Creating an Inclusive Society With ‘Appliances for All’
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By News Reporter
Earth Day – celebrated annually on April 22 – is a great opportunity for people around all parts of the globe to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Shared earlier this week,
link hidden, please login to view an event with diverse activities highlighting the importance of sustainable practices. Let’s take a look at how other LG offices around the world shared the positive message of creating a ‘Better Life for All’ in time for Earth Day.
To start off in Germany, the company turned Earth Day into a week-long event through Earth Week on its online brand shop. From April 22 to 28, German consumers will receive a 10 percent discount on all LG household appliances with a green energy label purchased on , not only saving money but also energy at the same time.
LG Germany wanted to fully do its part to contribute to a more sustainable future, which is why it partnered with the local initiative , a non-profit association that advocates sustainable environment protection and nature conservation. As a part of this partnership, LG Germany will donate 10 percent of revenue from the energy efficient home appliances purchased between April 22-28 to the organization. Aligned with Herzenswald Schmitten’s mission, LG Germany proudly supports regional afforestation and providing newly planted trees with individual protection against poaching.
And, to boost sustainable practices within the company, LG Germany celebrated Earth Day in its Eschborn office. Employees received a reusable coffee cup, featuring the Life’s Good logo, reducing waste on single-use cups and even further promoting the brand message in public. Also, to motivate employees to reduce their carbon footprint, the company awarded employees who came to the office by either bike or public transportation with a voucher from a coffee bar located in the building – providing an opportunity for employees to use their brand new Life’s Good cups and spread the message. The company is excited to see how many employees make the morning bike ride their daily routine!
Reducing disposable wastes is an important task, one that LG’s headquarters in Korea is also paying great attention to. In time for this year’s Earth Day, LG CEO William Cho joined in on the “Zero Disposables Challenge,” a nation-wide environmental initiative launched by South Korea’s Ministry of Environment last year to encourage the use of reusable items in public. In line with this, the company called on all its employees to boost efforts to reduce the use of single-use products and increase the use of reusable products.
In Taiwan, the company deliberated on ways to make a difference for the planet through small daily actions. LG believes that doing one little thing every day has the power to have a great impact when accumulated over time.
To highlight this message, LG Taiwan unveiled a challenge on its official social media page, inviting users to reshare their Instagram story template, selecting what good things – no matter how big or small – they do to show that they love the earth! Running from April 22 to May 5, the company will select six winners who will receive a gift card.
Last but not least, LG Spain created a video outlining their on-going efforts to create a better planet. In the video shared via its social channels, the company introduces their Smart Green movement, an initiative that uses technology as a means to regenerate the ecosystem. The movement’s goals include ; to ensure the pollination of countless endemic plants; and restoring the seabed, which is home to thousands of plant and animal species. Already seeing great results, LG Spain reiterated its commitment to work with its local partners to change the world for the better.
LG believes Life’s Good but also understands that true enjoyment requires care and attention. The company is committed to not only crafting sustainable products but also to participating in initiatives that foster a better, cleaner future.
Contributed by LG Germany, Taiwan and Spain
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By News Reporter
Reaffirming Its Industry Leadership, LG Achieved Top Rankings in 2023 American
Customer Satisfaction Index Survey for TVs and Home Appliances
SEOUL, Oct. 5, 2023 — LG Electronics (LG) has received recognition for excellence from the 2023 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Survey for TVs and major appliances*. The ACSI results underscore LG’s steadfast commitment to enriching the daily lives of consumers by offering products based on customer response and feedback.
The ACSI is a renowned U.S. organization and the only national cross-industry measure of customer satisfaction, possessing over two decades of expertise in evaluating a wide range of diverse industries. The ACSI survey findings offer a high level of reliability, derived from interviews with approximately half a million customers.
LG claimed the top TV manufacturing position in this year’s ACSI TV category, recording an impressive score of 83, which marks a notable 4 percent increase. LG TVs consistently excelled with customers in multiple areas, including product durability, internal configurations, exterior design and warranty coverage.
In the home appliances category, LG secured first place for the second consecutive year. The only manufacturer to achieve a score in the 80s last year, LG boasted the highest satisfaction index this year with a score of 82, a one-point increase from its previous standing.
LG has made significant strides to align its vision with sustainable and eco-friendly technology. The U.S. Department of Energy has unveiled a series of proposals aimed at implementing regulations and standards for the reduction of water and energy consumption urging manufacturers to enhance energy efficiency in home appliances. Amid these efforts, LG is dedicated to actively participating in environmental preservation.
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*American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2022-2023.
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By News Reporter
A company that understands there’s no place like home, LG is trying to make home life even better through expanding the customer experience offered by its advanced appliances.
LG presents consumers with a diverse range of products spanning around 20 different product categories, including home appliances, TVs, information technology and signage solutions. Right now, there are almost 200 million LG smart home appliances delivering customized convenience to people all over the globe. Via its rich ecosystem of products, and with the consent of its customers, the company is actively collecting and organizing data throughout the entire customer journey. Based on the analysis of this data, LG is developing various services and features to further improve the customer experience.
By utilizing ‘big data,’ the company is showing how digital transformation (DX) can simultaneously enhance business competitiveness and bring greater value to consumers. LG is applying DX technology to several key areas of its operations, such as product development, manufacturing and sales; improving the way the company works while also creating first, unique and new – or F.U.N. – customer experiences.
Let’s take a look at some of the innovative ‘DX-powered’ services that LG is able to provide its customers.
Proactive Customer Care
Inconvenient and rare though it may be, sometimes, home appliances don’t function as intended. To help avoid any major breakdowns, and the hassle that invariably comes along with them, LG developed a technology that preemptively checks for any potential issues and takes action in advance if any is required. The collection and analysis of home appliance data makes it possible to identify if a product has been incorrectly installed or is being improperly used, flagging the problem before any actual damage is done.
LG is expanding this preventive maintenance technology, which is being used throughout its home appliance lineups, by incorporating data-based AI care services. One such service enables the company’s washing machines to notify users when the drum needs cleaning due to laundry contamination or inform them if there is a risk of pipes freezing or bursting due to cold ambient temperatures. Active rather than passive, LG’s AI customer care features can be easily managed using the LG ThinQ app.
Upgradable Home Appliances
LG’s paradigm-altering ThinQ UP home appliances can adapt to the unique and changing lifestyles of each customer thanks to their impressive upgradability. A first for the home appliance industry, ThinQ UP technology, which allows customers to choose which additional features or functions they download and install, was no small task to develop.
In addition to providing a more tailored experience to users, ThinQ UP has helped LG to lower the total cost of developing and testing new functions for its appliances. In the future, ThinQ UP functions will be continuously improved based on customer usage data.
In order to deliver innovations like ThinQ UP, it is essential to first gain a deep understanding of how customers live. LG achieves this through analyzing product usage data and a variety of ‘external’ user data, such as whether the user is sensitive to heat, how much water they drink, and whether or not they have pets.
Customer Index
Developed and managed by LG, the Customer Index provides a wealth of data that the company is leveraging to make its smart home appliances – and related services – even smarter. The Index is helping to extend and enhance the user experience by revealing underlying usage patterns as well as customers’ hidden wants and needs – which LG then addresses by crafting clever, new services linked to its products.
In the future, owners of LG Objet Collection products who are interested in interior design will be able to use the company’s interior platform to find décor inspiration and purchase interior accessories that match with the aesthetic of their home appliances. As another example of what could soon be possible, LG’s Styler, washing machine and dryers may be able to connect users with specialist mobile laundry services aligned with their specific needs uncovered through the analysis of usage data.
By seamlessly combining products, data and services into a unified whole, LG will create continuous customer experience innovation that delivers unprecedented value and convenience. And through its commitment to implementing DX technologies, the company will keep on growing and refining its ability to help consumers everywhere enjoy healthier, happier lives.
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By News Reporter
Each year, millions of home appliances reach the end of their operational lifespans and are taken away for disposal.* However, their story doesn’t have to finish there. Through transformative processes and technologies, these discarded devices can be reborn as brand-new appliances, offering features and performance tailored to the needs and preferences of today’s consumers.
Let’s explore how old appliances are being turned into up-to-date and environmentally-conscious living solutions by one of the leading innovators in the home appliance industry.
Urban Mining: Unearthing New Resources From Discarded Appliances
‘Urban mining’ means extracting valuable resources from ‘retired’ household appliances. It involves recovering and sorting any raw materials that can be used in the creation of new products. Unlike incineration – a fate that befalls many disused appliances – this course of action helps reduce carbon emissions and prevent environmental pollution. An active urban miner, LG extracts several different materials from discarded appliances – including plastic, iron and non-ferrous metals – and then uses them to help produce its advanced, new offerings.
LG Recycling Center: Giving New Life to Old Appliances
Since the end of 2021, LG has been implementing resource circulation programs in a total of 52 countries worldwide as part of its extensive efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions. At the LG Recycling Center in South Korea, which commenced operations in 2001, raw materials are harvested from disposed-of home appliances, meticulously sorted and processed before being made into ‘fresh’ eco-responsible appliance components.
Here are the four main steps taken at the LG Recycling Center that make it possible to turn old appliances into high-quality parts for new products.
Step 1: Collection – Used appliances such as refrigerators, washers and air conditioners are collected and transported to the center.
Step 2: Disassemble and Crush – The appliances are taken apart, and the components are crushed to achieve a consistent size.
Step 3: Sorting and Processing – After iron, aluminum, copper and plastic materials have been sorted, the plastics are put through an additional process where they are made into pellets; a convenient and renewable resource for the manufacturing of plastic parts and goods.
Step 4: Rebirth – The pellets are melted and transformed into plastic parts for use in the production of new LG home appliances.
Recycled Plastics: Giving Life to LG’s Captivating Designs
Recycled plastics play an important role in bringing the captivating designs of LG’s home appliances to life, including those of the recently launched LG Styler ShoeCare and ShoeCase. The LG PuriCare AeroFurniture air purifier and the LG tiiun mini, which come in an array of vibrant colors to enliven the home, also employ recycled plastics. Used in the construction of both products’ exteriors, these repurposed materials contribute to the aesthetic appeal of LG’s innovations and help reduce resource consumption and waste.
A Continuous Virtuous Cycle for the Planet and Consumers
LG has fully embraced a ‘Sustainable Cycle’ approach, building eco-consciousness into every stage of the home appliance lifecycle, from production and packaging to usage and recycling. The company continues to utilize recycled materials extracted and processed at the CRC in the manufacture of new appliances – appliances that minimize power consumption and emissions, and are themselves highly recyclable. In this way, LG has created a virtuous cycle that simultaneously benefits the planet and consumers.
Stepping up its efforts even further, LG plans to reach a cumulative total of 600,000 tons of recycled plastics (for producing home appliance components) by the beginning of the next decade. The ambitious target is set out in the company’s ‘Better Life Plan 2030,’ and also forms part of LG’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality.
Also by 2030, LG estimates it will have recovered 8 million tons of out-of-use appliances for the purpose of extracting recycled materials.
By implementing initiatives such as proper product disposal and the extraction of materials from discarded products, LG is able to create something new from something old, showing how a firm commitment to people and the planet can help make a better life for all.
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*According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), roughly nine million refrigerators/freezers, six million window air conditioning units and nearly one million dehumidifiers are disposed of each year. ( link hidden, please login to view)
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By News Reporter
In this installment of On the Job, we go inside LG’s System Integrated Circuit (SIC) Center to learn how LG is leveraging the latest AI to help deliver new customer experiences.
Imagine if there was a refrigerator that could play music and change color to match your current mood or spice up your kitchen décor. Well, as it happens, such a fridge actually exists – the newly introduced refrigerator with MoodUP from LG. The unique capabilities and customer experiences offered by LG’s latest kitchen innovation owe much to the LG8111, an on-device AI system-on-chip (SoC) developed by LG’s SIC Center.
Even before it was known as LG Electronics, the company began producing chips for consumer electronics as far back as 1992, at the ASIC Center under Goldstar’s Central Research Institute. Now, LG’s SIC Center is responsible for developing all of the AI chips used in LG products. These technologies have evolved over time to become the AI-based integrated circuits now used in cutting-edge appliances and home entertainment solutions such as LG OLED TV, and now, the fridge with MoodUP.
(From left to right) Chang Woon-suk, lead of Smart Solution TP, LG SIC Center, and Lee Jin-jong, LG SIC Center professional
Greatly expanding the customer experience, the company’s latest AI chips can process innumerable data points and enable LG appliances to communicate with one another – and with other smart devices as well. LG8111, the new AI chip used in the MoodUP, features an acceleration engine that processes information gathered from the refrigerator’s built-in cameras, microphones and sensors in real time. This allows the MoodUP to quickly recognize changes in its immediate environment and adjust performance accordingly, facilitate more convenient interactions with users and accurately assess if all of its features are functioning optimally.
Recognizing the importance that AI will play in consumer electronics and wanting to find a solution to differentiate LG products, engineers at the LG SIC Center began to develop the LG8111 in 2017 and created the first prototype in 2018. The LG8111, a highly integrated AI chip that is equipped with an LG-specific AI processor, is perfectly designed for LG products. While the chip performs and functions better online, its AI functions can also be utilized offline as well.
Impressively, the LG8111 can provide three types of AI: vision intelligence (the ability to recognize and distinguish between different spaces, locations, objects and users), voice intelligence (the ability to recognize users’ voices or specific noises associated with a certain type of space) and control intelligence (the ability to adjust and optimize performance according to physical or chemical changes in the environment). Also, when connected to Wi-Fi, any product equipped with the LG8111 can transmit information to nearby devices or to cloud servers.
“We spent a considerable amount of time deciding which device would be the first to apply our new on-device AI chip,” said Chang Woon-suk, lead of Smart Solution TP, LG SIC Center.
Various appliances were in contention, but ultimately, the SIC team decided to go with a refrigerator, a choice made because the household fridge has the distinction of being the only home appliance to operate 24/7. The first recipient of the state-of-the-art chip, the color-changing LG refrigerator with MoodUP boasts a seamless voice recognition feature that allows for convenient, remote control and monitoring via the LG ThinQ app.
“All of our top-notch researchers at the LG SIC Center are dedicated to developing chip solutions based on the core goal of maximizing customer value,” said Chang. “While we’re pleased with the success of the LG8111, we will continue to push the envelope as a team to take the customer experience to the next level.”
The successful implementation of the LG8111 in the new LG refrigerator with MoodUP opens the way for the chip’s use in a wide range of LG solutions, from other smart home appliances to electric vehicle components.
Stay tuned to
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