Kitchen trends, environment and innovations

Interior design and lifestyle trends are often the focus of design fairs, and when it comes to white goods, there are products that definitely have something to contribute in those areas. Electrolux participated in a design fair in Madrid recently and Samsung has just held its Bespoke event. Both companies are launching new, innovative products where the focus is largely on the environment.

At the Casa Décor design fair in Madrid, Spain, the latest interior design and lifestyle trends were in focus from April 13 to May 28. Electrolux was on site with its AEG brand, showcasing its products that go hand in hand with the trends at the fair – such as hobs with built-in fans, multifunctional ovens and a new refrigerator where the inner walls are made of 70 percent recycled plastic.

Three trends at Casa Décor were multifunctional homes, less is more and more sustainability.

Multifunctional homes: Homes today are meant to be offices, a place to relax, for entertainment and more – often for multiple family members with different requirements. The many different uses place an emphasis on spaces that can be hidden when not in use, such as kitchen spaces that are only visible when in use.

Less is more: Appliances should be both beautifully discreet and smart and multifunctional. At the event, sleek hobs with integrated fans were the norm, as were ovens that can switch between steam, convection and microwave. All of this helps to reduce visual clutter.

More sustainability: Recycled materials, from PET on ceiling lamps to the inner walls of refrigerators made from 70 percent recycled plastic. Quality, more sustainable materials, and personalization in the design of spaces. Kitchens and homes can support people much better when they are made to suit people's lifestyles and their sustainable desires, and more of this is in demand.

Electrolux announced on June 13 that this fall they will launch a new refrigerator and freezer with Cooling 360° technology and interior walls made of 70 percent recycled plastic.

The launch was developed based on the challenge of seeing how Electrolux, with a fridge and freezer, can make the greatest possible impact to protect both food, health and the planet, Electrolux states, explaining that Cooling 360° exceeds the company's high expectations and extends shelf life, reduces food waste and preserves the food's taste and vitamins.

“Our starting point was not to design a refrigerator. We wanted to see how we could deliver the greatest impact to protect food, health and the planet. I am very proud to say that Cooling 360° exceeds our expectations and really helps reduce food waste, extends the shelf life of food and also leads to lower energy consumption,” says Vanessa Boutani, Head of Sustainability at Electrolux.

Cooling 360° means that cold air is blown onto each shelf, and the back wall is equipped with a plate that retains the cold when the door is opened. Thanks to the technology, the shelf life of food stored in Cooling 360° is extended by up to six days, according to Electrolux internal tests. Cooling 360° is a technology that is available in Electrolux top models in the different series, both in freestanding and built-in products.

The new fridge and freezer, which will be launched on September 1 and is for built-in use, is, according to Electrolux, the first in the world with a high percentage of recycled plastic of 70 percent, and the plastic comes from discarded refrigerators.

Bespoke Life – tailor-made life

Samsung began a new chapter for its home and white goods on June 7, when its annual presentation of the latest Bespoke series took place. The event's three headlines were Sustainable Life, Connected Life and Stylish Life.

Samsung’s Bespoke Life concept was created based on the belief that home appliances can be the key to creating a more energy-efficient tomorrow. This year’s Bespoke event highlighted Samsung’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact, such as the new ”Less Microfiber Filter”, a simple solution to reduce the amount of microfibers and microplastics released into the wastewater from washing machines. The filter has a plug-in design that allows it to be used with standard models of washing machines, regardless of brand.

The filter can, according to Samsung, capture up to 98 percent of the microfibers released during a wash cycle. The filter needs to be cleaned about once a month, Samsung says, and by connecting the filter to SmartThings, you can monitor how full the filter is and get a warning when it's time to clean. The Less Microfiber Filter is available now in Korea and the UK, and will be available in the Nordics in the third quarter of this year.

Another new product introduced is the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI, Samsung's most powerful, cordless stick vacuum cleaner to date with up to 280W of suction power, a self-emptying enhanced All-in-one Clean Station and artificial intelligence (AI)-based functionality.

In AI cleaning mode, the Bespoke Jet AI first assesses the brush load, via the suction control function, and the air pressure, via the pressure sensors. The data is then analyzed and classified by the type of floor it is placed on. An algorithm is then applied automatically, adapting to the optimal suction power and speed of the brush roll. In AI cleaning mode, battery consumption can be reduced by up to 21 percent, Samsung states.

Samsung says it has sold three million Bespoke refrigerators globally since the product line was introduced, and as of this year, the Bespoke line consists of 15 product categories available in 52 countries. Samsung will launch the Bespoke 4-Door Flex with Family Hub+, new side-by-side and combined fridge/freezer models, and they are expected to come to the Nordics in 2024.

Text: Ola Larsson

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