Samsung Unveils 13-inch Color E-Paper with Bio-Resin Housing

Samsung unveiled the 13-inch Color E-Paper, a new gadget with a unique display, following its Galaxy Z TriFold announcement.

This device features the world's first display housing made partially with a bio-resin derived from phytoplankton.

Pioneering Sustainable Materials

Samsung stated that this material innovation offers an alternative to traditional petroleum-derived plastics. Phytoplankton are microalgae found in water, though Samsung's announcement did not elaborate on how phytoplankton is converted into bio-resin or combined with plastic.

Eco-Friendly Composition and Industry Context

The Color E-Paper's display housing incorporates 10% phytoplankton-derived material and approximately 45% recycled plastic. This material composition is in line with broader industry trends, such as Amazon's use of 58% recycled plastic by late 2024 for products including Kindles, and Apple's use of 32% bio-based plastic in the iPhone XS cover glass frame in 2018. Samsung has also integrated other eco-friendly elements into the Color E-Paper.

Beyond Materials: Efficiency and Packaging

The device is packaged in a box made entirely from paper. The display is designed for high efficiency; static content reportedly consumes zero watts of power. While refreshing content requires energy, Samsung asserts the device uses significantly less power compared to other digital signage products.

The 13-inch Color E-Paper is targeted at businesses, such as restaurants needing digital menu options, rather than individual consumers.