Published : Sept. 24, 2013 - 20:18
Jung Kyu-hwang (left), head of LG U.S home appliances, and Donald Mayer,a marketing official from Underwriters Laboratories, pose with the water footprint certification in New Jersey on Sept. 13. (LGE)
LG Electronics said Tuesday that it won for the first time a “water footprint” certification from an international product safety testing organization.
The Korean electronics firm said its two washing machines WM8000HVA and WM8000HWA received the certification from Underwriters Laboratories, a safety consulting and certification company based in the United States.
The recognition came after the firm completed a similar energy efficiency test of its washing machine lineup with Det Norske Veritas, a European safety testing institute, last month.
The certifying process was conducted based on the rules of the International Organization for Standardization, which require the washing machine to meet a certain standard for the amount of water used directly and indirectly throughout the life cycle of the product.
“The environment and water shortage are issues that all humans should pay attention to,” said Jung Kyu-hwang, head of LG home appliances in the United States, adding, “LG will solidify its status as a leading environmentally friendly firm with innovative and eco-friendly products.”
The certified models are equipped with the Direct Drive motor, which, according to the firm, is directly attached to the drum and increases energy efficiency and cuts water consumption.
They were also certified for sustainability by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a household appliances organization in the States.
Water footprint came into the spotlight after the UNESCO’s International Institute for Infrastructural Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering announced evaluation standards for the amount of water used by consumer electronics in 2011.
A LG official said the concept could be considered as part of environmental norms along with carbon footprint.
By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)