More sustainable projectors at Barco: how it started and how it's going
5 min read
Since 2015, Barco has been blazing a trail in sustainability, and it’s been quite the adventure! In this blog post, we’ll dive into the evolution of our projection department, uncovering the eco-design steps we’ve taken, the successes we’ve celebrated and our future ambitions.
The wake-up call
Barco's sustainability journey kicked off in 2015 when one of our major customers reached out to us with the question to measure and report our carbon footprint to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). This request served as a wake-up call, prompting us to draft an action plan, mainly aimed at reducing CO2 emissions within our operations. This included measures such as limiting energy consumption, investing in sustainable energy sources, and switching from air to ship transportation where possible.
Today, Barco's sustainability strategy has expanded much. Through our Sustainable Impact Journey program, we are committed to designing and implementing more sustainable solutions to protect earth, engage people, and empower society for a bright tomorrow.
We aim for science-based climate action and continue the journey to net zero. We team up with business partners, academics, industry associations, etc. to deliver sustainable impact. In addition, we actively participate in targeted external global initiatives that promote sustainability, such as the Science Based Targets initiative and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The pioneering efforts with laser light sources
In the projection department, Barco has been particularly innovative. Pioneering the transition from traditional lamp projectors to laser projectors is an important highlight in our eco-design journey. Laser light engines create the exact colors that are needed with more focused energy and reduced heat dissipation. Needing less power for the same – or even a better and brighter – outcome, is great for your wallet, but also for your climate impact with drastically reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Being an early adopter in the move to laser comes with the advantage of gaining valuable insights that enable us to further optimize the technology and how it is used. This continuous learning process allows for improvements and the development of new features, like DynaBlack which is our frame-by-frame dynamic contrast enhancement feature. It enhances the laser efficiency, making darker scene’s darker and brighter scenes brighter, resulting in more contrast with a decreased energy consumption.
How smaller projectors make a difference
Recognizing the broader importance of sustainability, we further pushed the design of our products with innovations across various sustainability dimensions. A big one is the advancement to smaller and more efficient devices.
By reducing the size and weight of our projectors, they offer more versatility in various applications and facilitate easy installation. But they also consume less energy. The G50, for example, is really going strong in this aspect with market-leading energy efficiency of up to 18 Lm/W.
Compact projectors are also easier to transport and store, minimizing logistical resources. The use of fewer materials in manufacturing and packaging decreases waste. And if you go even further, the lighter designs also mean less fuel needed during transportation.
However, the thing about the Barco projectors is that you never have to compromise on quality for the sake of a lightweight and compact size. Utilizing the latest DLP technologies, our flagship projectors remain champions in pixels.
QDX: a model of sustainable modularity
The biggest pride in the Barco projection portfolio is its modularity. Modularity plays a crucial role in our eco-design practices by allowing for easier upgrades, repairs, and recycling of components. This approach extends the lifespan of products. Our aim is to retain the highest utility and value of our products and components for as long as possible.
As the first A++ projector in our portfolio, the QDX projector beautifully exemplifies this. While the QDX may not be the smallest in our line-up, it packs a powerful punch. And its true strength lies in its modular design. By enabling peripheral reuse, on-site repairs and a reduced need for complete replacements, the QDX projector supports a circular economy, making it a standout example of how excellence and sustainability can go hand in hand.
The Barco ecoscoring
We’re dedicated to developing more sustainable products, considering the environmental impact at every stage of the lifecycle. To measure our products’ environmental performance, we were the first in the industry to develop an objective tool – validated by third party agencies - that evaluates key areas in their overall eco-design performance – Energy Efficiency, Materials, Packaging & Logistics, and Circular economy. Products that rank highest with an A, A+ or A++ score – indicating the efforts that have been done to design a more sustainable product – get the ‘Barco Eco Product label.’ Our ecoscores have a defined term, with expiry dates and re-assessment periods to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement.
We will continue to set ambitious targets, aiming for 80% of revenue from eco-labelled products by 2027 and further reductions in carbon emissions specially coming from product energy and materials sourced. We’re focused on expanding our impact through circular business models, sustainable design and innovative technologies. Additionally, we are integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) information into our ecoscore to identify and act on real environmental hotspots.
Going into the future with our green compass
The main question is: how can we make meaningful differences without sacrificing functionality and quality? Transparency in the industry is crucial here. The topics we work on don’t emerge out of thin air; we collaborate with industry partners and customers to understand their needs, and with suppliers to explore further contributions. Progress comes from constant evaluation, and when everyone adopts this mindset, real change happens. Sometimes we see topics we’ve been addressing for years reaffirmed, while others identify new areas for improvement.
This will serve as our compass, guiding our strategy on climate change, circular economy and sustainable lifecycle management for the coming years.