Samsung Electronics said on the 3rd that it applied a new material recycled from polystyrene foam used for home appliance packaging to the internal components of air conditioners and air purifiers.
Samsung Electronics collected and sorted packaging polystyrene foam left after installing home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, then put it through a manufacturing process to create a new plastic blend with the same quality as existing materials. The company said packaging polystyrene foam is suitable as a recycled material because it has low contamination, with less odor and fewer hazardous substances.
The new material was used in the internal components of the "Bespoke AI WindFree Combo Gallery" air conditioner and the "INFINITE AI Air Purifier" produced in Korea.
Through this, Samsung Electronics received ECV certification from UL Solutions, a global certification body, for a 10% recycled material content. ECV certification is granted after rigorously verifying whether a product's environmental claims—such as the usage rate of reusable or recyclable materials and the content of hazardous substances—are true.
The total amount of waste polystyrene foam Samsung Electronics plans to recycle this year is 165 tons, which converts to about 5,500㎥ in volume. That is enough to fill the entire area of a soccer field (about 7,140㎡) to a height of about 77 cm.
Moon Jong-seung, executive vice president of Samsung Electronics' DA Division, said, "Samsung Electronics is developing a variety of recycled materials and expanding their application across products such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners," adding, "We will continue to develop sustainable materials to reduce environmental burdens and expand resource circulation."