The Electrolux Group has developed a new line of built-in refrigerators – the Electrolux 500-900 Series and AEG 5000-9000 Series – that we’re currently launching in Europe. The recent launches have inner liners made from 70% recycled plastic, which equates to 13% of the total plastic used in the refrigerator. We are the first in the world to incorporate this much recycled plastic into a refrigerator so it’s an important industry breakthrough.
The plastic is sourced from a specialty supplier that collects and refines plastic from discarded refrigerators in Europe. It is very important that we work with strong and reliable partners that can provide access to high-quality recycled materials.
The range has been well received at fairs such as IFA in Berlin as the industry sees the product as being concrete proof that we take sustainability seriously.
How have consumers responded to the inner liners made from recycled plastic?
Consumers have responded very positively to the inner liners, and they perceive the gray shade of plastic as being more premium than standard white liners. They favor products made from recycled materials and our research has shown they want this kind of refrigerator with recycled materials.
How do our built-in fridges help retain nutrients and avoid food waste?
The recent launches have an innovative GreenZone crisper drawer to keep fruit and vegetables fresh. They are offered in two versions – one with a manual vent that consumers can open or close depending on how full the drawer is and an automatic version. The automatic crisper has a membrane that allows ingredients to breathe by regulating and optimizing humidity.
Third-party studies have shown that our GreenZone crisper drawer can retain 95% of the vitamin C in blueberries after 11 days. None of our competitors use this kind of innovative membrane so it is a clear competitive advantage for us.
The recent launches also use innovative cooling technology that keeps the temperature stable to help ingredients last longer. One of the solutions is Cooling 360, which maintains a more stable temperature distribution, to preserve food for longer by avoiding temperature shocks and stress on food. Our TwinTech® No Frost also keeps food hydrated with independent cooling systems for the fridge and the freezer parts.
What do customers think about these enhanced abilities to help preserve ingredients?
Consumers immediately understand the value to them – not only in terms of retaining the vitamins in their ingredients for their health, but also making ingredients last longer and ultimately helping them to avoid food waste. Importantly, consumers really value the third-party verified fact-based claims we make. At Electrolux Group we’re committed to help consumers live better, more sustainable lives in the home and this refrigerator line reflects that.
Consumers have shown increased interest in healthy eating, particularly since the pandemic, and we go beyond the standard refrigerator offering by helping them to maintain the vitamin content and quality of the food they eat. Also, people are becoming increasingly conscious of food waste and the materials that are used to manufacture their products.
Will they be launched in other markets in 2023?
Yes, as well as continuing to roll out these innovations across Europe in 2023, they are looking at launching in other regions, such as Asia Pacific, in the coming years. Watch this space
Tag Archives: Environmental
LG Named Most Sustainable Home Appliance Brand
LG Electronics has been named the industry’s most sustainable home appliance brand in the just-published 2023 Green Builder Sustainable Brand Index.
The ranking is based on the weighted average of three factors: survey data used to gauge builders’ perception of a company’s sustainability efforts, data that tracks the number of positive brand mentions by consumers who have used or have heard about a product, and sentiment that tracks how favorably consumers view a particular company.LG topped all three survey components – and is the only company among any category winners to do that – largely due to its ever-advancing and continually popular Signature Kitchen Suite brand and consistent emphasis on energy efficiency and performance.”
This top ranking follows the announcement that LG earned two coveted 2023 Green Builder Sustainable Products of the Year distinctions,“recognizing innovations that go above and beyond in manufacturing and encourage sustainability through innovative technology or an improved version of a traditional technique.” The LG Multi F MAX with LGRED° multi-zone heat pump HVAC system and LG STUDIO induction cooktop with a flex cooking zone were singled out as Sustainable Products of the Year in the HVAC and appliance categories, respectivelyNamed 2023 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, LG helps consumers take climate action in impactful ways. For example, ENERGY STAR certified LG clothes washers and dishwashers purchased by American consumers in the past year are expected to save more than 35 billion gallons of water over their product life, enough to fill 53,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.“ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2022” LG refrigerators, washers, dryers, room air conditioners and computer monitors are expected to save more than 482 million pounds of CO2 over the life of these products.
Hisense Prioritises Sustainable Growth to Build a Greener Future
Earth Day’s purpose is to engage people, institutions, and businesses to recognize their responsibility to accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all. Hisense, a leading global home appliance and consumer electronics brand, has always viewed sustainable business practices as one of its top priorities, and is committed to achieving, and helping bring about lower energy consumption, and environmental sustainability.
The global consumer electronics giant, best known for its TV, Laser TV and white goods, has recently taken an array of steps to reduce its own impact on the planet, ensuring its manufacturing, supply chain and the products it produces are more efficient and sustainable.
With self-developed technologies, like its self-adaptive backlight control algorithm, digitalized power control algorithm, high-voltage LED light and drive technology, Hisense has managed to reduce energy consumption of each TV by 25%. Moreover, in amending the design of its televisions, the company has reduced the amount of plastic that is required to dissipate heat, saving 4,626 tons of plastic per-year, the equivalent of 514million plastic bags.
Hisense’s refrigeration category has solicited praise from the United Nations Development Program for its use of foaming technology to improve the efficiency of its fridges; a development which is believed to have saved nearly 6,000 tons of carbon emissions.
The company is also improving the footprint of its factories, increasing solar power generation in the plants it operates. It expects the total installed capacity to reach 60MW by the end of 2023, and the annual power generation capacity will reach 53 million kWh. The proportion of solar power generation in Hisense’s total electricity consumption is now at more than 10%.
Hisense is also keen to bring about a more sustainable world beyond its own operations, and to mark Earth Day it has launched a new tree planting initiative to promote the importance of safeguarding the environment.
To find out more about Hisense’s commitment to take us Towards a Greener Future, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcqzEepU98g
About Hisense:
Hisense is a leading global home appliance and consumer electronics brand. Hisense’s business covers multimedia products (with a focus on Smart TVs), home appliances, and IT intelligent informatio
Miele green aluminium
Miele introduces green aluminium to production: After having started to deploy green steel, we are now the first company in our industry to use primary aluminium, produced exclusively using green electricity from hydropower.
As part of a pilot project, we will use profile strips in the manufacture of ovens, which as of this year will be made from around 150 tons of CO2-reduced aluminum and are 100 percent recyclable. This way, we reduce our CO2 footprint by 645 tonnes a year. In doing so, we make yet another contribution to greater sustainability in the supply chain.
“The objective is to use climate-friendly aluminium on a broad front and thereby contribute towards a future-proof economy”, says Senior Vice President Hans Krug who is in charge of Purchasing at the Miele Group. In the picture, Hans Krug (left) and Oelde plant manager Rouven Vierfuss show a profile strip made of aluminum.
Samsung and Patagonia
Samsung and Patagonia worked together to design a washing machine cycle and filter that drastically reduce the release of microplastics during laundry while maintaining high cleaning performance. Patagonia, a brand known for its commitment to the environment and to sustainability, assisted Samsung in product testing and research, while the Korean manufacturer provided the technical expertise. The partnership aims to combat ocean pollution by preventing microplastics from entering the water stream during laundry.
The end result of the collaboration is the Less Microfiber Cycle and a new filter installed in a new range of appliances. The combined use of the special cycle and filter, according to Samsung, reduces the release of microplastics by 54% and blocks them from escaping into the water outlet.
The Less Microfiber Cycle can be installed as an update on compatible washing machines in Korea and the U.S. later this year. The Less Microfiber Filter will be available in select Samsung washing machines in Europe in the second half of 2023. The good news here is that users of other washing machine brands will also be able to purchase the filter separately and install it on their washers.
Beko expects 100% of energy resources to be renewable by 2030
The data shows, human activities and influence have generated an unprecedented climate and environmental crisis. Without going any further, each year around 2 billion tons of waste are generated in the world and, by 2050, the figure could grow to 3.4 billion tons.
In this context, Beko has integrated sustainability into all its axes, offering added value and providing solutions that are more respectful of the environment.
The recognition of the international group has been thanks to the saving of 2.17 million m3 of water with water efficiency projects and rainwater collection in factories, the use of more than 7,000 tons of recycled materials in its products and the initiative of 228 energy efficiency projects, between 2020 and 2021. In addition, through the use of recycled cardboard in their packaging, they have managed to save more than half a million trees in 2021.
The company’s commitment for 2030/2050 is to use 100% renewable energy resources, achieve 99% waste recycling in all global manufacturing operations and increase the use of recycled content up to 40% in its products. and reduce water and energy consumption per product by 45%. The goal for 2050 is to achieve net zero emissions throughout the value chain.
Innovative environmentally responsible technologies
Thanks to technology, Beko is constantly exploring new solutions that help consumers and, above all, respect the environment as an added value. Beko SaveWater dishwashers guarantee perfect cleaning results with 1/3 less water consumption. AutoDose® is another featured technology for dishwashers and washing machines, which dispenses the optimal amount of detergent, based on load and soil level. In washing machines, AquaTech® technology, thanks to the power of water, reduces washing time by half, which implies a consumption of up to 30% less energy than class A washing machines.
In relation to the recycling that has been generated since the project began in 2017, the company has managed to recycle more than 58 million plastic bottles with a reduction in CO2 emissions of almost 2,200 tons.
An example is the RecycledTub washer and dryer, made from plastic waste that has been transformed into an alternative raw material. For its part, the RecycledNet oven is made from waste extracted from fishing nets and industrial thread; while the RecycledDry dryer has been designed with an average of 15% recycled plastic. Finally, the BioCycle refrigerator is one of the products made with biocomposites to protect the plane
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