SUSTAINABILITY

Exeger’s solar cell converts all forms of light into clean, endless electrical energy. Powerfoyle eliminates or reduces the need for wall charging. It is 100% fossil free to generate electricity from the light that already surrounds us. With no wall charging the idle draw from chargers being left plugged in is also eliminated.

There are various initiatives for optimizing charging and charging timing. In 2022, Clean Energy Charging got headlines as it was built into Apple’s iOS 16 software and activated by default for users in the US (source: Washington Post). Broadly speaking, the idea is to automatically schedule device charging to times during the day when the carbon footprint of grid electricity is lower. While most people agree it is important to keep carbon footprint low, swirl was created by consumers that worried their phone would not be fully charged when they needed it.

We applaud all initiatives for reducing carbon footprint including Clean Energy Charging initiatives for the products that do not yet lend themselves to be charged by the light that already surrounds us. For all the many products that are good use cases for Powerfoyle, we think charging with solar cells should be plan A. With Powerfoyle you get 100% clean energy charging with none of the hassle or worries.

With no or limited wall charging, the need to produce and ship charge plugs or charging cables is significantly reduced or eliminated. Disposed of and unused chargers are estimated to represent about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste annually (source: European Parliament). This results in reduced costs associated with producing and shipping charging cables and plugs, as well as the waste and environmental implications that these accessories ultimately create. 

As energy prices are causing an ever-increasing financial burden on households and businesses, energy independence and a decreased reliance on the grid is gaining attractiveness. By using the surrounding light as an energy source for electronics, consumers can have more freedom than ever – from grid dependence, from cords and replaceable batteries, and freedom to use their devices whenever and wherever they need to.

USE CASE: POWERFOYLE-POWERED HEADPHONES

Beyond wall charging, Exeger’s solar cell can also power products currently running on disposable batteries. Billions of batteries are produced every year and the production of these batteries represents a significant CO2 footprint. The environmental damage goes beyond CO2, disposable batteries make up a significant share of the household hazardous materials in America’s landfills where mercury and other toxins leak as they are crushed. Rechargeable batteries are a better option for the environment but is still a small share of total battery usage.

Powerfoyle has a broad range of possible application areas. When prioritizing what to focus on, environmental impact is a key criterion. Fortune Business Insights estimates that 50%+ of alkaline batteries are used to power consumer electronics devices, many of which could instead be powered by Powerfoyle.

Remote controls account for a staggering ~12% of alkaline battery consumption and each year, almost 700 million remote controls are sold globally (source: Fortune Business Insights). Remote controls are a product application that is perfectly suited for solar cell powering. Samsung estimated in 2022 that they alone would be able to eliminate 200 million battery exchanges if the remote controls they sold were solar powered (source: Samsung CES Keynote). With Powerfoyle, you don’t need to change batteries and the CO2 footprint is reduced.

Different solar cell technologies have quite different usage areas. What most people associate with solar cells are installations on rooftops or fields for power generation. Silicon is an established technology for this use case. Powerfoyle on the other hand is the optimal choice for indoor and hybrid use cases.

With Powerfoyle you get a customized solar cell (shape, surface and beyond – read more in the design and integration section) to power devices for example in the consumer electronics, IoT or worker safety industries. For those familiar with technologies that have been available longer, a comparison may be interesting even if use cases vary. Already when founding Exeger, Giovanni Fili and Henrik Lindström agreed on a sustainability ambition to guide the innovation process that has generated Powerfoyle. They wanted to produce solar cells without toxic or rare earth raw materials. They also wanted to make durable non-brittle solar cells that continue to generate power for a long time. Guided by these principles, research and development at Exeger has addressed some of the sustainability challenges other solar cell technologies face.

Exeger is ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is performed in line with ISO 14040 and 14044 guidelines. The global sustainability consultant Anthesis has verified the LCA. The Powerfoyle cells are custom made for each product, so the exact CO2 footprint varies. Exeger is in the beginning of industrializing production and the footprint will decrease further when we operate at increased scale.

Powerfoyle is recyclable and non-toxic. Since the solar cell is integrated into products, we work with our customers to identify the best ways to recycle the device.

At Exeger, we design for durability. The solar cell undergoes extensive testing to ensure longevity and resistance to wear.

Exeger only enters partnerships with producers of high-quality products. Even so, the expected lifetime of the Powerfoyle solar cells has always surpassed any current product guarantee time. Exeger wants to be part of a movement where products last longer and frequently engage in discussions with partners on how to achieve this goal. Exeger’s solar cell increases the lifetime of batteries in products through the constant lower intensity light charging, which in turn prolongs product life.

We welcome the current trend of reparability (e.g., as manifested by the State of New York Digital Fair Repair Act) and our long-term vision to enable consumers to repurpose the solar cell once the product it was originally integrated into has reached end of life.

Exeger runs two factories, Stockholm I and Stockholm II, in the capital of Sweden. The production runs on 100% renewable energy. Both factories are built inside existing structures to minimize environmental impact. This is one example of how Exeger expands the business while seeking to keep the footprint as low as possible.

Exeger generates no toxic emissions into air or water. The Stockholm II factory has fully approved environmental permits, adherent with the strict EU regulation. This second factory is allowed to operate next to residential buildings, and Stockholm I is adjacent to a natural reserve. We refer to this as “Urban factories”, production that is so clean that it can be done close to people. Exeger’s ambition is to set an example for what future-proof production looks like and shape the modern industry.

Exeger is ISO 9001 certified since 2018.

To be a successful business today, a commitment to sustainability is imperative. Whether the goal is carbon neutral operations and products or net zero greenhouse gas emissions, it’s critical for business leaders to have sustainability at the center of corporate values and initiatives.

By enabling devices and product categories that are powered by clean, endless energy, Exeger can be a significant contribution in helping companies reach their sustainability targets.

Powerfoyle gives partners access to unique and concrete sustainability claims. End-consumers associate the Powerfoyle brand with a quality approved environmentally friendly solar cell and are willing to pay a premium for this. Retailers are more willing to dedicate space to green products.