UPCYCLED “WASTE” MATERIALS LEAD A NEW AESTHETIC FOR A TECHNOLOGY LIFESTYLE
2024/08/05
Acer Vero For Planet Earth
As a pioneer in sustainable growth and the first to establish a sustainability office in the corporate sector,
Acer Inc. has been committed to formulating various sustainable business strategies, shouldering this mission as a leading brand. In 2021, it joined the RE100 initiative with a pledge to achieve 100% renewable energy usage by 2035, while continuously deepening ESG practices.
Acer Inc.
Henry KH Huang (center), director of the Industrial Design
Department at Acer Inc., and team.
In response to ever growing calls for sustainability, Henry KH Huang, director of the Industrial Design Department at Acer Inc., a global leader in computing technology, expressed, "In our commitment to environmental stewardship, we aspire to contribute meaningfully." This endeavor goes beyond mere quantity, embodying Acer's unwavering dedication to the breadth, depth, and integrity of sustainability initiatives.
Establishing the Sustainability Office in 2008 and appointing a Chief Sustainability Officer catalyzed a top-down awakening of consciousness towards sustainability within the company. In 2017, Project Humanity waslaunched. By 2021, Acer had expanded its efforts with the Earthion initiative. The unveiling of Vero stands as a culmination of these collective experiences, a tangible manifestation of Acer's commitment to sustainability. "From a design standpoint, Acer has externalized the concept of environmental sustainability, demonstrating to the world the magnitude of the brand's determination," Huang emphasized. The launch of the Vero series can be seen as a concrete result of these accumulated experiences. "From a design perspective, Acer has externalized the concept of environmental protection, showcasing the brand's determination to the world."
1.From the outset, the Vero series encompasses a variety of product lines, including not only laptops but also
monitors, keyboards, mice, and more, thereby driving upstream and downstream supply chain partners to collectively respond to circularity and sustainability. (Image courtesy of Acer)
2.The Vero product series features exquisite color and texture patterns designed to awaken consumers' environmental awareness. The design team utilized the outward appearance of recycled plastic to transform it into a distinctive product feature.
Innovative Designs with Recycled Plastic: Seeing Sustainability at First Glance
Indeed, at first sight of the Vero series products, one is immediately drawn to the unique texture and patterns of the recycled plastic casings. Acer believes that the choice of recycled materials is pivotal, as it hinges on meeting
strength and durability requirements.
Therefore, when Vero was launched in its inaugural year, the laptop casings were made from a blend of 30% PCR material, while the monitor casings were crafted with 85% PCR content. "We aim to gradually increase the proportion of PCR material, finding the optimal balance for different product categories.
For instance, we plan to raise the PCR content of laptop casings to 60% by 2024." Acer aims to maximize the sustainability benefits of Vero, with the core design principle of "Every Decision Counts." This encompasses deliberate reductions in painting processes for casings and the utilization of Ocean-Bound Plastics (OBP) as recycled materials.
Sustainability in the Details -Meticulousness from Product to Packaging
Equipped with a touchpad made entirely of Ocean-Bound Plastic (OBP) material, Vero laptops stand at the forefront among leading brands. Acer specifically highlights the production volume of Vero's OBP touchpads, which grew threefold from 2022 to 2023, exceeding one million pieces.
As sustainability encompasses every aspect of innovation, it goes beyond single-element enhancements,
and must permeate every facet of product design and development. Thus, while the primary focus of Vero's first-generation packaging was on reducing ink printing and eliminating plastic bags and protective films, the second generation took it a step further with an extended product life cycle. After unboxing, the laptop paper box can be repurposed as a laptop stand, storage box, or seedling tray, harnessing the synergistic effects of circular materials and design.
Exemplifying a Key Role Model - Expanding Environmental Products Across the Entire Range
Despite the operational pressures faced by major brands, Acer continues to uphold its commitment to quality and
performance, insisting on a meticulous attention to detail. Therefore, in addition to positioning Vero within
the mainstream price range, Acer envisions it as the environmentally conscious version of its products, aiming
to set a trailblazing precedent. By extending the product line and garnering widespread consumer acceptance,
Acer aims to bridge the gap between environmental and corporate sustainability.
For Acer, product design and sustainable design are two sides of the same coin. Only by connecting green production, green supply chain, and green consumption can the ultimate goal of environmental protection be
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