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World Environment Day: How to Make Big Differences with Small Actions at Home

Jun 01. 2021

World Environment Day is celebrated every fifth of June to remind ourselves that everyone has a part to play in addressing the pressing environmental issues around us today.

With all that has happened over the past year, it is now more important than ever to assure our present and our future. The time is now to put our commitments into action.

Sometimes, big changes start with small actions. Leaving a positive impact on the environment can start from the little things we do at home to our big purchase decisions. Here are three mini projects that you can easily embark on during World Environment Day that will help make a big difference:

1. Give used packaging a second lease of life

Offering something for everyone, Samsung’s eco-packaging can be transformed into fun and functional household items such as bedside shelves, coffee tables and even cat houses!

Packaging materials serve a crucial role of protecting a product from damage before it gets into the hands of consumers. But given the materials they are made of, product packaging has so much more to offer beyond the delivery and unpacking stage.

For years now, many of us have been reusing product packaging such as cardboard boxes for storage. However, with some ingenuity and the right stationery, cardboards can actually be redesigned into proper home furniture! Today, there are plenty of hobbyist websites that show you how to convert cardboards into amazing furniture such as chairs, tables and even playhouses.

Samsung’s Eco-Package, for instance, lets consumers convert their product packaging into functional and fun furniture such as shoe racks, mini coffee tables and even cat houses. All you need to do is cut out the packaging by following the printed dots and assemble the parts to create an amazing item!

For more design inspiration, check out: https://www.samsung-ecopackage.com/

2. Look out for innovative technology built on sustainability

Launched in 2021, Samsung’s Solar cell-powered remote control will collectively prevent the wastage of 99 million AA batteries over the course of seven years.

Cutting-edge innovations can be built with sustainability in mind. When making purchase considerations as a consumer, you can play a part in protecting the environment by looking out for sustainability practices and green features. Ultimately, when you are using a device with built-in sustainability features, you are not only helping the environment – you will most likely enjoy savings in the long run too!

 

At Samsung, our sustainability-based approach to innovation has transpired into many new devices with best-in-class sustainability features, including:

 

        • The Solar cell-powered remote control¹ , which can be recharged through indoor or outdoor lighting, or USB. Collectively, this will prevent the wastage of around 99 million AA batteries over the course of seven years².
 

        • Our flagship QuickDrive™ washing machines, which leverage AI to optimise water, detergent and wash cycles, cuts wash time by up to 50% and energy usage by 20%³– going easy on the environment and utility bills!

3. Upcycle your old devices

Give a new lease of life to older Galaxy smartphones by converting them into a variety of devices that meet individual lifestyle needs.

New innovations within the consumer electronics space are being introduced at breakneck speeds. Understandably, you would be inclined to purchase the latest gadgets to better support your lifestyles.

However, this doesn’t have to mark the end of the line for your existing devices! Instead of disposing an old device, give it a new lease of life through upcycling. With a little dose of creativity, you can give your old device a new job by using it for a completely different purpose.

Here are a few simple thought-starters to give your old smartphone a new lease of life:

1. Use it as a permanent in-car GPS.

2. Use it as a security camera at home to monitor your children, pets or elderly parents via an app.

3. Use it as a standalone music player by connecting to your favourite speakers.

4. Use it as a bedside e-book reader.

Inspire others and do your part for collective action

Ultimately, every single action counts towards a greater good and your environmentally-friendly habits will go a long way to inspire those around you. Let’s take the first step this World Environmental Day!

¹ Available with all 2021 QLED TV product lines.

² Figure based on internal Samsung research (7 years is average lifecycle of TV products).

³ Tested on WW8000T and Samsung WW6500K. Saves 50% time and saves 20% energy on Cotton (40oC, half load) cycle with washing performance within ±5%. Based on Intertek data.