Thanks in large part to ISRI’s evangelism and leadership, “Design for Recycling” or “DfR” is an environmental sustainability platform that’s building momentum in the consumer electronics industry.
At LG Electronics, we view DfR as a key element of our “Green Product Strategy” for developing products that reduce negative environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle, including when they are ready for recycling.
I had the great honor of attending ISRI2015 and accepting the 2015 Design for Recycling Award on behalf of our environmental engineering and sustainability teams in Korea and in the United States who work to promote DfR principles in our products every day.
DfR Means Advanced Products with Greener Features
LG’s industry-leading OLED and Ultra HD TVs recognized by ISRI embody LG’s strategic direction for products with greener features designed to reduce the environmental load at every stage of the product lifecycle. Specifically, product designs include a number of recycling-friendly traits such as use of:
- Mercury-free display panels,
- Recycled and recyclable plastics,
- PVC- and BFR-free components,
- Smaller and lighter packaging,
- Ease of disassembly design, and
- Standardized materials and connection types.
Simply put, we look for ways to improve product recyclability before we begin developing a product, and reduce negative environmental impacts by designing our products for easier part identification and accessibility, for easier disassembly and for better material recyclability. We look for ways to reduce product weight and volume, too.
Shared Responsibility to Protect the Environment
In 2014 alone, LG Electronics USA collected and responsibly recycled 48 million pounds of used electronics – equivalent to diverting more than 20,563 metric tons of solid waste from the landfill. Put another way, the positive environmental impact of LG’s 2014 responsible recycling is equal to taking more than 12,000 passenger cars off the road for a year or saving enough energy to power nearly 3,000 U.S. homes for a year. At collection events, LG encourages consumers to replace recycled electronics with new, more energy efficient ENERGY STAR® certified LG TV and monitors.
Sustainability is a core business principle at LG Electronics, and we believe LG has a shared responsibility to protect the environment by reducing our environmental impact while enhancing the quality of life for consumers. We call this “Innovation for a Better Life” -- developing innovative products with the environment in mind, including a strong focus on DfR and responsible recycling. Life’s good when you live green!
Dr. Nandhu Nandhakumar is Senior Vice President, LG Technology Center of America. In addition to being honored by ISRI with the coveted 2015 Design for Recycling Award, LG Electronics USA has been recognized with the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Challenge “Gold Tier Award” and the “e-Cycling Initiative Leader Award” from the Consumer Electronics Association.
To learn more about LG’s responsible electronics recycling programs and overall sustainability efforts, please visit www.lgrecyclingprogram.com/.