Along with its new line of 4K and 8K Neo QLED and MicroLED TVs scheduled for release in 2021, Samsung has announced what it calls a solar-powered TV remote control that can be used for two years on a single charge, "preventing the disposal of an estimated 99 million AAA batteries over seven years"

The Eco Remote follows a design similar to past Samsung remotes and is made from 31 grams of plastic

The remote can be charged by indoor light, outdoor light, or USB, as Samsung touts as a "first innovation for the brand"

Samsung also plans to introduce a more environmentally friendly package in 2021 The Seoul-based company has committed to upcycling up to 200,000 tons of cardboard boxes each year and will no longer use petroleum-based inks

The move to greener packaging is in line with recent trends in the high-tech industry The most notable move is Apple's announcement that it will no longer include a charger with the iPhone 12 to reduce tech waste Whether or not this was done in good faith is debatable, but Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S21 is rumored to follow suit