Nov 20 2009
Focusing on display technology, the 2009 Green Display Report by Research and Markets addresses the critical and urgent green displays issues, from a complete and industry-wide perspective.
While the last year has seen technical advances aimed at reducing energy consumption, technology, regulations, awareness, and labeling methods for green displays have accelerated at a rapid pace. Regulatory requirements and voluntary labeling programs have brought fundamental changes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of displays and related products. Recycling efforts for e-waste, of which display is a major constituent, are also expanding.
For display developers, these factors have a significant impact on technology and business roadmaps. Customers are constantly confronted with complex purchasing decisions, as a new set of relationships and variables are added to the complexities of production and marketing of displays.
Amidst the business risks and opportunities that are emerging, display developers experience a growing dilemma, beginning with the difficult decision on whether to climb the green bandwagon or not. If they choose to go green, executives and managers of the company will need to find effective ways to sustain the position of the business and analyze the effect on its corporate messaging and practices. The report’s focus lies on the green product and life cycle characteristics of three categories of applications, namely monitors, televisions, and laptops.
As these products receive the most attention and they also have the largest impact on the eco-system and energy consumption. With an objective to formulate key questions for the industry, this report is an attempt to answer the queries and concerns through an interview and analysis methodology. The report provides an insight into the trends that currently shape the industry and helps businesses recognize the hurdles that need to be overcome in the process of green marketing. Recommendations and action points for businesses to this end are also included in the report.
Green display can be defined in many ways and any forecast for green monitors, laptops, or TVs depends greatly upon its definition. A forecast will be meaningless until the time a definition is agreed upon. The report explores and discusses many of these definitions and some elements include:
Energy Consumption - The report explores the trends and options of energy use and offers information on technologies contributing towards energy reduction, such as LED backlights, proximity sensors, dynamic contrast, and ambient light sensors. New driving circuits and cell structures reduce energy consumption in reduction PDPs, and OLEDs also hold promise in the manufacture of energy efficient processes and designs that use minimal energy, materials, and resources. Procedures that minimize carbon footprint are also discussed.
Recyclability of Display – Ways to recycle displays in compliance with global mandates as well as minimal costs to consumers and manufacturers; cradle-to-grave thinking that will ease the pain of the coming epoch of e-waste recycling; and business opportunities arising from these trends
With complex and varied reasons behind the green display trend, motivation to go green depends upon on the developers’ position in the supply chain. Branders, panel makers, and vertically integrated product makers differ in their motivations. While green component and panel manufacturing mean cost reductions, there are various options, strategies, and technologies for green display designs that need to be considered.
A good display design principle can reduce the cost of materials, manufacturing and transportation, plus lower greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint as well. Various factors are considered while measuring the green-ness of a display. Whether going green is a fad, or a catch-all for good corporate citizenship, or will it bring fundamental changes in attitudes and business practices, are some aspects discussed.
Other factors that influence the measuring the green-ness of a display include:
- The effect of regulations on the corporate green culture and behavior
- Successful marketing of green displays
- Companies approach towards establishing green brands
- Concerns regarding successful sale to consumers
- Sustainability
- Important factors that influence the sale
- Any change the business model
- Supply chain adaptation
- Impact on business models
Display manufacturing and marketing behavior is vastly impacted by regulatory and labeling agencies, and this, in turn, influences consumer-buying patterns. The report also evaluates the role of agencies like Energy Star, TCO, Eco-leaf, EPEAT, and CEC and their impact on energy use, hazardous substances, emissions and business practices.
This report will be useful to:
- Manufacturers and designers of laptops, monitors and TVs
- Display or display-based product marketers and retailers
- Value chain participants
- Personnel responsible for recycling
- Regulatory compliance managers, regulators, and managers of labeling programs
- Investors
The key topics are covered in the report are:
- Why be Green?
- What Makes a Display Green?
- The Selling of Green Displays
- Qualitative Green Trend Impacts
- Regulatory, Labeling & Recycling Framework