The four sustainability pillars in our image processing platforms
5 min read
Barco's image processing products are widely known for their exceptional quality, reliability and low latency, making them a top choice for professionals who demand the best performance. Ten years after its introduction, the tagline ‘No Barco, No Show’ is still going strong on operators’ caps and T-shirts 😉.
However, there's an additional layer to our offerings that sets us apart: our commitment to sustainability. This blog post will focus on how our image processing line-up embodies this commitment to sustainability, guided by four key pillars of our ecoscoring methodology: energy efficiency, material use, logistics, and end-of-life optimization.
Ecoscoring – the backstory
In 2015, we were asked to disclose our carbon footprint at organizational level. We soon realized that the biggest impact lies with our products. So, couple years later the ecodesign tool came into play. We tried to align our product offering with existing ecolabels and wanted to give our R&D teams and product managers a tool to score their products in a uniform way, mapping all the different areas of sustainability. Unfortunately, there was no such tool in existence that we could use throughout Barco. Most scoring mechanisms focused on one specific aspect (e.g. energy consumption) or one type of product. That is why we decided to create our own ecoscoring methodology which is third-party validated.
This ecoscore has become a vital tool in our sustainability strategy. It is a clear, straightforward and objective way to evaluate the efforts done to design a more sustainable product taking the full spectrum of sustainable performance into account. It focuses on four domains: Energy, Materials, Packaging & Logistics, and End-of-life. Those have been chosen as reference since they reflect the requirements to deliver compliant products in the future and to deliver more sustainable products to our stakeholders. In addition, the 4 domains reflect the biggest impact of Barco’s products indicated by high level life cycle analyses. By 2027, 80% of our revenue will come from Barco ECO-labeled products (hardware and software).
A portfolio in which modularity is key
We want to provide our customers with an increasingly circular experience and always look for ways to extend our products’ lifespan. The aim is to retain the highest utility and value of our products and components for as long as possible.
A big part of the Barco EventMaster solutions is their modular and upgradeable architecture making them the go-to IP solution that scales with your requirements. With the ability to grow and expand you can gradually upgrade your existing systems, like the E2 and Encore3, with new input or output cards. But also, the other way around, many of the input and output cards you already own can be re-used in our next-generation switchers. It offers all the tools you need to keep your investment future-proof. And in the end, this also means less systems in the trash – less electrical waste.
And in the coming years, we’ll even take it a step further, looking into the so-called inner circles of the circular economy such as refurbishments and remanufacturing.
The energy benefits of AVoIP
In our image processing products, we strive to maximize the efficiency of transforming electrical energy into the product’s intended function. This includes optimizing performance in standby, normal, and off modes.
What’s more, the Barco image processing team is heavily invested in the AVoIP advancements in the event industry, including the IO Gateway in our offering. The AVoIP technology is the base of a simplified setup, which reduces the need for additional switchers, cables, converters, etc. With a smaller number of devices to do the same job, it not only minimizes clutter and infrastructure costs, but also the total energy consumption of your AV system.
Balancing durability and sustainability
Across our entire Barco offering, we prioritize the use of sustainably sourced materials, ensuring they meet rigorous standards for responsible production and sourcing. This approach not only ensures compliance with regulatory standards but also adheres to our reliability promise. We have tested all our boxes for G-shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures. By integrating high-quality, durable materials with sustainable practices, Barco products are truly built to last with a limited impact on the environment.
Streamlined packaging
Optimizing packaging design is essential for reducing our logistic carbon footprint. The Barco image processing solutions come in a compact rugged design. This not only reduces the amount of packaging material needed but also enhances the efficiency of logistics operations. Additionally, our teams prioritize sea shipments whenever possible, further minimizing the GHG emissions and environmental impact. This approach to packaging and logistics contributes to a more sustainable supply chain and enables a lower carbon footprint.
Conclusion
Our commitment to sustainability is woven into the very fabric of our image processing platforms. The ecoscoring methodology provides a clear framework for evaluating and improving the environmental impact of the products. We continue to take concrete steps to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a circular economy. And by taking science-based climate action and designing more sustainable products, we’re not just pushing our impact to net zero targets – we’re empowering our business partners to do the same.