Source: LG Press - Press Releases - September 25, 2013
LG Washing Machines World's First Certified for new UL "Water Footprint Inventory"
Lifecycle Analysis Examines Water Consumption at Every Stage
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Sept. 25, 2013 ㅡ Breaking
new ground in environmental sustainability for home appliances, washing
machines from LG Electronics are the first in the world to be certified
for the new Water Footprint Inventory being launched by UL Environment,
a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories).
The
new certification reflects the commitment by LG, as a responsible
manufacturer, to understand the impact of manufacturing and product
lifecycles on natural resources, particularly in light of increasing
global concerns around water and water scarcity. LG is believed to be
the first major appliance manufacturer to track water use through the
entire lifecycle of a product.
LG’s
ultra-large-capacity WM8000HVA and WM8000HWA front-load washers have
undergone an extensive lifecycle water footprint inventory analysis,
examining water use from component and packaging production, product
assembly, product usage and disposal. UL Environment is leading the way
in product verifications based on draft International Organization of
Standardization (ISO) principles and guidelines for water footprinting
of products, processes and organizations (ISO 14046).
“Since
water is a global resource, we are all affected by and responsible for
how it is used and managed,” said Sara Greenstein, president of UL
Environment. “UL Environment’s water footprint inventory provides a tool
for companies like LG to evaluate and address this important
environmental metric for its products.”
Based
on ISO 14046 analysis,UL Environment certified that water consumption
from the washer’s pre-manufacturing stage represents about 37 percent of
lifecycle water consumption, which will help LG identify processes and
materials to reduce water consumption. The consumer usage stage of the
washer’s lifecycle accounts for about 53 percent of overall water
consumption, underscoring the importance of continuing to develop
products that use less water.
Chris
Jung, president, Home Appliances, LG Electronics USA, said, “The UL
Water Footprint Inventory is a key eco-design reference, and the results
of the analysis show how important it is to track water over the life
cycle of the product and not just the usage phase. LG is proud to be a
pioneer in the water footprinting area and will use this data to improve
the water-efficiency of our products.”
LG’s
WM8000 washers are designed for a high-performance, ultra-efficient
washing experience, having earned the coveted ENERGY STAR® “Most
Efficient” 2013 designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. This means the washer is recognized as the best of the best
among those that qualify for the ENERGY STAR and represents the leading
edge in energy efficient products. In fact, a washer with this
designation can save consumers the equivalent of at least 74,000 bottles
of water a year, compared with conventional non-ENERGY STAR certified
washers. This model also features LG’s innovative TurboWash™ technology
that can save 20 minutes per load, while still offering outstanding
cleaning performance.
The
first certification under UL’s new Water Footprint Inventory is just
one example of LG’s leadership in developing products withthe
environment in mind without sacrificing performance or style. The LG
WM8000HVA/WM8000HWA washers also are the first to meet the “2013
Sustainability Standard for Household Clothes Washers” developed by UL
Environment, CSA Group, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
and other stakeholders. This new sustainability standard identifies a
product’s environmental impacts in six key areas: materials,
manufacturing and operations, energy and water consumption during use,
innovation, use of consumables, and end-of-life management.
More
than 70 LG products across multiple categories – from washing machines
and refrigerators to televisions and air conditioners – have earned the
2013 ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation so far this year. In
addition, with a total of 32 certified products, LG is a key participant
in the CarbonFree® Product Certification program, which verifies the
GHG emissions associated with a product’s life cycle and provides
certification to products offering carbon offsetting and GHG reduction.
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