Sustainability Begins at Home

Imagine turning your home into a sleek and efficient machine for living in, a home where the air quality is as pure as mountain air, home appliances are seen but not heard and electricity usage and carbon footprint set new standards along the path towards sustainability.

Thanks to a diverse range of products, from portable air purifiers to immense heating systems, LG Electronics is empowering consumers to take bolder steps in the fight against climate change, from the comfort of their own homes.

In 2018, households represented 26 per cent of final energy consumption throughout the European Union, making them a critical factor in reducing global warming¹. Moreover, fossil fuels accounted directly for 44 per cent of that energy consumption, with close to one third coming from natural gas and 12 per cent from petroleum products. Faced with the challenge of reducing and mitigating climate change, the EU has committed to a 32.5 per cent reduction in the bloc’s energy consumption by 2030 compared to baseline projections established in 2007².

As part of that effort, the EU this year introduced new energy labels on electrical products for the home, replacing the previous A+++ to D rating system with a scale ranging from A to G. The new energy criteria for each of the classes is much stricter, which means that all of the products that occupied a given category on the previous labels will now be downgraded. That, in turn, creates clearer incentives for manufacturers to continue improving the efficiency of their products.

As part of the label changes, certain indicators will become much more important for determining energy efficiency. For refrigerators and freezers, important indicators will include energy consumption (kWh), the volume of the fridge and the noise level. For washing machines and dryers, indicators will include energy consumption, spin-drying efficiency, water consumption and the noise level.

Core technologies

In line with regulatory changes, LG is in the forefront of the drive to improve energy efficiency of home appliances, using its core technologies to improve performance while making a continuing contribution to putting the world on a more sustainable path. The technology behind LG’s domestic appliances is able to transform our homes into lower-carbon, cleaner and quieter environments. This not only translates into financial savings for families but also helps the United Nations in its mission to boost worldwide awareness of, and inspire powerful action on, climate change.

The company’s Inverter Linear Compressor™ enables refrigerators to reach their target temperature more quickly thanks to precise temperature control. On top of that, its LINEARCooling™ system reduces temperature fluctuations within ±0.5°C, and DoorCooling+™ helps keep the inside temperature more even with the air vents located at the front of the fridge — helping the food to stay fresher for longer. This has huge potential consequences for food waste, which has become a global issue.

For its washing machines, LG has also developed its own Inverter DirectDrive Motor™, eliminating the traditional belt and pulley system, and making these appliances more durable, quieter and more energy efficient. AI technology that complements those hardware solutions by using Big Data, AI DirectDrive™, determines not only the weight of a load of laundry but also the composition and softness of the fabric. This information determines an optimal washing cycle, which reduces energy consumption and lengthens the life of clothes.

Zero carbon

LG’s leadership on sustainability and the environment has deep roots in the company’s internal practices. As early as 2019, it set out its Zero Carbon 2030 initiative, committing to achieving net zero carbon emissions from its global operations by 2030. At the same time, LG has worked continuously to cut down on resource consumption by reducing the weight and volume of products as well as by using increasing amounts of recycled materials.

As part of its commitment to the circular economy, LG’s internal procedures are geared towards developing products that facilitate disassembly and recycling of the products it manufactures. It has also set targets to achieve 95 per cent recycle rates across its production sites by 2030. It is working to spread its own sustainability ethos along its supply chain, touching all aspects of raw-material mining, production, use and disposal. It is now actively working to establish best environmental practice all the way through to tier-3 suppliers.

The result of all of this is a range of domestic appliances that is pushing industry standards on sustainability. By promoting an intelligent lifestyle working towards a zero carbon and circular economy, and helping to create a better society, LG is committed to sustainable growth and to a better life.