Eco-friendly, sustainable digital solution aims to improve communications in public spaces

E Ink (8069.TWO), the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in ePaper technology, announced today that Sharp Corporation is introducing new color models of their ePoster electronic paper displays using E Ink Gallery Plus. Sharp plans to release a 25.3” and a 13.3” model to the market in October and September 2023 respectively.

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Sharp Corporation ePoster featuring E Ink Gallery™ Plus (Photo: Sharp Marketing Japan Corporation)

Digital signage is becoming a valued communication tool for transmitting information in a timely manner. However, it is still common to see paper posters used in areas where it is difficult to install digital signage, or where access to power is an issue, or in locations that cannot support the weight of a large, light- emissive screen. As cities and companies prioritize more sustainable solutions into their space design, and limit the use of power-hungry light emissive displays, reflective, non-emissive E Ink displays provide an ideal solution. E Ink’s ePaper displays only consume power when being updated, drastically reducing the power draw of the display. As the world’s only Dark Sky Association approved digital signage, E Ink’s displays do not contribute to light pollution and can run off batteries or solar cells, freeing the units from being placed on the power grid.

The Sharp ePoster products can be easily updated using a USB flash drive and can also be updated via a smartphone app. When combined with e-Signage S, Sharp’s proprietary software system for content distribution and management (sold separately), the display can be updated over a network, making managing and operating the display smooth and easy, including updating content on multiple display units at one time, specifying the updating date and time, and more.

Three years ago, Sharp Corporation and E Ink began collaborating with the goal of combining their strengths to contribute to the carbon-neutral era by popularizing digital posters. The potential of these digital posters has been confirmed through marketing activities, such as exhibiting prototype displays at exhibitions both within Japan and around the globe. In April 2023, Sharp released their 42-inch monochrome ePoster digital paper display in the Japanese market. In addition to having a power consumption of 0 W during display, it also uses light reflected from outside sources to display its image, providing optimal visibility even in bright environments. In March 2023 E Ink and Sharp announced their collaboration to bring ePaper ePosters to market, with the 25.3” and 13.3” devices to be first to launch.

Since entering the digital signage business in 2005, Sharp has become a market leader both through the development of displays, and by offering a wide variety of solutions for digital displays—from planning, production, consulting, and system construction to installation and maintenance—that can fit any given installation location.

"We are excited to see the launch of the new Sharp ePoster devices, and the progression of our work with Sharp," stated Naoki Sumita, President, Sales & Marketing, Japan, of E Ink. "As cities and communities look to reduce their carbon footprint, E Ink offers a grid-free solution to enable their sustainability efforts and Sharp is ideally positioned to bring this solution to market."

Sharp and E Ink will continue working together on new advancements for ePosters and to expand their efforts worldwide. The companies are excited to bring to market solutions that balance the need for digital content with the needs for devices that fit into the carbon-neutral era.

Estimated environmental impact of ePaper (researched by E Ink)

With the trend towards ESG sustainable development, digital transformation places more emphasis on low-carbon and energy-saving characteristics. ePaper has the features of sunlight readability, low power consumption, and compatibility with solar power systems, making it suitable as an environmentally friendly outdoor ePaper signage. E Ink compared the impact of 32-inch paper advertisements, LCD screens, and ePaper screens on carbon emissions for outdoor digital signage. If 100,000 ePaper signage operate for 20 hours a day, update their ads twenty times per hour, and last for five years, the use of ePaper signage is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 500,000 tons compared to LCD signage. Compared to traditional paper posters that are printed once and disposed of, the use of ePaper signage can reduce CO2 emissions by about 21 million tons.

About E Ink

E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, provides an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation, logistics, and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink’s electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink is a member of the Climate Pledge, has joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), and has been listed as one of the Asia-Pacific Climate Leaders by the Financial Times, Nikkei and Statista in 2022. Listed in Taiwan's Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world's largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green.

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