Sustainable products
AUO SDGs
AUO CSR EPS Targets
Environment
Circular Production
Reduce the environmental impact of the production process; take circular economy value and extended applications into account
Leading in sustainable innovation, becoming the best partner for green product solutions
The Earth’s natural resources are finite. Thus, besides continuously developing innovative and forward-looking functionalities, we also focus on the usage rate of our natural resources. We provide sustainable products that are beneficial to raw materials recycling, re-use, energy-saving. From the design stage, we raise the environmental benefits, enhance products circularity level to build a competitive power based on green products.
Recycling and re-use
Develop technologies to recycle and re-use materials and raise the usage rate of resources-to-products.
Easy to disassemble and repair
We apply recycling-friendly design rules to product repair and re-use.
Optimization of environmental impact
We simultaneously raise product functionality and sustainability that balance the ecology and resources.
A thought on product life cycles
As we raise product usability throughout their lifecycles, we also raise their functionality and value and reduce energy waste and environmental impact in order to create green business opportunities along the value chain.
AUO Product environmental information: Life Cycle Assessment / Low Carbon Products / End of Life Cycle Responsibility
01
Raw materials
Optimize raw materials use (re-use and recycling of raw materials)
According to "AUO New Product Phase Exit Criteria - Display," all parts from suppliers must be verified by AUO as "green." The "AUO Regulation of hazardous substances for green product - Display Product" underwent its 24th revision and took effect in 2024, listing up to 153 controlled substances. It encompasses the declarable substances listed in the Material Declaration for Products of and for the Electrotechnical Industry (IEC 62474) and the specifications of key customers.
AUO complies with Energy Star energy efficiency standards and aims to meet future energy efficiency scenarios. The next generation of Energy Star standards is expected to achieve an additional 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to Energy Star 8.0. AUO is working actively to expand the use of recycled materials in products without significant increases in cost. In 2023, we applied recycled materials to desktop displays. notebook displays, public displays and other products.
More than 150 product models have now introduced a certain ratio of recycled materials including plastics, metals, and glass.
02
Manufacturing
Improve manufacturing efficiency (energy conservation, CO2 emissions reduction)
Reduction of energy use (The electricity saving rate in 2023 has reached 3.30%; based on 2021, the target is to save 30% electricity by 2030.), water use, emissions, and waste generation - those product design criteria are defined and reviewed by AUO's Sustainability and ERM Committee.
03
Transportation
Optimization of packaging and logistics
AUO launched supplier partnership projects on packaging recycling in 2018. Recycled categories encompassed 8 commonly used plastic materials including L-supporter, Pol box, PP box, T-Box, Tray, collection bins, pallets, and partition boards. A common example is plastic trays and pallets. 1,348 tons were used in 2023. (Plastic Packaging Average recycling rate >95.8%)
AUO supplies collection containers and set up collection points at factories to facilitate the collection, sorting, cleaning, and repeated use of packaging. AUO must also coordinate the requirements of the Transport, R&D, QC, and Production departments to minimize supplier demand for plastic packaging while maintaining the same costs, quality, and production efficiency. Packaging that with plastic reduction potential must also be identified. (Tray average recycling rate 96.4%)
AUO is committed to Eco-friendly design and packaging materials development, meet EPEAT certification specifications, effectively increase customer sales breadth and reduce environmental impact.
04
Use
Reduce energy consumption, prolong the life of products
AUO responded to customer requirements on energy-efficiency of desktop display and anticipates that the next generation of Energy Star standards will aim to achieve an additional 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to Energy Star 8.0.
AUO continues to develop technologies to enhance the transmittance of panel display cases and the light-emitting efficiency of backlight sources, as well as introducing low-energy ICs to reduce product energy consumption.
The new 23.8” desktop display developed in 2023, resulting in a 25% reduction in product energy consumption compared to the baseline desktop display in 2021. AmLED technology was extensively applied to automotive displays in 2023. The technology has now been introduced into the design of 19 projects and is expected to achieve energy savings of over 20% compared to conventional non-mini LED backlight products. Both desktop and automotive displays have achieved the consumption reduction targets set for 2024 ahead of schedule, continuing the progress towards the milestone of a 35% reduction in energy consumption by 2026.
05
Waste
Disassemble, recycle, and re-use easily
AUO complies with the requirements of the European Union's WEEE directive. Product designs prioritize easy disassembly and recyclability. AUO completes the WEEE Disassembly Report of Product in accordance with the WEEE Recovery Rate Calculation Procedure to provide customers with information for evaluating the WEEE of the end products.
AUO has built a recycling and use procedure for remaining materials. During product development stage, from new product kick-off to mass production, AUO purchasers and R&D collaborate together to verify and phase in recycled materials, including liquid crystal, alignment fluid, etchant and stripper.
In 2023, AUO used AI technology to improve wastewater treatment processes, reducing organic sludge by about 29.45%. We also enhanced the stripping process, reducing new stripper replenishment by approximately 876 tons per year. Additionally, 79.68 metric tons of polarizers were converted into Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), replacing coal in vendors' boilers. AUO collaborated with vendors to develop aluminum-plastic separation technology and recycled 92.61 tons of aluminum foils.
