PARIS - Major home appliance brands including Samsung, LG, and Electrolux are accelerating the launch of energy-efficient and low-carbon products, as governments worldwide roll out stricter environmental regulations to cut household carbon footprints.
The European Union’s updated Energy Labeling Regulation, which took effect in March 2024, has raised the bar for appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Under the new rules, only products with energy efficiency ratings of A or B can be sold in the bloc, phasing out lower-rated models that consume 30% more energy on average.
South Korea’s Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest "Eco-Series" refrigerator last month, featuring a solar-powered auxiliary system that reduces electricity use by up to 18%. The model also uses plant-based plastic for 40% of its outer casing, cutting plastic waste by over 2.5kg per unit compared to traditional designs.
Sweden-based Electrolux has gone a step further, promising that all its large appliances will be carbon-neutral in production and usage by 2030. The company announced it will invest €200 million ($218 million) in 2024-2025 to upgrade factories with renewable energy sources and develop more eco-friendly components, such as refrigerant-free air conditioners.
Market data from Euromonitor International shows that global sales of eco-labeled large appliances grew 12% year-on-year in 2023, outpacing the overall home appliance market’s 4% growth. "Consumers are now willing to pay 15-20% more for greener products, especially in Europe and North America," said Lisa Chen, a senior analyst at Euromonitor.
