SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Normally we do not manufacture products just to throw them away after one use. The goal is to get as much value from the product as possible through continuous utilization. Packaging materials do not conform to this concept. Their primary goal is to safely protect the product during shipping, being immediately discarded after fulfilling its duty.

The role of packaging becomes more important as a product’s size increases due to the risk of damage during shipping. After transportation, a refrigerator is separated from its packaging and installed in the customer's home. The packaging is immediately discarded. Packaging waste not only leads to economic losses, but also has a negative impact on the environment.

Graphs of annual packaging waste discarded in Korea

Graph of Annual cost of Samsung Electronics’ domestic refrigerator packaging

Recycling process of Samsung’s sustainable packaging

We used reverse logistics to create a unique package system to achieve sustainable growth.

Samsung’s sustainable packaging for refrigerator.

The superior resilience and shock absorption of EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) allows the packaging to be reused approximately 40 times. Integrated cushioning is overlapped and applied to the side folds during construction to improve the recovery rate.

Samsung Electronics’ Design Center worked hard to develop a packaging system that could be recycled several times. We focused on a design that would solve both inefficiency and environmental concerns.

In order to find a suitable material that combined durability and low cost, we visited a variety of shops across Seoul. From camping stores, to fabric districts, we examined thousands of materials to access their durability and quality. A thorough investigation allowed us to determine what material would be efficient in packaging refrigerators.

An image of recycling process.

Package in a warehouse.

1=40 reuses (1 package is reusable 40 times)

5 steps to pack the refrigerator with Samsung’s sustainable packaging. Step pictures are in order from left to right.

Our observations motivated us to create a practical application of eco-friendly packaging materials. Good design is capable of finding value in what cannot be seen.

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