Environmental responsibility at Loewe
Kronach. – Environmental awareness, economical energy consumption and sustainability. These are values that have a high resonance, particularly amongst discerning customers, and which have characterised Loewe for decades. From manufacturing a completely recyclable television (1995) to establishing an environmental management system (1998) and certification in accordance with ISO 14001 (2001) – Loewe protects the natural environment and uses resources responsibly.
Energy efficiency
Loewe televisions are particularly energy-efficient. While external components have considerably higher total stand-by consumption, a Loewe TV – when you consider all the integrated functions including hard disk recorder, DVB receiver and DVB radio – is more energy efficient several times over. The integration of numerous functions in Loewe televisions is not only convenient, it is also environmentally-friendly. The material savings alone, in terms of the housings, power supply units, power/connection cables, remote controls and batteries that are not required, are crucial. Optical Power Control (OPC) facilitates a further decrease in energy consumption of up to 20% (in accordance with EN 62087:ED2) by automatically adapting contrast levels to the ambient light. In stand-by mode, current Loewe TVs distinguish themselves with values of less than 0.5 watts, despite all the integrated functions that would otherwise often require additional devices. Loewe also provides various network functions in stand-by mode such as HDMI switch-on – by far surpassing basic stand-by functionality for the same level of energy consumption. What’s more, Loewe has been using highly efficient power supply units – resonant power supply topologies – for many years: which in turn realises a current efficiency factor of over 90%. With the integrated power switch, the device can, of course, be completely disconnected from the mains power supply after use – reducing consumption to zero. This is also a feature that has distinguished Loewe televisions for many years and has set standards in the industry.
LED Backlight
Energy can even be saved by making the right choices in terms of screen technology. Through the successive introduction of LED backlight technology to the Individual, Connect and Art product lines, Loewe has been able to decisively lower the "fuel consumption" of its TVs (-30%). LEDs (light emitting diodes) also create higher contrast and more brilliant colours, and all with significantly higher energy efficiency. Furthermore, the "Edge LED" profile accommodates a much slimmer housing design. The systematic integration of functions and the slimmer design afforded by Edge LED technology has meant that impressive weight savings amounting to several kilograms, or approx. 20% on average, could be achieved in current Loewe TVs when compared to their respective predecessors without LED backlighting. Every single kilogram that does not need to be manufactured, packed and transported contributes to the preservation of resources and the environment.
Materials
Product design and manufacture at Loewe avoids the use of substances that harm the environment, and devices are designed to have a long service life. Only lead-free soldered circuit boards are used and it goes without saying that Loewe LED TVs contain no mercury. Loewe also requires its suppliers to adhere to in-house environmental specifications. This includes avoiding materials listed by REACH and ECHA, as Substances of Very High Concern. Single-use packaging for design parts has been banned from production and all suppliers now use recyclable packaging.
A brief word about the materials we use. The use of aluminium is a particularly worthwhile alternative to plastic for both premium televisions and sound options. The aluminium housing of the Loewe Individual TV or the Loewe SoundVision sound system is not only a visual highlight, but also represents lasting value as part of a high quality and durable product. At the end of the product’s life, the light metal scores points with its optimal recyclability. And it also comes up trumps in terms of energy! Only a tiny fraction of the energy used in manufacture is lost, as once aluminium is produced, it can be melted down and the production cycle repeated again and again, using less than 5% of the energy required for its manufacture.
Loewe also allows all its environmental credentials to be checked regularly by independent auditors, to guarantee that its high standards are adhered to. All Loewe products have complied with the RoHS EU directive since 2006. The company also participates in the Bavarian Environmental Pact: 99 % of all waste is now recycled. As such, Loewe is all set for a g