LG Electronics increases goal to use recycled plastic by 2030

The company aims to use 600,000 metric tons of recycled plastic in its products by 2030.

LG Chilseo Recycling Center in South Korea
The LG Chilseo Recycling Center in South Korea takes back electronic scrap to manufacture new products.
LG

LG Electronics, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, has set a goal to use about 600,000 metric tons of recycled plastic by 2030. The company says the goal is part of LG’s larger initiative to create a takeback ecosystem for electronic scrap and increase the use of postconsumer recycled materials in its consumer electronics and home appliance products.

In 2020, LG used about 20,000 metric tons of recycled plastic in its products, according to a news release from the company. While recycled plastic is currently used in LG TVs, monitors, speakers, washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners, LG will expand the use of recycled plastic to the exterior of its products as well.

The company reports that it also wants to reduce the use of virgin plastic throughout its operations. This year, 18 LG OLED TV models will be produced using less virgin plastic, reducing as much as 10,000 metric tons of virgin plastic use.

The company wants to increase the amount of electronic scrap it recycles as well. In 2006, the company recycled 4.5 million metric tons of electronic scrap. LG says it wants to recycle 8 million metric tons of electronic scrap by 2030. The company is implementing initiatives to take back and recycle electronic scrap in 52 countries. In South Korea, the LG Chilseo Recycling Center, which opened in 2001, takes back electronic scrap and also manufactures new components from recycled plastic and delivers them to LG’s home appliance plant for use in products such as refrigerators.

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