After announcing last January the attainment of a suitability certification for hydrogen operation of motors manufactured in its subsidiary company EMC FIME, Elica has been continuing in its path towards environmental impact reduction, thanks to a new electrical energy supply agreement stipulated with Iberdrola, one of the world leaders in renewable energy: in 2022, Elica will be able to reduce its own emissions by over 4,000 tons in Italy, which equals to 20% of the total emissions of the Group. “Elica – said Giulio Cocci, CEO of Elica – is by nature a sustainable company: we have always followed a strategy that adopts ESG principles, which, over the years, has brought us to identify areas in need of improvement and put real actions into place, geared towards reducing our environmental impact. The agreement with Iberdrola comes into play in this specific scenario: we have already started the process in our Italian production sites, therefore we will significantly reduce emissions in our country. As a world leader in our sector, we feel the responsibility of reducing our environmental impact and we are determined to adopt this approach at all business levels and in every area of the world where we are operating. Sustainability is not just a ‘must’ that we intend to pursue with our utmost commitment and pragmatism: we are striving to make it a driver for growth”. Elica has recently established a “Sustainability Committee”, made up of an in-company team, representing all the main business areas, with the aim of identifying the impact areas and sustainable development targets for the upcoming years. In another tangible step towards environmental impact reduction and energy efficiency creation, Elica’s development plans also include investments in new photovoltaic systems, which have already been implemented in its Italian production sites
Category Archives: Environmental
Miele reducing carbon footprint
Miele takes seriously the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by intervening at different levels on the entire production cycle. As an article in the South China Morning Post explains, the company has decided to purchase the steel necessary for its furnaces from the German steel mill Salzgitter whose production process, as verified by the certification body TUV Sud, reduces emissions by two thirds. of greenhouse gases both thanks to the use of arc furnaces and by using a greater share of scrap metal as raw material.
It is not clear to what extent this ‘green steel’ will be adopted in other productions, given the high cost and still very limited supply. Salzgitter is aiming to use ‘green’ hydrogen as an energy source, reducing the ecological impact of its product to 5% compared to conventional steel. In addition, Miele intends to increase the amount of recycled plastic used from 194 to 7,500 tons / year, especially for the production of vacuum cleaners.
The Gütersloh-based company has been offsetting the greenhouse gases generated by its plants since last year, financing reforestation projects in Mississippi, Uganda and Nicaragua, as well as solar energy plants in India and biogas in Nepal.
In 2021, honey sales rose by 7.5% to 4.8 billion euros and should easily exceed 5 billion in 2022 to reach 8 billion in 2030.
Euronics focus on sustainability
CIH, the electrical buying group, which is part of Euronics, has launched a new campaign focusing on sustainability that will run throughout the year and form a foundation for the brand going forward.
The dramatic jump in energy prices in recent months is part of the rising cost of living for UK consumers who are also increasingly aware of climate change and the general health of the planet.
The Government has introduced extra legislation to ensure that the products that consumers purchase are as energy efficient as possible.
Euronics is well placed to offer advice on the right electrical appliances and how they can be used to best effect to minimise energy and water consumption
“There’s so much information out there on sustainability that it can be a little overwhelming,” said Steve Scogings, chairman of CIH.
“What sets Euronics apart is our agents. They are your local experts and are there to find the most energy efficient appliances to fit their lifestyle and help customers navigate a pathway to a more sustainable future.
“Our ‘Just Ask’ messaging encourages consumers to speak to their local agents and learn more about what can be done and which products will fit their lifestyle the best. We will be providing agents with all the information and collateral they need to support customers with these decisions.”
The aim of the sustainability campaign is to help consumers understand the technologies contribute towards sustainability, and how to use their appliances to maximise energy and water efficiency, as well as the recyclability and the lifecycle of individual solutions.
Euronics has a range of tools available to help consumers understand the latest technologies as well as guidance on legislation.
For instance, Youreko’s Energy Savings Tool will help people realise the benefits of buying an energy efficient appliance. There is support for laundry, dishwasherand refrigeration products.
The Euronics website provides an overview of some of the key technologies available in the latest products including sensor drying technology, auto dosing, heat pump technology and induction hobs. It also includes useful features such as a guide to the updated energy labels, making it clearer for people to understand when they are looking at individual products.
Electrolux unveils a new Product Recyclability Tool
A Circular Initiative event in Stockholm, Electrolux unveiled a new Product Recyclability Tool to support its ambitious circularity goals. The prototype tool builds on the knowledge gathered during the company’s ongoing collaboration with Stena Recycling to explore circular solutions. Stena Recycling collects discarded electric consumer products and breaks them down into raw materials for new products or for energy recovery. “The tool will enable our design and engineering teams to explore recyclability right from the beginning of the design process so we can create products that are even more recyclable, so their components can continue their life as useful materials – says Vanessa Butani, VP Group Sustainability –. The tool is still in the early stages of development and the next step for us will be to open the process to other companies, working together to expand its functionality, data quality and market relevance”. Over the past three years, Electrolux has worked closely with Stena Recycling to understand what happens to its products at their end of life and how it is possible improve product circularity. In 2020, the partnership developed a prototype vacuum cleaner made with 100% recycled materials and reused components and in 2021 a prototype vacuum cleaner that is 90% recyclable.
“Our deep investigation in the vacuum cleaner category has been particularly useful in understanding our material choices and design decisions that benefit both quality and recyclability – says Barry Waddilove, Sustainability Director Development & Collaborations –. In 2022, we are expanding these studies across all our major product categories including dishwashers, fridges and cookers
Arçelik to grant $5 million support to 7,000 entrepreneurs
Arçelik to grant $5 million support to 7,000 entrepreneurs
Arçelik Garage Innovation Hub, a growing global open innovation platform, has to date interacted with more than 2,000 partners, scouted more than 1,800 startups and developed cooperation with more than 80 startups.
Garage Innovation Hub organized an Open Innovation Day with the participation of a large number of startups, business leaders and investors from around the world in order to contribute to the dissemination of the open innovation culture.
As part of the United Nations Generation Equality Forum commitments, Arçelik plans to reach 7,000 entrepreneurs, 5,000 of whom are women, by 2026, and support them in reaching financial support of approximately $5 million with the Garage Innovation Hub.
Partnering with venture capital funds
“As a growing global innovation platform, together with our nearly 2,000 stakeholders, including mentors, investors, universities, and entrepreneurs from all over the world; we provide business development, access to financial support and mentorship to entrepreneurs, starting from the idea stage,” Arçelik’s chief strategy and digital officer Utku Barış Pazar said.
On the path to becoming one of the leading open innovation platforms on a global scale, Pazar said they have set important goals such as supporting the incorporation of new ideas in many fields like sustainability, artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), marketing and production technologies, and health care, in each of the 146 countries where they operate in the next five years.
Arçelik has over 40,000 employees throughout the world and its global operations include sales and marketing offices in 49 countries, and 28 production facilities in nine countries. It has 12 brands, namely Arçelik, Beko, Grundig, Blomberg, ElektraBregenz, Arctic, Leisure, Flavel, Defy, Altus, Dawlance and Voltas Beko.
It is Europe’s second-largest white goods company by market share, based on volumes. Arçelik reached a consolidated turnover of 6.5 billion euros ($6.85 billion) in 2021.
Arçelik’s 29 R&D and design centers and offices across the globe are home to over 2,000 researchers and hold more than 3,000 international patent applications to date
Electrolux wins iF Design Awards for products that help consumers achieve a better home environment
Electrolux Group has won prestigious iF Design Awards for an air purifier and stick vacuum cleaner that help improve wellbeing in the home.The Electrolux UltimateHome series is a 2-in-1 dehumidifier and air purifier that provides an optimum humidity level and improved air quality for an uninterrupted sleep. Since 9 out of 10 people live in areas with air pollution, consumers are increasingly aware of how indoor air quality and climate can affect health and wellbeing. Urban consumers seek “clean and fresh” solutions, and multi-functional products save on floor space while creating healthier living conditions.
This product earned above-average scores by the international jury in all five criteria: idea, differentiation, form, function and impact. These refer to the product’s relevance, novelty, design for the target group, ease of use, and sustainability.
The 800/8000 series focuses on bringing effortless performance into the cordless pistol stick segment. The design enables balanced weight and its sculpted ergonomic handle and telescopic tube make it a consumer-centric product. The 800/8000 is designed to fit into the user’s home and adapt to a variety of cleaning needs. The modular design makes upgradability, repairability and recyclability simpler and more sustainable.
The jury gave this product high scores for form, impact and function, meaning it demonstrates design excellence, is easy to use, and serves society and sustainability.
Record results for BSH group
BSH Hausgeräte GmbH (BSH) achieved its highest-ever turnover in the 55 years of its existence for the second consecutive year. In the 2021 fiscal year, BSH generated turnover of €15.6 billion, or a year-over-year increase of over 12%.
News of the record results have come at the same time as an announcement by group CEO and Chairwoman, Carla Kriwet, that she would be leaving the company for personal reasons. Her departure on April 30, 2022, was, she said, in order to continue her professional career outside the Bosch Group.
BSH grew its turnover sharply in all regions in the 2021 fiscal year. The manufacturer benefited from global demand for high-quality home appliances, its strong global brand portfolio, and innovative digital services for consumers.
BSH remains the undisputed market leader in the Europe region, growing its turnover by 9% last year. In particular, it recorded good growth in the major Western European markets, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy, as well as Northern Europe and Turkey.
BSH increased its turnover in the Americas (USA and Canada) by a strong 23%.
BSH posted an 18% year-over-year increase in turnover for the Asia-Pacific/Africa region as a whole. BSH was able to grow its turnover by 17% year-over-year in the Chinese market, the largest in the region. BSH remains the leading non-Chinese home appliance manufacturer in China.
The strongest turnover driver in the 2021 fiscal year was the Refrigeration product category, which posted a year-over-year growth of 20%, followed by the product category Cooking (ovens +14%, cooktops and ventilation +13%). Turnover in Laundry Care grew by 9%. Dish Care grew its turnover by 7%. Small appliances (consumer products), such as automatic coffee machines, food processors and vacuum cleaners, also performed positively, growing by 9%.
BSH’s Customer Service, which has won multiple awards, likewise increased its turnover by 4% year-over-year. The approximately 15,000 BSH customer service staff and their service partners continued supporting consumers in some 50 countries without interruption in the second year of the coronavirus pandemic.
growing its local development centres in China, Egypt and Mexico, and with its expanded and new production facilities in those regions, BSH is underscoring its aim to place a stronger focus on addressing the specific needs of consumers in different markets. At the same time, regional production reduces transport routes and supply chains, thus making a major contribution to decreasing CO2 emissions.
Research and development spending in 2021 rose by €47m to €755m, or 5% of the total turnover. The focus moving forward will remain on consumer-centric innovations, IoT solutions, digitalisation of the entire value chain, and establishing a functioning circular economy.
BSH’s development and production operations at all its locations worldwide have been carbon-neutral since 2020. Since September 2021, BSH has procured green steel from Salzgitter AG with a 66% lower carbon footprint to manufacture washing machines at its Polish plant in Łódź. In addition, BSH also aims for all of its locations to be completely supplied with green electricity by 2030.
BSH increasingly uses recycled materials to produce new appliances – its target is for the home appliances it makes to contain a minimum of 25% recycled materials by 2025. That percentage is to be at least doubled to 50% by 2030. At the same time, BSH set the goal of increasing the proportion of recyclable materials contained in its appliances to at least 80% by 2025 and at least 95% by 2030.
BSH continues to invest in new business models, such as the “Refurbished” pilot project recently launched in Austria. For the first time, professionally refurbished Bosch washing machines are offered for sale along with a manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, consumers have been able to lease home appliances in Germany and the Netherlands under the subscription model of BlueMovement since 2021. The sharing model WeWash was launched in 2016 and offers residents in large condominiums in Germany and Austria the option of booking a washing machine by app and cashless payment for each washing cycle.
GE Earth Day
GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, today marked Earth Day by releasing its 2021 Corporate Citizenship Report, highlighting the latest progress and five bold new goals that will power the company’s future work across its five core pillars: Community Engagement, Inclusion & Diversity, Operations Sustainability, Product Sustainability, and Compliance & Ethics.
“This work is central to who we are as a business and what we want to accomplish in the future”
Inspired by people and powered by innovation, GE Appliances is committed to building the world’s best appliances and strengthening communities. The GEA Way Forward goals, developed with employees, customers and appliance owners, reflect the company’s top priorities and are driving GE Appliances’ Citizenship efforts.
The GEA Way Forward Goals
Create 10,000 U.S. jobs by 2027.Reach 40% women and 40% people of color by 2025.Use 15% less energy to make each product at all U.S. plants by 2026.*Transition 100% of products produced in North America to lower global warming potential refrigerants and foams by 2025.Spend $1 billion cumulatively with diverse suppliers by 2030
WIRE)–GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, today marked Earth Day by releasing its 2021 Corporate Citizenship Report, highlightingthe latest progress and five bold new goals that will power the company’s future work across its five core pillars: Community Engagement, Inclusion & Diversity, Operations Sustainability, Product Sustainability, and Compliance & Ethics.
“This work is central to who we are as a business and what we want to accomplish in the future”Tweet this
Inspired by people and powered by innovation, GE Appliances is committed to building the world’s best appliances and strengthening communities. The GEA Way Forward goals, developed with employees, customers and appliance owners, reflect the company’s top priorities and are driving GE Appliances’ Citizenship efforts.
The GEA Way Forward Goals
- Create 10,000 U.S. jobs by 2027.
- Reach 40% women and 40% people of color by 2025.
- Use 15% less energy to make each product at all U.S. plants by 2026.*
- Transition 100% of products produced in North America to lower global warming potential refrigerants and foams by 2025.
- Spend $1 billion cumulatively with diverse suppliers by 2030
BEKO HEALTHY KITCHENS
Beko Home Appliances, considered to be among the world’s most sustainable appliance manufacturers, is using Earth Day to announce a slew of eco-conscious initiatives including a strategic alliance that places two of the first and highest-profile Beko Healthy Kitchens in one of the world’s healthiest and most sustainable homes
The U.S. subsidiary of Arcelik, Inc., has partnered with gaming and tech icon Michael Wann to design and outfit the chef’s and family kitchens in Wann’s 4,500-square-foot net-zero carbon home taking shape in Santa Monica, Calif. Currently chief strategy officer for Super League Gaming and instrumental in the growth of Tastemade, Fullscreen and Mobcrush, Wann is building a two-level home near Santa Monica College as both a personal residence and a public example of the possibilities of healthy, sustainable home and kitchen design.
“For years, our dream has been to build a home that reflects our love for a healthy, balanced day-to-day life and fully sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle,” Wann said. “The result will be an attainable net-zero-carbon showplace of accessible healthy, earth-friendly living – and a tangible example for others wanting to make a real difference in their own health and the health of the planet without sacrificing lifestyle goals.”
With the introduction of the Beko Healthy Kitchen earlier this year, Beko is looking to transform the U.S. industry in 2022 and beyond through expert councils, inspired kitchen designs and buildouts, major corporate strategic alliances and at least 35 new cooking, cooling and cleaning products with proprietary technologies and features that empower Americans to lead healthier lives while contributing to a healthier planet.
“To have the first tangible Beko Healthy Kitchens take shape in a home intended to serve as a best-in-class example of healthy, sustainable design represents perfectly the Beko mantra that healthy living is only truly possible on a healthy planet,” said Zach Elkin, president of Beko Home Appliances.
A floorplan by Vaishali Makim, AIA, principal of Makim Architecture of Santa Monica, calls for sweeping, light-filled open spaces, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, separate family, living, entertainment and formal dining rooms, a personal gym and climate-controlled wine and cheese room. Wann started construction in May 2021 on the former site of his family’s vegetable garden and expects move-in by January 2023.
For Wann’s 145-square-foot downstairs chef’s kitchen and 152-square-foot upstairs open-floor-plan family kitchen, Beko is working with designers on its Beko Healthy Kitchen Council to combine appliances, cabinets, surfaces, lighting and interior aesthetics with nutrition, recipe-prep, and earth-friendly elements to create centers of health, wellness and sustainability. Both kitchens will boast an array of the latest Beko kitchen and laundry appliances that were announced at KBIS 2022 including dishwashers equipped with CornerIntense® and IonGuard™, refrigerators with HarvestFresh+™, an industry-largest Beko Double-Wall Oven and range with AirFry, and washing machines outfitted with AquaTech® and RecycledTub® each made from 60 recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
The home will also feature the world’s first rooftop installation of a SmartFlower solar system that combines integrated sculptural design, advanced robotics and automation to track the sun throughout the day to produce 40% more energy than traditional solar panels.
For more information on the Beko Healthy Kitchen, visit beko.com/us-en.
Electrolux Sustainability 2021 report
Release of the new Electrolux Sustainability Report 2021, which shows that we’ve reduced our greenhouse gas emissions in operations by 78% compared to 2015. That’s four years ahead of our 2025 target of an 80% reduction.
As well as highlighting the progress made with our ambitious climate goals, the report also details the results from our other important sustainability issues, as we strive toward our purpose to shape living for the better.
Find the full report here: https://www.electroluxgroup.com/sustainabilityreports/2021/
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