Manufacturing products made of recycled materials has typically been something taken on by smaller, niche companies who want to set themselves apart from the mainstream. But now, Panasonic has announced that it will be launching a line of eco-friendly appliances in Japan made of recycled materials. Set to debut this coming February, the line will include a refrigerator, rice cooker, washer/dryer and a vacuum cleaner. The products will incorporate recycled resin and vacuum insulation made from recycled glass. The recycled materials have been recovered from old air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions at Panasonic’s recycling facilities. The new appliances will also come equipped with Eco Navi, intelligent senors that are said to make “daily life routine more comfortable and eco friendly”. The Eco Navi appliances adapt themselves to each person’s lifestyle and usage to provide ecological operation. The feature helps reduce wasted electricity and water consumption. Panasonic says it has been working on various initiatives aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions and is more frequently using recycled materials in its manufacturing processes. Some of its more green focused projects we’ve noted this year include supplying its automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells to Tesla for its Model S and taking part in a green energy park in Japan. Source: Earth Techling By Kristy Hessman