HTC is Driving a Sustainable XR Future

As organizations increasingly rely on XR technology for training, healthcare, education, defense, and manufacturing, it’s more important than ever to ensure an environmentally responsible product lifecycle. HTC is committed to this goal, which stems from our mission of creating products that not only benefit consumers but also have a positive impact on humanity. We are proud to share the latest achievements we’ve made in product design, manufacturing, shipping, and recycling that are actively improving sustainability and environmental impact for the rapidly growing XR sector. 

Product Design

HTC designs and develops products that are not only technologically advanced but also environmentally friendly, prioritizing sustainability and environmental responsibility at every stage of the product lifecycle. VIVE XR Elite, for example, has demonstrated responsible carbon emissions at 92.64 kgCO₂e for its entire lifecycle assessment.

One key aspect of HTC's sustainable products is the company’s embrace of modular design, particularly in all-in-one headsets. The VIVE XR Elite and VIVE Focus 3 headsets have a detachable battery, which allows users to easily replace the battery by themselves rather than having to discard the whole device. This not only extends the product's usable lifespan but also reduces waste and optimizes usage of nonrenewable resources.

Making the battery easily replaceable is just one part of HTC efforts to improve energy efficiency. All power supplies used in HTC products adhere to relevant international energy regulations, including those set by the California Energy Commission and the European Union. Power supplies must be verified by a third-party agency to meet the highest “Level VI” requirements established by the U.S. Department of Energy. While the Level VI designation requires a standby power supply of less than 0.1W, HTC's chargers have a minimum standby power of 0.025W, outperforming the requirement by 75%.

Among the new HTC VIVE products launched in 2023, the VIVE series battery holders boast large power capacity, enabling up to 2 hours of continuous power usage. But even with more power, the performance per unit energy consumption (UEC) is actually 6.11% lower than both the U.S. Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada standards.

Shipping & Logistics

HTC has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability through its strategic approach to shipping and logistics, making improvements along the way for environmental impact and efficiency.

The company's decision to locate warehouses in key regions worldwide has not only improved delivery efficiency but also contributed to reducing carbon emissions. Through careful analysis of customer distribution and transportation distances, HTC selected warehouse locations that minimize carbon emissions by shortening the distance from international airports and ports, as well as increasing the use of sea and rail transportation over air transportation. These efforts have resulted in a substantial decrease in carbon emissions, with new VIVE XR Elite ground shipments achieving an average carbon emission reduction of 38.6% due to the reduction of delivery distances between global logistics bases.

By shipping multiple orders together to reduce the number of deliveries, carbon emissions were lowered even further. In 2023, HTC’s average consolidation rate of air, sea, and land transportation reached 72%. This reworking of logistics helped cut carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable supply chain and distribution network.

In recognition of these efforts, HTC earned a spot on CDP’s 2023 Supplier Engagement Rating Leaderboard, a top honor received by only 3.9% of all 11,500+ companies worldwide that participated in the rating.

Re-use, Recycling & Recovery

Another key aspect of HTC's sustainability efforts is its attention to material recycling and recovery. HTC prioritizes reducing waste and reusing resources, and works with third-party agencies to verify recyclability of its devices in line with international regulatory bodies such as the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive in the European Union.

All HTC products currently being produced, including VR and mobile phone products, surpass the WEEE’s established standards, showcasing the company's commitment to reducing waste and promoting a circular economy. For the VIVE XR Elite, the percentage of materials that can be recycled and re-used is 76.7%, significantly higher than the WEEE’s standard of 55%. And VIVE XR Elite’s recovery rate - the total possible recovery of waste including from recycling, re-use, reclamation, and any other processes to extract materials or energy from the product - is 87.1%, compared to the WEEE’s standard of 75%.

By transitioning from plastic packaging and wire fixings to paper, environmental damage is lowered because the paper is fully recyclable. For example, the VIVE XR Elite box is made of 99% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.

By embracing a holistic approach towards sustainability – from product design all the way through to recycling/recovery – HTC aims to continue designing innovative products that minimize environmental impact and contribute to a greener future. Through innovative product design, efficient logistics practices, and a dedication to reducing carbon emissions, HTC is leading the way towards a more sustainable future in the XR industry.