam. Instead of these common foam elements, and in a world’s first, BluRoX uses a vacuum in combination with finely ground perlite for insulation.

Due to its crystalline microstructure, the lava stone perlite has a very low thermal conductivity, and the vacuum provides the best possible insulation in terms of energy. As Steffen Nagel, managing director sales & marketing at Liebherr-Hausgeräte explains, «for a family with a 350-litre freezer, the annual power consumption for the appliance could be reduced by up to 20 per cent – This translates into notable savings with steadily rising electricity prices.»

Moreover, the new combination of a vacuum and finely ground lava stone enables a very compact design. Due to the particularly effective BluRoX insulation, Liebherr can design the walls of a BluRoX freezer to be about one third thinner than the walls of a conventional foam-insulated appliance. For an appliance fully equipped with vacuum perlite technology, the result is about 25 percent greater capacity compared to fridges and freezers with the same external dimensions. The FNb 5056 freezer will be the first hybrid model whose door is equipped with BluRoX technology

Whirlpool Corporation Named To 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

Posted on by

Whirlpool Corporation announced today that it has been named to the 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) in recognition of the company’s ongoing focus on responsible and ethical business practices. Whirlpool Corporation was also included on the DJSI North America Index for the 16th year.

Electrolux removes polystyrene

Posted on by

Electrolux has set an end date for the use of expanded polystyrene in its small household appliances. It will be in March 2023, when the Group will launch a new packaging material for all its products, which in the case of small household appliances will mean eliminating polystyrene due to the difficulties in recycling this material.

The company that owns the brands, AEG and Zanussi, among others, has been working for some time on the development of new, innovative and more sustainable packaging that fulfills its main functions: to contain, protect and market products. His intention is to replace, as far as possible, the use of non-recycled material, as is the case with small electrical appliances that he will begin to pack exclusively with paper and cardboard.

In the case of large household appliances, which include heavy products such as washing machines or refrigerators, the group seeks other solutions that also allow the use of unsustainable materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) to be reduced to a minimum. although in this case the transition will be more gradual because using only paper in heavy and fragile products can be counterproductive in environmental terms.

The Electrolux team is now working to integrate more recycled content into packaging materials without compromising the protection of household appliances

Dyson investment plan

Posted on by

Dyson reveals the next phase of its five-year, £2.75bn investment plan to develop machines that use software and connectivity to improve themselves. This has been explained by Jake Dyson, the company’s chief engineer, who shows in a YouTube video an update of Dyson’s five-year investment plan that includes products that improve themselves thanks to software and “data science”, allowing solve problems in the machines before the owner is aware of them.

In line with Dyson’s announcement of investment in robotics at the beginning of the year, this new commitment to hire software developers and data scientists reinforces the company’s commitment to its software & connectivity team, which has multiplied by 10 in a decade. .

Led by Jake Dyson, these professionals are working on a new generation of smart products 10-15 years from now.

Hardware, software and connectivity play a key role as Dyson increasingly embeds intelligence into its machines, the MyDyson app and user experience, looking to create self-improving products for the long term. https://youtu.be/Uni7TfoC5e0

Carla De Luca, Sustainable Procurement, on how we’re helping our suppliers become more sustainable Electrolux

Posted on by

Carla De Luca, Sustainable Procurement, on how we’re helping our suppliers become more sustainable
December 1, 2022
As a sustainability leader, Electrolux Group aims to reach net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2050. To make this happen, it is vital our suppliers are on board. Carla De Luca, Sustainable Procurement Senior Program Manager at Electrolux, explains how we’re working with them to improve their environmental performance.

Tell us a bit about your role.

I’m a sustainability leader, focused on responsible and environmentally-conscious business practices and decision making. My role was created four years ago to create a center of excellence within purchasing at Electrolux and I work with our top 300 suppliers to improve their environmental performance.

How does your team work with sustainability?

We have had a responsible sourcing program for over 15 years at Electrolux with some awesome activities. But what we’ve done over the last three years is to strengthen the environmental assessment of our suppliers. This has created a more holistic approach to supplier relationship management and sustainable procurement that ensures we take better informed decisions to make our sustainability goals a reality. 

Why is sustainability so important in purchasing? 

With supply chain emissions being on average 12 times higher than operational emissions, we recognize that working with suppliers is vital to reducing our overall carbon footprint to reach our 2050 goal.  

We have to work closely with both our purchasing teams and our suppliers in order to achieve our sustainability objectives. In fact, I see our supply chain as an extension of our own business and we are ultimately asking our suppliers to work with their business in the same way as we run our own operations. We have committed suppliers, but they sometimes need our help and support to improve their sustainability performance. 

How do you promote sustainability among suppliers? 

Our initial priority was to get our suppliers to start measuring their carbon footprint and to set their emissions reduction targets. This was a huge task but essential in enabling them to reduce their emissions. 

We also worked to change the misconception that sustainability increases cost – to introduce a “value-based approach”. In our supplier training sessions, we raise awareness that sustainability can leverage cost reductions, for example through energy and resource efficiency. Our value-based approach to purchasing takes a much broader perspective on value than just cost, which is good for business and a more sustainable world. 

How have our supply chain partners responded? 

I’m really proud of our suppliers who I have spent a lot of time engaging with to make sure they are on board with our sustainability approach. We actually receive messages of thanks from suppliers, and they really see Electrolux as a change agent that contributes toward their shift to becoming more sustainable. 

What are the success factors that make Electrolux a world leader in sustainable procurement?

Besides our holistic and value-based approach to sustainability, I would say it’s our dedication to supplier engagement and collaboration.

In 2022, we are the only CDP member company in the world with a 100% supplier response rate (among 250+ customers with over 150 suppliers engaged). As companies have an average response rate of 65-70%, we have a clear advantage when we engage with our supply chain.

We also collaborate and share best practice. For example, we are planning to roll out our Green Spirit program, which is our internal initiative to reduce environmental impact in our own operations, to some of our suppliers. At Electrolux, we have so much expertise and experience and we want to help bring our suppliers along on our sustainability journey

Consortium on Microplastics Release during Household Washing Processes

Posted on by

Microplastics have become a topic of considerable concern across many industries and sectors. With efforts scaling up at the international level to tackle the problem, the implementation of different regulations across Europe risks hampering the free movement of goods and jeopardising the Single Market. All of which calls for the adoption of a lifecycle-based approach to identify the most cost-effective solution to a global issue.

Concern about the potential impact of microplastics has gathered momentum during the past few years. The number of scientific investigations has increased, along with public interest and pressure on stakeholders. “Understanding the magnitude of the issue is key to ensure an effective solution,” explained Giulia Zilla, APPLiA’s Energy & Environment Policy Manager when interviewed by Radio24 on the role and contribution of the home appliance industry to this global problem. Whilst lengthy discussions are taking place on trying to identify solutions, it is essential to acknowledge the complexity of the issue. In this sense, the deployment of washing machine filters into European homes has been widely identified as a possible mitigation strategy to microfiber emissions. “While filters can contribute to halting the journey of microplastics before they reach the environment, a more comprehensive and long-term solution, reconsidering the very use of plastics, is needed,commented Zilla. Mandating the equipping of all household washing machines with a filter does not seem to represent a conclusive solution to tackle the microplastics issue, as fibres will always find their way into the environment, if present in textile products themselves.

Before setting any legislative requirements on washing machines, a number of technical considerations must be addressed. Among others, the filter can cause clogging of the machine but what is more, the burden of maintenance to keep the machine running would fall on consumers, from cleaning to replacement and disposal, in order to prevent the rinsing off of fibres in the sink. Even in the case of integrated filters, it would be very problematic to deal with the maintenance of the filter itself while ensuring the best performance of the machine.

As a key actor in the discussion, APPLiA is the coordinator of the Consortium on Microplastics Release during Household Washing Processes, bringing together over 20 signatory parties ranging from washing machines, detergent and filter manufacturers, to test institutes and facilities towards a standardised testing methodology assessing microplastics release during household washing cycle. These preliminary but rather concrete steps make clear the industry’s commitment to take part in the discussion and ultimately tackle microplastic pollution in Europe.

Giulia Zilla, APPLiA’s Energy & Environment Policy Manager, was invited to present the contribution of the home appliance sector in tackling the global microplastics challenge in an insightful discussion on Radio24’s Si può fare led by Laura Bettini.

Do you speak Italian? The recording is available at this link.https://www.radio24.ilsole24ore.com/programmi/paese-migliore?refresh_ce=1

https://www.applia-europe.eu/initiatives/microplastics/423-consortium-on-microplastics-release-during-household-washing-processes

Arçelik: well-deserved recognition for the Turkish group

Posted on by

Arçelik’s washing machine factory in Ulmi, Romania, ranked among the most advanced in the world in terms of environmental sustainability. Indeed, Arçelik, a global appliance manufacturer and subsidiary of Turkey’s largest industrial conglomerate, Koç Holding, has been awarded Sustainability Lighthouse status by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for its manufacturing plant . ‘Ulmi, Romania. A recognition that rewards effective measures in terms of energy performance applied on the site. This follows the already existing statusArçelik as a Global Lighthouse awarded by WEF to its Ulmi plant in 2019 and Eskişehir plant in 2021 for the successful adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to improve productivity and performances.

New opportunities for small household appliances as adoption of IOT grows

Posted on by

What is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things (or IoT for short) is a network of devices all connected wirelessly by the internet that can collect, share and act upon data without the involvement of human beings to make our lives better and improve the world around us.

The rapid adoption of internet of things (IOT) technology is driving growth within the small household appliances sector, according to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com.
The report states that the small household market in the US was valued at approximately €24.6 billion ($24.64 billion) in 2021. That figure is estimated to reach around €33 billion ($33.05 billion) by 2027.

The adoption of IOT technology, along with rising consumer awareness about said products, is predicted to drive demand for the small household appliance market in the US. ResearchAndMarkets.com forecasts that the US small household appliances market will have a compound annual growth rate of 5.01% from 2022 to 2027.

The report explains that the US small household appliances market is made up of ten product types: small kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, grills and roasters, coffee machines, microwave ovens, irons, hair clippers, toasters, hair dryers and electric kettles.

There are a number of market drivers leading to a rising demand in small household appliances. One of the drivers is the desire from consumers to have a residence with advanced facilities, such as a dishwasher or coffee machine. As well as this, there is a perceivable increase in single-person households, urban populations and smart homes too. Also driving growth within this market segment is the rising millennial population.

Among the trends in the small household appliances market is cloud technology: “the evolvement and rise in cloud technology have supported and enriched the smart home technology,” the report notes. Other significant trends include the widespread adoption of internet of things (IOT), the rising prevalence of social media, along with innovations within artificial intelligence technology.