Samsung is enhancing resource circularity throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to recycling and safe disposal.
In a statement the company said for 2024, its goal is to collect a minimum of 14,183 tons of electronic waste in Latin America.
This projected volume represents a 25.7 per cent increase compared to 2023, when Samsung managed to collect 11,280 tons.
To achieve this goal, announced as part of the Earth Day celebrations, the company will expand its collection programmes from 10 to 13 Latin American countries. Paraguay, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic will join Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Peru in having a system for collecting and correctly disposing of electronic waste.
“Expanding the waste collection programme in Latin America is an investment that fully aligns with our brand values. At Samsung, change begins with small steps. Therefore, we will encourage our customers to join us in this commitment to sustainability,” said Billy Moreira, Senior Director of Customer Satisfaction at Samsung Electronics in Latin America.
Through this programme, small and medium-sized products of any brand, such as headphones, chargers, batteries, laptops, and smartphones, can be disposed of in the collection bins at Samsung stores, located in respective countries. In Brazil and Mexico, larger products such as refrigerators and washing machines can be collected by the company at the customer’s address.
Additionally, these products may qualify for discounts when purchasing a Samsung product through local programs like Eco Trade and Trade-Up programmes, subject to the terms and conditions established in each country.
In so doing, Samsung ensures proper waste disposal, preventing the release of harmful chemical substances into the environment and safeguarding human health. Furthermore, materials are recycled to produce new products, promoting a circular economy.
Innovation to reduce waste
In relation to the development of new technologies in favor of sustainability, SolarCell Remote stands out. To decrease the disposal of millions of batteries on the planet, the SolarCell remote control is used in new Samsung Smart TVs. It is recharged using sunlight or ambient light and is designed to operate with just 10 per cent of the energy consumption of conventional models.
Additionally, the remotes are manufactured using 24 per cent recycled plastic, resulting in the recycling of over 55 tons of waste annually to produce 10 million SolarCell Remotes. This translates to an 18 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.
Furthermore, the televisions also incorporate recycled plastic in their construction, while the Bespoke refrigerators are made with aluminum.
More recycled materials
Samsung is increasingly integrating recycled materials into its products, such as plastic from discarded fishing nets in Galaxy devices, recycled plastic in TVs, and recycled aluminum in Bespoke refrigerators.
In 2024, the launch of the new Galaxy S24 line reinforces this commitment, incorporating recycled minerals such as cobalt and rare earth elements for the first time in a Galaxy device.
